Dean Moore honored with Legacy Education Award
November 30, 2018 Jeff Moore, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities, was awarded the Yamaha Legacy Education Award at the 2018 Percussive Arts Society (PAS) International Convention, one of the largest drum and percussion events in the world. The award is given once a year by the Yamaha Corporation of...
Story of a… Drum Major
November 05, 2018 She started leading at Boone High School. Spielman served two years as a drum major at Boone, where her sister was also a drum major, before attending her musical family’s alma mater. “I had always wanted to come to UCF.” The word “quit” isn’t in her dictionary. “I’ve auditioned for drum major every year...
Classic tale Of Mice and Men moves into Theatre UCF’s Black Box
November 02, 2018 John Steinbeck’s seminal classic, Of Mice and Men, depicts life in Depression-era California, but the themes and message of this story persist today. Dramaturg Bruce Costella explains that, “This kind of cultural ubiquity can be attributed to both the story’s shrewd prose and lasting heart.” Steinbeck initially conceived Of Mice...
UCF Women’s Chorus tackles “The Planets” with Orlando Philharmonic
November 02, 2018 The UCF Women’s Chorus is performing with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra this Saturday as part of their concert series. “We’ve been asked to perform Gustav Holst’s masterpiece, The Planets, which involves a treble chorus,” says Kelly Miller, UCF’s Women’s Chorus Director. “It’s an absolute honor in every way, shape and form....
Knights Saxophone Quartet win first place at Florida MTNA Chamber Winds
October 31, 2018 Congratulations to the Knights Saxophone Quartet for their 1st place finish in this weekend’s Florida MTNA Chamber Winds Competition. They advance to the southeast regional round where they will compete with other winners from Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The MTNA National Student Competitions are...
UCF Wind Ensemble releases new recording inspired by Greek mythology
October 23, 2018 The UCF Wind Ensemble has a new recording available featuring a piece inspired by Greek mythology. The “Zodiac Concerto” for solo horn, solo euphonium and wind ensemble by Anthony DiLorenzo brought together UCF students and faculty with professional musicians from around the country for this special collaboration. The 3-movement piece...
From Atlanta to New York, Theatre alumna makes her Broadway debut in new musical The Prom
October 23, 2018 The annual springtime tradition of prom is already a big deal – a crucial over-the-top social milestone for most high school students. Some students fuss over cummerbund choices, others fret about dinner plans – and some worry if their choice of a date will be met with acceptance, or conflict....
Jazz Professors to bring “cool” to UCF
October 15, 2018 By Tanesha Bridenback “Swingin’. Cookin’. Ground Breaking.” Three words that Jeff Rupert, director of jazz studies, uses to describe Miles Davis’ album “The Birth of the Cool.” Originally produced in 1949, the album features a nine-piece band, that includes traditionally classical instruments like the French horn and tuba. However, what...
Hot Mikado updates classic operetta with jazz and anime-inspired design
October 04, 2018 Theatre UCF’s production of Hot Mikado brings a unique design concept to the show and to the company: Japanese anime. Based on The Mikado, a comedic 1880s operetta which follows young lovers living in a fictional Japanese town where acts as small as flirting are a capital crime, Hot Mikado...
UCF Professor Celebrates Fashion Icon Harriett Lake in New Book
September 25, 2018 Although Harriett Lake couldn’t explain her devotion to clothes, something led the Orlando fashion icon and philanthropist to spend her life collecting the most unique and eye-catching outfits and accessories. A new book titled “Too Much is Not Enough: The History in Harriett’s Closet” by Kristina Tollefson, a costume designer...
¡Unidad! Together We Serve!
September 14, 2018 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the College of Arts and Humanities – activities and initiatives across disciplines
Behind-the-Scenes of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
August 31, 2018 BY JENNA MARINA LEE | AUGUST 31, 2018 When Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released on bookshelves in the United States on Sept. 1, 1998, Andrew Carnero ’15 was 5 years old. And while he remembers peering over his older brother’s shoulder to see what he was reading, the UCF theatre major could hardly have predicted...
Casting Call: See What Our Theatre UCF Alumni Have Been Up To!
August 30, 2018 Eric Ulloa ’06BFA (musical theatre) will be playing Jud in Theatre Under the Stars’ production of Oklahoma! with Tony Award winner Priscilla Lopez. Ulloa is the author of 26 Pebbles, which had its world premiere at The Human Race Theatre Company. The play was featured in American Theatre Magazine and The...
Q&A with Music alumnus Alexander Bornstein
August 07, 2018 UCF alumnus Alexander Bornstein ’09 is an award-winning composer currently based in Los Angeles. His music has been heard on television, independent films, feature films, web series, documentaries and concert halls around the U.S. Alexander has also been at the forefront of new multimedia platforms, composing music for one of...
UCF Piano Graduate ‘17 Corin Staves Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Munich, Germany
August 06, 2018 Congratulations to Corin Staves ’17, an alumnus of the Bachelor’s of Music in music performance and the Piano Studio, on being named a 2018-19 Fulbright Scholar and awarded a scholarship to participate in international exchange programs in Munich, Germany! Staves is drawn to Munich because of its vibrant music community...
Piano Professor Hosts Guests from China for an “East meets West” Summer Piano Program on UCF Campus
July 11, 2018 This year’s All-Steinway Summer Piano Progam held this June at the School of Performing Arts brought a special collaboration between two groups of pianists; young pianists from the age of 12-17 from Florida and professional piano teachers from China. These nine young piano teachers came from five different cities in...
Opera UCF students praised by Denyce Graves
June 15, 2018 Five opera students had the opportunity to participate in a private master class with Denyce Graves in front of a small audience at Snap! Space on June 10. “The morning consisted of a Q&A with [opera star Denyce] Graves, followed by arias from five of the students with the Washington...
'Human Error' Prepares Students to be Voice of New Generation in Theatre
June 14, 2018 UCF School of Performing Arts presents Human Error, a new play that runs June 14-24 and Aug. 23-26 on the UCF Main Stage. The production is part of Pegasus PlayLab, a summer theatre festival dedicated to developing plays by emerging playwrights. Human Error gives students and faculty the opportunity to create a fully mounted production...
New Summer Festival Dedicated to Emerging Playwrights
May 23, 2018 Pegasus PlayLab provides opportunities for students and audience members to watch experimental new works by the next generation of playwrights. UCF is launching Pegasus PlayLab, a new summer theatre festival dedicated to developing new plays by emerging playwrights. The festival, which runs June 2-24 and Aug. 23-25 on the UCF...
UCF welcomes Yoon Joo Hwang as new bassoon professor
May 23, 2018 The School of Performing Arts is proud to welcome to the faculty Dr. Yoon Joo Hwang, Assistant Professor of Bassoon. Recently, Dr. Hwang held teaching positions at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and Idyllwild Summer Arts Academy in California. In addition, she has taught several...