Meet 2022 College of Fine Arts Convocation Speaker, Jonathan Onyango

April 28 2022

Name: Jonathan Onyango  
Pronouns: He/Him 
Major: Theatre with an emphasis in musical theatre performance 
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya 
Three words that describe you: Goofy, funny, and sincere 
Most impactful class or professor: The most impactful professor in the department has to be Dr. Brian Manternach. He has mastered the art of teaching voice while simultaneously inspiring and encouraging his students. He has saved the self-esteem of countless people by empowering us and teaching how to find our voice and relish in our unique sounds all while giving us the knowledge necessary to be able to continue to explore our voices even more once we graduate. I know every other student in my major would agree when I say, he is the greatest delight to work with and is a wonderful human as well as professor. 
A CFA moment you’ll never forget: When one of my classmates (Jace Von App) single handedly changed the curriculum of an entire class by filming a video of him singing at work behind the counter of the Smith’s gas station (because he forgot about the assignment) and it was so funny that our professor wanted us all to do unique things in our videos.
What inspires you: If anything it’s my peers. I am in constant amazement by the things my friends have accomplished from the jobs they’ve booked and callbacks they’ve gotten to the energy they bring to class. They know I’m their biggest fan and I’m grateful to have been able to work with them in any capacity.
Summary of major accomplishments on or off campus:

  • Got cast in a regional production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the Grand Theatre my freshman year as Tom Robinson
  • Got cast in the U’s production of "She Kills Monsters" at Kingsbury and played the role of Orcus my sophomore year
  • Got to work with the Salt Lake Tribune to write a story on our department along with some other students my junior year
  • Got to help a series of film students with a handful of different capstone projects. I had the honor of playing leads in two different projects
  • Got cast as Grand-Pah in the U’s production of "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience" my senior
  • Got to perform in "Elf" at the Pioneer Theatre my senior year. I played the role of Sam and understudied the role of Mr. Greenway

"I am in constant amazement by the things my friends have accomplished from the jobs they’ve booked and callbacks they’ve gotten to the energy they bring to class. They know I’m their biggest fan and I’m grateful to have been able to work with them in any capacity."

College of Fine Arts 2022 Convocation will be held Friday, May 6 at 9a at Kingsbury Hall. For more information, click here.