Bre Jacobs

Musical Theatre Performance (BFA)

What would you say has been the most surprising thing you learned at Columbia?
COLLABORATION IS KEY. Spending these past four years surrounded by artists of various mediums, backgrounds, and experiences has been incredibly informative in how each one of our artforms are so valuable to one another. I spent my childhood creating by myself and not having many places to share it with others, so to be in an environment with artists ready to listen and share at every corner was extremely eye-opening. Incredible work comes out of us working together and we really do need each other.

What experiences or courses at Columbia do you feel have been most beneficial?
For me, I’d have to say both semesters of Musical Theatre Workshop. I was honestly dreading this course as senior year drew closer because I had become so accustomed to performing and finding my experience within other people’s pieces, but this class was going to challenge us in collaborating and being more creative with our work. Now that I’m nearly finished, I’ve found that this course has played a role in helping me rediscover how much I love creating my own work and solidifying my purpose for being an artist in the first place.

What are your plans for after graduation?
I truly do not know. Which is such an unfamiliar space for me to be in, yet it’s kind of what I signed up for when I made the decision to pursue the life of a full-time creative. I do know that whatever happens and wherever I end up I’ll be continuing to train and audition as an actor and diving into creating music of my own. I have goals to tell stories about people whose experiences don’t often get told and I hope to be doing a lot of that in the future. I’ll continue to pursue what I’m passionate about wholeheartedly because it’s just in my nature.

Do you have any advice for current students?
Art is and always will be one of the most valuable gifts that we as humans can give the world. Create, create, create. Anything that you love, anything that you hate, anything that sets your soul on fire, put it in your work. Never stop fighting for the things that make you happy and mean the most to you.