SUNY Cortland: John Cavaseno

John Cavaseno studied music theatre at State University of New York.

How did you discover your passion for music and your instrument?

My high school English teacher once told me, “You are so quiet in class but when you’re on stage you light up!” I am lucky that I found my passion pretty early in life and I’ve continued to pursue it everyday.

What's your favorite part about performing?

If I had to pick a favorite part about performing, I would say it’s the feeling I get when I first step on stage. Performing for an audience and giving your absolute best is a special and wonderful feeling. My heart starts pounding. My eyes light up and I know there’s no place I’d rather be.

Why did you pick this particular college?

As I started to apply to college, I knew I wanted to go for Musical Theatre. My biggest concern was finding a school that was affordable and still had great training. I knew at my audition that SUNY Cortland was the perfect fit for me. It was far enough from home where I could get the full college experience and very affordable. The best part is that the department is dedicated specifically musical theatre. I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

What has been your favorite part of SUNY Cortland?

My favorite parts of our program have been my acting and ballet classes and performing in many great musicals and plays. The faculty works so hard to teach every individual student what they need to do to succeed. After my sophomore year I had my first professional summer stock job and last summer I was fortunate enough to stay in Cortland and work with the local company, Cortland Repertory Theatre. This summer I will be performing at the Tibbits Opera House in Michigan. I was able to book these jobs because of the support, connections, and training I earned at SUNY Cortland.

Where do you imagine yourself in 10 years?

Over the next ten years, as I grow as a performer, I hope to incorporate teaching, directing and choreography into my career. I am confident in the that SUNY Cortland has given me the skills to succeed in this career. The Musical Theatre program can do the same for all those who have a strong passion and drive to perform.