Skip Navigation

Gavin Key Is Living The Best Of Both Worlds As He Imagines It – Filmmaking And Music

Story By:
Paul Miller | Director of Strategic Communications and Community Relations
Gavin Key '24
Add Ewing Arts Award recipient to Gavin's expanding resume.

Say this for Gavin Key ’24, who earned a degree in film production — he doesn’t dawdle.

The recent grad’s packed resume – directing two feature-length films, launching a company, and founding a music festival included – belies his 22 years.

He can add a Ewing Arts Award, presented by the Keene Sentinel and Monadnock Arts Alive, to that list.

Keene State was well represented at the Ruth and James Ewing Arts Awards gala on July 18 as two current and one emeritus faculty joined Gavin among this year’s 11 regional and state honorees.

The award celebrates artistic excellence and those who contribute to their local arts and culture. They honor the legacy of the late James and Ruth Ewing, former owners of the Keene Sentinel. The Ewings were longtime supporters and promoters of the region’s well-known arts scene.

This year, Gavin received the Ewing Student Award.

The other recipients with ties to Keene State are:

  • Jo Dery, an independent filmmaker, visual artist, writer, and educator for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Arts.

  • Christina Wright-Ivanova, a celebrated pianist, music associate professor, and keyboard studies coordinator for Performing Arts.

  • Elisabeth Roos, a costume, fashion, and fiber arts designer and former educator for 3D visual Aats.

Dery said she is “exceptionally proud” of Gavin, her former student. Gavin called the award “surreal,” noting that Professor Dery was his teacher just a few months ago. “Now we were on the same stage together being honored.”

Gavin’s recognition stirred reflection.

“Originally, I said I would never go to Keene State. At the time it felt like going to college in your hometown was giving up. But not knowing how the then-just-weeks-old pandemic would affect the future, and realizing how much money I would save, I ended up there. Despite my initial reluctance, I fell in love with Keene State and really enjoyed my time there!”

The film production option of Keene State’s film studies degree provides students with hands-on instruction in motion picture production and courses that emphasize technical and aesthetic aspects of narrative, documentary, and experimental filmmaking. Graduates like Gavin embark on careers with a foundation in production techniques, storytelling, and creative approaches to filmmaking.

Gavin wanted to be a filmmaker since he was six. At Keene State, he learned what he liked about the art form and what he didn’t. And, he said, “My involvement with the Keene community during college helped me discover other passions I had, such as organizing community events.” That connection includes teaching as a way to share knowledge and his passions.

He began volunteering at Moco Arts’ CAKE summer program in 2019, teaching its film classes and some music classes to students ages 8-17. He’s filled that role since, including again this summer. “It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to pass on my passion and knowledge of film and music to the next generation. Seeing how proud the kids are of their work at the end of the month is priceless.”

As for filmmaking and music, he offered this: “No matter how hard the process is, it is always worth it when I see the final product — whether it’s a film I spend two years on, a big show with one of my bands, or the MoCo film classes I teach. I am most proud of my first feature film Let it Shine: The Story of the Keene Pumpkin Festival, and my music festival Jamfest.

He confesses to not having any long-range goals, for now. “As long as I can keep making films and playing live music — and support myself with either or both of those things — I will be happy.”

And his resume will surely continue to grow along with him.

Learn more about film studies at Keene State

Related Stories

Contact Keene State College

1-800-KSC-1909
229 Main Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03435