In Mater Dei High School arts programs, the light is not only shining on stage but also off of it. Mater Dei social media accounts spotlight theater, choir, and other arts programs, as students and faculty work behind the scenes, marketing to ensure that their performances and events shine. These social media accounts on Instagram are not merely publicity but also bring together the arts community at Mater Dei by fostering student activity.

Senior Charlotte de Leon, one of the co-operators of the Mater Dei Choir Instagram page, values the importance of maintaining a strong online platform for the arts. She believes the page serves as a great medium in ensuring the students and parents are always informed and expressing the work put into every show.

“MD Choir’s Instagram is actually helpful in spreading the word about auditions, concerts, and other activities,” de Leon said. “It’s not just for students, but it also informs families when to watch and support their loved ones.”

While most of the posts are about official activities, de Leon and other student leaders are urging more behind-the-scenes posts to reflect the dedication of choir members. From rehearsals to daily practice, there is much more to choir than the final performance.

“We mostly post about formal performances, but I think it’s wonderful to show the work that happens during rehearsals and even throughout the school day,” de Leon said. “Most people don’t get to see how much work is put into choir, and social media is an amazing way of doing that.”  

Similarly, Mater Dei Theatre’s Instagram account serves as a behind-the-scenes look into the hard work and dedication that goes into each production. While gaining new followers and maintaining current ones, the page highlights the effort that students put into their craft, just as the choir’s social media does. This is important because the page cannot thrive without a good viewership. The purpose of the page is to keep students, faculty, and even parents aware of upcoming productions, as well as celebrating past performances and student achievements or fun facts about the students.

When senior Micah Golden took on leadership to manage Mater Dei Theatre’s social media, he focused on showcasing student achievement throughout the productions. This has brought more attention to the program, which has been great for the account publicity and support-wise.

“It was harder to get people to pay attention before I stepped up,” Golden said. “Now we try to bring attention to achievements of theater that might otherwise go unnoticed.”

From state awards to behind-the-scenes insight, the account always tries to show the full picture of theatre at Mater Dei. Whether it’s sneaking a peek at a cast rehearsal to catch a glimpse of the beautiful stage design process, or publicizing background information about the actors, the social media presence aims to bridge the gap between actors and audience.

“Stage isn’t just standing there in a light,” Golden said. “There’s a whole lot of work off stage, costumes, lights, sound, set. Social media allows people to see and comprehend all the work that goes into an event.”

A successful social media site doesn’t just take posting, but it also takes planning. In order to gain the most interaction, both theater and choir pages employ tagging and reposting methods in order to spread their influence. de Leon explains how Mater Dei Choir’s Instagram does this.

“Each time we upload, we always re-tag choir members and leaders so that they repost it on their accounts,” de Leon said. “And more people get to see it and are aware of what’s happening.”

Outside of Instagram, performing arts events at Mater Dei employ a combination of digital and in person promotion, from posters on campus to word-of-mouth support. Whether it’s through a quick repost or school announcement, each and every publicity endeavor gives the arts the visibility they deserve.

“A lot of my friends follow the accounts, whether from the referral from a friend or from the Instagram recommended page,” Golden said. “Seeing the support from close friends and even people I don’t know is encouraging and motivating.”

For de Leon and other student account managers, social media is not just a promotional platform; it’s a means of building community that acknowledges all the hard work put into performing arts’ social media.

“Theatre and choir bring people together,” de Leon said. “We want to use social media to not just inform, but to connect people and make them feel part of something bigger.”  

As Mater Dei’s arts programs continue to grow, their social media presence will grow with them, making sure that the performances, dedication, and creativity of students remain in the spotlight, both on stage and online.