In this interview, Marius Schanke, director, screenwriter and producer of the student film Alice Under Skies, based on the writings of Lewis Carroll, discusses the project.

Every year, Contemporary Music Program students participate in classes that teach music from all over the world. These ensembles vary from African Drum to Balkan/Middle East to Rock and Funk and so many more. These classes offer students the chance to learn music from around the world and the opportunity to play with other musicians. At the end of each semester, the CMP hold concerts as a way for the students in these ensembles to show what they’ve learned over the course of the semester. “Being in ensembles is training for being a working musician later,” says Leticia Gonzales. “Musicians have to learn to work with other musicians in a way that reflects the work of career musicians. Being in ensembles with our peers helps us learn to navigate that.” The end-of-the-year concert series kicked off May 7 with performances from students in Tom Adler’s Acoustic Americana Ensemble and Fred Simpson’s African Drum Ensemble, followed by a performance by Steve Paxton’s University Chorus in the O’Shaughnessy Performance Space in Benildus Hall. “I chose Acoustic Americana because I play banjo and it just feels right. The most important thing I have learned is just the importance of being humble when it is needed and a lot about playing with others,” says Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose about his experience with the ensemble. The CMP ensemble concert series continues through May 12 with the next performance by the Balkan/Middle East Ensemble on May 10 at 8 p.m. in the O’Shaughnessy Performance Space in Benildus Hall.   The other concerts are:  Sunday, May 11 5 p.m. Gamelan Ensemble The Bandshell on the quad 8 p.m. Jazz & Afro-Cuban Ensembles & University Chorus O’Shaughnessy Performance Space Benildus Hall   Monday, May 12 8 p.m. Rock & Funk/ R&B Ensembles O’Shaughnessy Performance...

The weekly Awkward Shelby Comic is created by SFUAD studio art major Shelby Criswell. For more of Criswell’s work, check out the Awkward Shelby Comic series and her Tumblr.