For Students, Six Degrees Then Separation

Two of Riverland’s Theatre and Music students will graduate this spring with six degrees between the two of them! Robert Johnson (Blooming Prairie) and Anna Sturtz (Albert Lea) will each graduate with and AFA Music degree, an AFA Theatre degree and the traditional AA degree. Both have been extremely busy in the theatre and music departments and as student ambassadors over the past few years and are now ready to separate and move on to new goals.
Robert Johnson has been a key part of both the Riverland Choir and the Vocal Ensemble for four years. With several semesters of private voice, Bob has grown as a singer and a performer. His vocal studies have included everything from classical to Broadway. His first Riverland stage show was Babes in Arms. At that point he was a rather quiet freshman looking for something interesting to do with his free time. A few months later he was a music major and soon after added the theatre major. Bob also appeared as Gerard Carriere in Phantom, Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, Roger in Grease and several other shows. He is currently playing Lennie Small in Of Mice and Men. After graduation he plans to transfer to MSU-Mankato and continue his music studies by entering the Music Education program. His long-term goals include teaching at a college and continuing his acting career.
“When I came to Riverland, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life. I started with some general courses, thinking I would just get my Associate degree and then transfer once I figured things out. To do something interesting with my free time, I tried out for the fall musical. Because of that I met a lot of great friends and I found something I really loved to do. I began trying out for every show I could.”
Anna Sturtz is also a very familiar talent in the music and theatre departments. Anna came to Riverland from Albert Lea High School where she had picked up a few PSEO credits. In May she will have completed all three degrees. Considering the great number of requirements in both the music and theatre AFA programs, this is quite an accomplishment! Anna has also developed as a singer and performer and gained a variety of experiences. She was a semifinalist at the Minnesota NATS auditions and was named an “outstanding performer” at the Minnesota Two-Year College Fine Arts Festival in the spring of 2007. Anna’s first appearance on the Riverland stage came during her senior year of high school when she gave up going to prom to appear in Assassins. Since then she appeared as Emily Arden in State Fair, Rizzo in Grease, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown…the Musical and other shows as well. She is currently the stage manager for Of Mice and Men. In addition to appearing on the stage, Anna has also spent countless hours in the light and sound booth and working in the shop. Next fall Anna plans to study cosmetology for a year and then pursue a degree and career in music and theatre.