AMPD Testimonials
Wondering what it's like to study at York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design? Our students and alumni share their inspiring stories, career wins and how AMPD shaped their path across film, theatre, media, art, design and other creative fields. Get a glimpse of the experiences that could await you!
- All AMPD Testimonials
- Film Production
- Screenwriting
- Cinema & Media Arts (BA)
- Media Arts (BFA)
- Integrative Art
- Digital Media
- Design
- Music
- Theatre
- Dance
- Visual Art & Art History
- Alumni
- International Students
Kathryn Geersema
When looking at Canadian university Theatre programs, I was most impressed by York’s. There was something about the structure of the program, the choices to specialize, and of course, access to Toronto - a lively theatre city. My program encouraged me to get to know myself as a person as well as an actor/performer/English Lit nerd. Since graduating from York, I’ve been working at Mass Culture, where I do my part to support a thriving research infrastructure for the Canadian arts sector.”
Kathryn Geersema
Alumna, Theatre
International Alumna - Singapore
Amir B
Learning the technical skills that are part of computer science gave me the backbone to create. I'm able to express my creative ideas in new ways, it's opened many doors for me in academia and personal projects.
Amir B
Digital Media Student
Hiro Kubayashi
Science and technology make it possible to achieve things that were once beyond our reach. Creating experiences through digital media is shaping a new era, as forms of interactivity continue to diversify. I truly enjoy the moments when I showcase my Digital Media Arts assignments and projects to friends and professors. Their reactions and interactions inspire me to think about what I can create next. By combining art and science, we can craft new types of experiences that expand the boundaries of imagination and storytelling. This is what excites me to continue studying Digital Media.
Hiro Kubayashi (Fourth-Year Digital Media student)
International Student – Japan
Chris Romeike
In my late 30s, I decided to get my Master’s in Film from York University. This allowed me to explore other creative ways of telling stories and share my experiences and knowledge with others as a professor.
Chris Romeike, CSC (MFA ’13)
Cinematographer for The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsals, premiered at TIFF in 2024
Jeremy Ledbetter
What I remember most about my time at York was the incredible faculty and some of the most amazing teachers that I’ve ever come into contact with. People who really shaped my journey as a musician and showed me what the options were in this industry. The advice I would give students today is to just keep going – focus on the things that excite you, and don’t lose sight of the reason that you got into playing music in the first place.
Jeremy Ledbetter (BFA Music ’02)
Juno Award-winning pianist and composer
Xavier
I really love the flexibility and variety that Media Arts offers. It’s given me the chance to try out so many different things and figure out what I truly enjoy. As an international student, the transition to York was surprisingly easy. Everyone in AMPD is so inclusive and welcoming that it felt like home very quickly.
Xavier, Fourth-year Media Arts student
International Student – USA
Benjamin Gillespie
What I valued most during my time in York’s undergraduate and graduate Theatre programs was the excellent mentorship I received from faculty who deeply shaped my path as a scholar, and the opportunity to engage with advanced courses in theatre and drama that challenged me to think critically and creatively about the field.
Benjamin Gillespie, PhD (BA ’09, MA ’10)
Assistant Professor of Theatre History and Performance Studies
Santa Clara University
Taylor Crowley
Through AMPD, I was able to get an internship and after that my career really exploded. I was hired by the producer of The Witch, and since then I’ve gone to TIFF premieres, walked the red carpet at Cannes, and met people like Sebastian Stan and Cate Blanchett. I’ve worked on movies like The Apprentice and explored many different parts of the film world. I couldn’t have done that without AMPD.
Taylor Crowley (BFA Film Production ’22)
Development Coordinator and Emerging Producer
Alysa Collucci
In today’s ever-changing field of media arts, staying current with new technologies and methodologies is vital. My time at York emphasized not just the hard skills for the technology of today, but also helped me develop the ability to grow and adapt to the technology of tomorrow.
Alysa Collucci
Media Arts (BFA 2024)
