Student Organizations
ACAPA recognizes more than 40 student-led organizations across the conservatory's five disciplines: Music, Theatre Arts, Dance, Visual Arts, and Film & Media Arts. Organizations range from professional fraternities and discipline-specific clubs to cultural associations and community service groups. All enrolled students are eligible to join any organization regardless of major.
Fall 2025 Involvement Fair: Friday, September 5, 2025, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. — Aldrich Commons Courtyard. All registered organizations will have tables. New students are strongly encouraged to attend.
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Contents
Student Government
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| ACAPA Student Government Association (ASGA) | The primary representative body for all ACAPA students. ASGA allocates the student activities fee, advocates to administration on academic and campus policy, appoints students to faculty governance committees, and organizes all-campus events. Meetings are open to the public and held every other Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Sutton Hall 102. | asga@acapa.edu |
| Graduate Student Council (GSC) | Represents M.F.A. and M.Mus. students on all matters of graduate-student concern. The GSC coordinates with ASGA on shared campus issues, administers a graduate travel grant program, and runs the annual Graduate Colloquium in April. Open to all graduate students. | gsc@acapa.edu |
Music Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia — Epsilon Lambda Chapter | National professional music fraternity for male-identifying students. Active in performance, music service, and community outreach. Open to all music-loving students regardless of major. The Epsilon Lambda chapter was chartered at ACAPA in 1961. | pma@acapa.edu |
| Sigma Alpha Iota — Zeta Nu Chapter | International professional women's music fraternity promoting interaction among those who share a commitment to music. Hosts recitals, workshops with visiting musicians, and a biennial benefit concert for the Eastbridge Youth Music Initiative. | sai@acapa.edu |
| ACAPA Chamber Music Society | Student-run organization facilitating informal chamber ensembles, coaching sessions with faculty, and the popular Taproom Series of free public performances held at the Eastbridge Brewing Co. on the first Friday of each month. | cms@acapa.edu |
| Eastbridge Jazz Collective | Open to all instrumentalists and vocalists interested in jazz, blues, and improvised music. Organizes jam sessions in the Sutton Hall basement, workshops with visiting jazz artists, and participation in the Burlington Jazz Festival each summer. | jazz@acapa.edu |
| Student National Association of Teachers of Singing (SNATS) | ACAPA chapter of the national SNATS network. Focused on the art and pedagogy of voice teaching. Open to all voice students and any student interested in vocal instruction as a career. Hosts workshops and connects members with Boston-area and New England vocal professionals. | snats@acapa.edu |
| New Music Collective | Dedicated to the performance and promotion of contemporary and experimental music. Presents the annual New Works Weekend in November, featuring world premieres written by ACAPA composition students. All instruments and voice welcome. | newmusic@acapa.edu |
| Early Music Society | For students interested in historical performance practice, period instruments, and music composed before 1800. Maintains a small lending collection of Baroque instruments and organizes an annual trip to the Boston Early Music Festival. | earlymusic@acapa.edu |
| Musicians for Community | Organizes student volunteer performers for community events, senior centers, children's hospitals, and charitable fundraisers throughout Eastbridge and the surrounding Champlain Valley region. Active year-round with opportunities for solo and ensemble participation. | m4c@acapa.edu |
Theatre Arts Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| The ACAPA Players | The conservatory's primary student theatre company, producing two to three mainstage productions annually in the Whitmore Proscenium Theatre. Membership is open; all design, stage management, directing, and performance roles are filled by students. Productions are fully mounted with professional-level design resources. | players@acapa.edu |
| Black Box Collective | Student-run experimental theatre group that uses the Hartley Black Box for four to six short-run productions per year. Emphasizes devised work, new writing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration with dance and visual arts students. | blackbox@acapa.edu |
| Musical Theatre Guild | Dedicated to the musical theatre discipline. Produces one annual student-directed musical, hosts a monthly cabaret series, and organizes trips to productions in Boston and New York. Membership is open to all students who love musical theatre. | mtg@acapa.edu |
| Stage Managers & Production Guild | Professional development organization for students interested in stage management, technical direction, and production management. Maintains a mentorship pairing program with working professional stage managers in Vermont and New England. | smpg@acapa.edu |
| Improv Society | Meets weekly for long-form and short-form improvisational comedy and theatre. Performs at campus events and at local Eastbridge venues. No auditions required — all skill levels welcome. Active participant in the New England College Improv Festival. | improv@acapa.edu |
Dance Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| ACAPA Student Dance Company (SDC) | The principal student performing ensemble for the Dance division. Presents two major concerts annually in the Aldrich Dance Studio Theatre. SDC membership is by audition each September and February. The company performs original work choreographed by students and faculty. | sdc@acapa.edu |
| Contemporary Dance Collective | Informal studio collective for students working in modern, post-modern, and contemporary dance forms. Holds weekly open studio sessions and organizes a student-curated informal showing each month. Open to all dance students; no audition required. | cdc@acapa.edu |
| World Dance Club | Celebrates and explores dance traditions from around the globe, including West African, South Asian classical, Latin, Middle Eastern, and folk forms. Brings in guest instructors each semester and performs at multicultural campus events. Open to all students. | worlddance@acapa.edu |
| Dance & Somatic Wellness Circle | A student wellness group focused on injury prevention, somatic practice, and sustainable careers in dance. Hosts workshops on topics including body mapping, yoga for dancers, and nutrition for performers. Open to dance and musical theatre students. | dancewellness@acapa.edu |
Visual Arts Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Student Gallery Board | Responsible for programming and curating the Margolis Student Gallery in the Arts Complex. The board selects work through an open call each semester, installs exhibitions, and organizes opening receptions open to the Eastbridge community. Any enrolled student may submit work for consideration. | gallery@acapa.edu |
| ACAPA Printmakers Guild | Community of students interested in relief printing, etching, screenprint, lithography, and alternative photographic processes. Oversees the open-access print studio hours and organizes portfolio exchanges with printmakers at other institutions. Annual zine fair each April. | print@acapa.edu |
| Ceramics Collective | Student group connected to the ACAPA ceramics studio. Coordinates after-hours studio access, organizes group kiln firings, and participates in the Vermont Open Studios weekend each year. Open to all students enrolled in ceramics courses. | ceramics@acapa.edu |
| Illustration & Graphic Arts Club | For students interested in illustration, graphic design, and visual storytelling. Produces the annual ACAPA art publication Trace, organizes life drawing sessions open to all, and hosts visiting illustrators and designers from the publishing and design industries. | illustrators@acapa.edu |
| Sculpture & Installation Collective | Supports students working in three-dimensional and site-specific forms. Organizes a campus-wide outdoor installation project each spring and collaborative crits with the film and theatre design programs. Access to materials co-op available to members. | sculpture@acapa.edu |
Film & Media Arts Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| ACAPA Film Society | Screens classic, contemporary, and student films each week in the Harmon Screening Room. Organizes visiting filmmaker events, Q&A sessions, and the annual ACAPA Student Film Festival each May. Membership is free and open to all students. | filmsoc@acapa.edu |
| Documentary Guild | Students focused on non-fiction filmmaking, journalism, and documentary practice. Produces short-form documentary content documenting ACAPA campus life, the Eastbridge community, and Vermont arts and culture. Work is screened at semester-end public programs. | docguild@acapa.edu |
| Animation & Motion Graphics Club | Focused on 2D animation, 3D modeling, motion graphics, and experimental film forms. Hosts software workshops, hardware co-op equipment borrowing, and participates in national student animation showcases. | animation@acapa.edu |
| ACAPA Student Media (ACTV) | Student-run video production outlet responsible for recording and streaming campus performances, producing news segments and features about ACAPA life, and maintaining the conservatory's YouTube archive. Positions available for all skill levels. | actv@acapa.edu |
Cross-Disciplinary & Collaborative Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Intermedia Lab | Open project space for collaborative work crossing two or more disciplines. Supports music/visual art, theatre/film, dance/technology, and any other cross-disciplinary combination. Provides access to equipment and a shared studio space in the Founders Building basement. Monthly project showcases. | intermedia@acapa.edu |
| Resonance — ACAPA Arts Journal | Student-edited publication featuring essays, criticism, creative writing, and visual art from students across all five divisions. Published twice yearly in print and digitally. Open to submissions from all enrolled students; the editorial board accepts applications each fall. | resonance@acapa.edu |
| Arts & Activism Coalition | Brings together students from all disciplines committed to using their art for social change. Organizes benefit performances, coordinates with Vermont community organizations, and hosts discussions on the political and social dimensions of arts practice. | artsactivism@acapa.edu |
| Outdoor & Environmental Arts Collective | Explores the intersection of the arts and Vermont's natural environment. Organizes land art projects, residency trips to state parks, site-specific performance events, and an annual spring retreat to the Northeast Kingdom. All disciplines welcome. | outdoorarts@acapa.edu |
Cultural & Identity Organizations
ACAPA's cultural and identity organizations provide community, advocacy, and programming that celebrates the diversity of the conservatory's student body. All organizations are open to any interested student as an ally or participant.
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Black Arts Collective | Celebrates and advances the contributions of Black artists across all disciplines. Organizes the annual Langston Hughes Arts Festival each February, hosts visiting Black artists and scholars, and maintains a scholarship fund for entering students. | bac@acapa.edu |
| Latinx Arts Association | Promotes the arts, cultures, and artistic traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean. Coordinates performances, exhibitions, and film screenings each semester, and partners with the Eastbridge Hispanic community organizations for outreach events. | laa@acapa.edu |
| Asian & Asian-American Student Association (AASA) | Builds community among students of Asian descent and promotes awareness of Asian artistic traditions. Hosts the annual Asian Arts Showcase and collaborates with the music and dance divisions on programs featuring East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian art forms. | aasa@acapa.edu |
| Queer Arts Alliance | Fosters an inclusive community for LGBTQ+ students and allies across all disciplines. Programs include the annual Pride Arts Showcase in May, monthly social events, and support resources for students. Advocates within the conservatory for inclusive policies and curriculum. | qaa@acapa.edu |
| Indigenous Arts Circle | Centers the artistic traditions, perspectives, and voices of Indigenous students and honors the Abenaki heritage of Vermont. Organizes talks, performances, and exhibitions and partners with local and regional Indigenous cultural organizations. | indigenousarts@acapa.edu |
| International Students Association | Provides community and practical support for ACAPA's international students. Hosts cultural exchange events, assists with immigration and visa questions in coordination with the Office of International Students, and organizes an annual International Arts Night. | isa@acapa.edu |
Service & Advocacy Organizations
| Organization | Description | Contact / Info |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Education Corps | Places students as teaching artists in Eastbridge-area K–12 schools and community programs. Members receive training in arts education pedagogy, receive community engagement credit hours, and may apply for summer teaching artist fellowships. Over 200 students participate each year. | aec@acapa.edu |
| Minds in Motion | Student organization focused on arts and mental health advocacy. Destigmatizes mental health challenges in conservatory culture, hosts community conversations, and partners with ACAPA Counseling Services to promote wellness resources across all divisions. | mindsinmotion@acapa.edu |
| Green Stage Collective | Promotes environmentally sustainable practices in the arts: from eco-friendly set design and reduced-waste printmaking to greener touring and digital distribution. Partners with ACAPA Facilities on the conservatory's annual sustainability report. | greenstage@acapa.edu |
| First-Generation Artists Network | Peer support and professional development organization for first-generation college students. Connects members with alumni mentors, provides guidance on graduate school applications, and advocates for first-generation student needs within the conservatory. | firstgen@acapa.edu |
Starting a New Organization
Any ACAPA student may petition to form a new recognized student organization. Recognition grants access to ASGA funding, meeting space reservations, a campus email address, and listing in the conservatory directory. The process is as follows:
- Gather founding members. A minimum of six currently enrolled ACAPA students must agree to serve as founding members, including at least one who will act as president or primary contact.
- Identify a faculty or staff advisor. All recognized organizations must have a full-time ACAPA faculty or staff member willing to serve as advisor. The advisor does not need to attend all meetings but must be available to the officers.
- Draft a constitution. The constitution must include the organization's purpose, membership eligibility, officer structure and election procedures, meeting frequency, and a non-discrimination statement. A template is available from the ASGA office (Sutton Hall 110).
- Submit a recognition application to ASGA. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The ASGA Student Organizations Committee reviews applications at its next scheduled meeting (held monthly). The committee may request a brief presentation from the founding members.
- ASGA vote. The full ASGA votes on recognition at the meeting following committee review. A simple majority is required. New organizations are notified within five business days.
- Register with the Dean of Students Office. Following ASGA recognition, the organization must file contact and advisor information with the Dean of Students Office to complete official conservatory registration and activate campus email and room booking privileges.
Questions about student organizations?
ASGA Office: Sutton Hall 110 — asga@acapa.edu — (802) 555-0130
Dean of Students Office: Aldrich Hall 204 — deanofstudents@acapa.edu — (802) 555-0100
Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
ASGA Office: Sutton Hall 110 — asga@acapa.edu — (802) 555-0130
Dean of Students Office: Aldrich Hall 204 — deanofstudents@acapa.edu — (802) 555-0100
Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Organization Funding
Recognized student organizations may apply for funding through the ASGA Student Activities Fund. There are two funding mechanisms:
- Annual Budget Allocation: Organizations submit budget requests each spring for the following academic year. The ASGA Finance Committee reviews requests and recommends allocations to the full ASGA. Priority is given to organizations with demonstrated campus-wide impact and a record of sound financial management.
- Event Grants: Individual event grants of up to $500 are available on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications must be submitted at least three weeks before the event. Grants are approved by the ASGA Finance Committee without requiring a full ASGA vote.
Graduate organizations may also apply to the Graduate Student Council for supplemental travel and project funding. See the full funding guidelines for eligibility, documentation requirements, and reimbursement procedures.