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Meet UCF Grad Who is Broadway's Spider-Man

November 22, 2013  Who says Knights can’t fly? Justin Matthew Sargent, who graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2008 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theatre, is soaring over New York City audiences in the title role of Broadway’s “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” Sargent got his start...

Theatre Graduate Sings Hit Tunes in Latest Peformance

November 05, 2013  Theatre Graduate Natalie Cordone performed along with Shawn Kilgore in their most recent show “It Takes Two” on October 26. The night of popular song took the audience on a relationship journey with tunes from Broadway, television and film. The featured songs included “Our Love is Here to Stay,” “Chapel...

Percussion Instructor Performs on John Luther Adams Upcoming Album

October 07, 2013  UCF Percussion Instructor Thad Anderson performs on an upcoming album release of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit from Cantaloupe Music. Inuksuit, a CD-length work for 9 to 99 percussionists, has been called “the ultimate environmental piece” by the New York Times. The recording was made in the forest surrounding Guilford Sound...

Theatre Graduate Student Writes and Directs Full Length Play

September 24, 2013  Theatre UCF graduate student Whit Emerson is presenting a new full length play in the UCF Performing Arts Center October 10-13. The comedy, titled All of Chinese Literature Condensed covers 10 major works of literature that contribute to modern day Chinese culture. The play is written in a style reminiscent...

Theatre Professor Receives Estill Voice Lifetime Achievement Award

September 16, 2013  Theatre professor Steven R. Chicurel, DMA, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Estill Voice International at the Sixth Estill World Voice Symposium at Harvard University, August 2013. The Estill Lifetime Achievement Award “recognizes outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of voice. Recipients of this award have...

Music Professor Jeremy Hunt Releases Apps

September 12, 2013  Jeremy Hunt has released four new educational apps to the Apple Store. His IPA Sing, French Diction, German Diction, and Italian Diction are instructional tools for singers. They are all currently available for iOS 6.1 or later on the Mac App store.

Drexler Joins Jazz Greats on New Album

August 28, 2013  Richard Drexler features prominently on Low Standards, the latest release from renowned jazz musician Jeff Berlin. Drexler plays piano and bass alongside Berlin, one of the world’s most influential electric bass players. They are joined by famed drummer Mike Clark. The album, along with Drexler’s performance, has been received warmly...

Trumpet Student Wins First Place at Drum Corp Competition

August 26, 2013  Kyle Schmidt (B.M.E. Trumpet) won 1st Place in the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Competition. The event was held during the DCI Grand Championships on August 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Schmidt was one of 37 brass soloists vying for first place. There were 16 trumpet players...

Student and Faculty Composers Score Success in Fanfare Competition

August 26, 2013  Josh Hobbs won a place in the prestigious Dallas Wind Symphony Fanfare competition. Hobbs is a graduate student studying composition in the Master of Arts in Music program. UCF made an impressive showing with two winners. A piece by Josh’s teacher Christopher Marshall was also selected. The Fanfare Competition boasts...

Jeff Rupert Performs at I Love Jazz Festival in Brazil

August 13, 2013  This August, Jeff Rupert performed in Brazil at the I Love Jazz Festival Internacional. The festival boasts an attendance of more than 10,000 visitors each night. Rupert appeared with the Happy Feet Big Band and the Judy Carmichael Group on August 10 and 11 in Belo Horizonte. Rupert also performed...

"Music and Neuroscience" Research Featured in Orlando Weekly

June 06, 2013  The latest issue of Orlando Weekly features research on “Music and the Brain” by UCF faculty members. The work began with a course by Dr. Kiminobu Sugaya, a UCF professor of neuroscience, and Juilliard-trained violinist and UCF professor Ayako Yonetani. The course lead to lectures, performances, and a symposium as...

Central Florida Future on the Music and the Brain Symposium

May 17, 2013  Whether it’s an exciting baseline, a somber melody or a crescendo that makes your heart flutter every time, we’re all aware of the power music can have over our emotions. But is it capable of curing diseases? Could it be the reason for a murder or a suicide? Could it...

Sophomore Wins Central Florida Jazz Scholarship

April 12, 2013  Sophomore Greg Zabel has won the Central Florida Jazz Society 2013 Scholarship. Zabel was one of seven finalists following a preliminary round consisting of a recorded performance. Four of the finalists were UCF students. Zabel will receive a $2000 prize that he expects to put toward the purchase of a...

Spotlight on Award-winning Senior Flute Players

March 29, 2013  Flute players Adriane Hill and Nicholas Buonanni are entering their final semester at UCF. During their time at UCF, they have been highly active performers, and their efforts have been recognized with numerous awards. Both students are studying with Nora Lee García in the flute studio and had the opportunity...

David L. Brunner Conducts Honor Choirs

March 25, 2013  David L. Brunner, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, conducted honor choirs in three states this spring:  the Charleston All-County High School Chorus in South Carolina in January, North Dakota ACDA’s Middle School Mixed Honor Choir in February, and the Mississippi All-State High School Mixed Choir in April....

Hunt's "Vocal Tech" app now in App Store

March 19, 2013  On March 14th, Jeremy Hunt’s App “Vocal Tech” was approved for sale at the App store, internationally. The App is a vocal pedagogy instructional guide to classical singing. Visit www.appstore.com/vocaltech for more information.

Tobias Receives Citation of Excellence

February 27, 2013  Dr. Scott Tobias, Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida, was presented the Citation of Excellence by the National Band Association during the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in January. The Citation of Excellence is awarded “for an outstanding contribution to bands and band music” and for “inspired...

Yonetani Performs on Panama Canal TV

February 13, 2013  Ayako Yonetani performed at a concert in Panama on Wednesday, February 6th.  The Japanese Embassy in Panama presented the recital.  She collaborated with the students at the University of Panama. She was on Panama Canal TV on a show, similar to The Today Show. The event is covered in this...

Theatre UCF Student Wins at A Cappella Competition

February 02, 2013  Stephanie Trull, a BFA Musical Theatre student at the University of Central Florida, has captured the Outstanding Soloist award at the International Championship of Collegiate (ICCA) A Cappella Quarterfinals. Trull participated as a member of the coed group Gemini Blvd., which took second place overall at the competition, guaranteeing them...

Benefactor Duda Establishes Yonetani String Scholarship

February 02, 2013  Judith (Judy) Duda recently established the Endowed Ayako Yonetani String Scholarship, an endowment for violin and viola students. This is the first endowed scholarship honoring an active faculty member in the music department. Among her numerous leadership roles in the Central Florida community, Duda is a member of the Dean’s...