Faculty/Staff

On April 11, the Flying Horse Big Band will perform “Shakespeare Swings!” a cabaret-style production giving Shakespeare’s works a jazzy twist with vocals coordinated by the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. The performance is part of the 5-day UCF Celebrates the Arts 2015 festival. The festival will showcase studio art, music, theatre, dance, gaming, animation, photography and…

Each year, the eight Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regions honor individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong…

On February 18, Dr. Yun-Ling Hsu, Assistant Professor in Piano, and Dr. JoAnne Stephenson, Associate Professor, present a collaborative recital of all-American music at the SMKS Concert Series in Odense, Denmark. Dr. Hsu will be performing the seldomly heard Gershwin Piano Solos by Earl Wild, the legendary American pianist. Dr. Hsu will also be teaching…

On January 19, The Jazz Professors performed with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for a tribute to Stan Getz at the Plaza ‘LIVE’ Orlando, including the rarely performed album Focus. The performance included original music and classics recorded and performed by Stan Getz. In December, Jeff Rupert, Director of Jazz Studies at UCF and a member…

Thad Anderson recently toured the Midwest with a piano and percussion quartet called Ensemble P4. The group is made up of faculty from Stetson University, Bethune-Cookman University, and UCF. The quartet made stops at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Joliet College, Moraine Valley College, and Valparaiso…

A new anthology, Scenes and Monologues of Spiritual Experience from the Best Contemporary Plays, features the work of Sybil St. Claire. Her contribution, Wake Me When It’s Over, was inspired by her idiosyncratic Irish Catholic upbringing and the practice of three-day wakes. The play humorously and tenderly explores spirituality through a teenage lens. The anthology…

Nora Lee García was recently invited to perform at the 4th International Flute Convention in Seville, Spain. García was one of only five guest artists from the United States. The roster of international performers included Emmanuel Pahud, William Bennett, Davide Formisano and Alexa Still. Garcia performed a full recital with pianist Jordi Torrent. She also…

On August 2, Keith Koons was honored for his service to the International Clarinet Association. He was presented with a plaque of appreciation by President John Cipolla during an awards ceremony at the ICA international conference ClarinetFest®.hosted by Louisiana State University. Koons served from 2008-2010 as President-elect, 2010-2012 as President, and 2012-2014 as Past President.

This July, John Almeida and Lyman Brodie, UCF Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, performed throughout Austria as invited members of the European Brass Ensemble. Under the direction of Maestro Thomas Clamor, the ensemble is comprised of virtuosic brass and percussion instrumentalists from 17 countries. Almeida and Brodie were joined by one other American, Dr.…

Scott Tobias has been elected 2nd Vice President of the National Band Association. The National Band Association is the largest band directors’ professional organization in the world, with members working in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S. The association promotes the musical and educational significance of bands. Tobias previously…