News

LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2005) — Florida Southern’s Festival of Fine Arts presents its 46th season of art, music, dance, and theater. The season runs through May 26 and includes such world-renowned performers as the Jerusalem Symphony, the Russian National Ballet, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and Broadway star Carol Channing.

“I am especially excited about the upcoming season,” said Festival director Robert MacDonald. “Each year proves interesting during the booking process, but now and then there comes a season when events just seem to fall into place. And this is definitely one of those seasons!”

The schedule of events is listed below. Tickets are available at the Branscomb Auditorium box office Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. FSC students are admitted free of charge and non-FSC students pay half price. The Melvin Gallery is open during most Festival events and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Admission to the gallery is free. For more information, please call the box office at 863-680-4296.

Festival Schedule
Season tickets: $125-$195
Single ticket prices are listed with each event. Festival events are held in Branscomb Auditorium unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 4           7:30 p.m.
“The Wide World of Music”
The outstanding soloists and ensembles of the college’s music department start the season with a vocal and instrumental potpourri from around the globe. $20.00

Oct. 6-8; 13-15         7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 9, 16         2:30 p.m.
“The Heiress”
New York in the 1850s is the setting for this poignant story of a wealthy young heiress who at first seems perfect prey for a fortune-hunting suitor. The 1949 film version became an Academy Award vehicle for actress Olivia de Haviland. Directed by Paul D. Bawek. Buckner Theatre.  $15.00

Oct. 27          7:30 p.m.
“Music Under the Stars”
Under the batons of conductors Jo Jossim and Brian Brink, the college’s Symphony Band and Jazz Ensemble present another outdoor musical evening at the Pipkin Bandshell. Admission is free with open seating. Rain cover:  Branscomb Auditorium. 

Nov. 3           7:30 p.m.
Piotr Anderszewksi, Pianist
Among the frontrunners on the international keyboard scene, this young Polish-born virtuoso has captivated audiences throughout the world’s leading concert circuits, culminating this past summer in his debut at the prestigious Salzburg Festival.  $25.00

Nov. 10          7:30 p.m.
The Amadeus Trio
Known worldwide for their superb artistry and audience-friendly programming, pianist Marian Hahn, violinist Timothy Baker and cellist Jeffrey Solow present music in celebration of Mozart’s upcoming 250th birthday. $25.00

Nov. 17-19; Dec. 1-3         7:30 p.m.
& Matinees Nov. 20; Dec. 4        2:30 p.m.
“As Bees in Honey Drown”
Thrust into Manhattan’s “fast lane” by the success of his first novel, a young writer falls prey to the wiles of a provocative lioness of the celebrity scene.  Directed by Mary T. Albright. Buckner Theatre:  $15.00

Dec. 3           7:30 p.m.
Christmas Gala
A long-standing holiday treasure, this potpourri of vocal and instrumental Christmas delights is performed by the ensembles and soloists of Florida Southern’s excellent music department.  Sponsored by Heath Funeral Chapel.  $20.00

Jan. 12          7:30 p.m.
Cantus
These twelve young men present a vocal program that stretches from Gregorian chant and Richard Strauss to Smokey Robinson and “Shenandoah.” The Washington Post notes, “Theirs is a sound that beams with both enthusiasm and natural grace.”  $25.00

Jan. 17          7:30 p.m.
Marra & Mancini, Duo Pianists
This duo from Italy presents an evening of compositions for two pianos as well as for four hands at one keyboard. Chosen from a repertory that stretches from Rossini to Gershwin, their programs always include something for everyone.  Co-sponsored by Alma Foods.  $25.00

Jan. 20          7:30 p.m.
An Evening with Carol Channing
True to the lyrics she made famous in “Hello Dolly!,” she’s still going strong!  Florida Southern is thrilled to welcome this Tony Award-winning Broadway legend to the Branscomb stage for an evening of repartée and song.  $30.00

Jan. 30          7:30 p.m.
Jazz Meets the Symphony
Combining great jazz with great symphonic music, the talented Larry Willis Trio – he was the pianist in the legendary Nat Adderley Quintet – joins Arthur Pranno and the Florida Southern Symphony in an evening of orchestral favorites and works by composer/pianist Willis.  $25.00

Feb. 4           7:30 p.m.
Robert MacDonald Presents: “Mozart, Musicals and More”
The college’s pianist-in-residence plays host to a richly varied evening of excerpts from the world of concerts, operas and musicals.  He is joined by talented vocalists and instrumentalists under the direction of John Thomasson.  $20.00

Feb. 14          7:30 p.m.
Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”
Celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday, Florida Southern hosts the Mozart Festival Opera Company performing this operatic masterpiece, fully staged and with orchestra. In German with English supertitles.  $30.00

Feb. 16-18; 23-25         7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 19, 26         2:30 p.m.
“Into the Woods”
Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Prince Charming all turn up in this “fractured fairytale” musical by composer Stephen Sondheim. Directed by James F. Beck. Buckner Theatre:  $15.00

Feb. 19          7:30 p.m.
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
With an ever-expanding worldwide reputation under its conductor Leon Botstein, this symphony is known as the premier orchestra in Israel’s capital city.  Through the generous co-sponsorship of patrons from Hadassah and Temple Emanuel, Florida Southern is able to be included in the orchestra’s first Florida tour.  $30.00

Feb. 28          7:30 p.m.
Florida Southern Choral Gala
Director Larry Sledge leads the talented FSC choral ensembles through the inspiring world of choral music.  $20.00

March 2          7:30 p.m.
Tchaikovsky’s Ballet “Sleeping Beauty”
The Russian National Ballet performs a world-wide favorite, with a troupe of 60 dancers and live orchestra. $30.00

March 6          7:30 p.m.
The Tamburitzans
The young company of dancers and musicians in colorful costumes bring the world of Slavic dance and music to the Branscomb stage. $25.00

March 20          7:30 p.m.
The Salzburg Soloists with Andreas Klein, Pianist
Pianist Andreas Klein performs a Mozart concerto with the string ensemble that inspired a Los Angeles Times critic to comment, “Their lush sound caused their audience to gasp in awe.” $25.00

March 25          2:00 p.m.
“Child Of The Sun” Jazz Festival
The annual “Child of the Sun” jazz festival takes place with Larry Burke directing the activities. Admission is free, with open seating at Wall Plaza.  Rain cover:  Branscomb Auditorium

March 30          7:30 p.m.
Florida Southern Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Arthur Pranno leads the orchestra in a variety of great musical works.  $20.00

April 6-8; 13-15         7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 9, 16         2:30 p.m.
“Marvin’s Room”
This 1991-92 winner of Broadway’s Drama Desk Award is a poignant account of one woman’s commitment to putting others first, even as she faces her own impending death. Directed by Paul Bawek.  Buckner Theatre.  $15.00

April 11          7:30 p.m.
The Duke Ellington Orchestra
The music of this all-time jazz legend is kept alive by his band, performing such classics as “Take the A-Train,” “Satin Doll” and “Mood Indigo.”  $20.00

April 18          7:30 p.m.
“The Winds of Time”
Director Jo Jossim leads the Florida Southern Symphony Band and Wind Ensemble on a journey of great music arranged and composed through the years for their respective media.  $20.00

Melvin Art Gallery Schedule
Aug. 29 to Sept. 30
Printmaking at FSC
Opening reception: 8:15 to 9:00 p.m., Aug. 29
A showcase of the varied works coming from the Florida Southern College printmaking studio, including etchings, engravings, silk-screens, woodblocks, and monoprints.  The artists will attend the opening reception.

Oct. 4 to 28
Roberto Bocci
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 7
The multimedia art of internationally known Italian artist Roberto Bocci includes sound and video installations, single channel videotapes, photographic images and interactive CD-ROMs for desktop computers.  Bocci will travel from Washington, D.C., where he currently is teaching at Georgetown University, to present his work at the opening.

Nov. 4 to 25
Lisa Erdman
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 4
Lisa Erdman, assistant professor of art at Florida Southern College, presents “Annual Checkup,” digital prints, photographs, and a multimedia installation that humorously use language and imagery of the medical and pharmaceutical industries to explore the state of health of our country in terms of its current social and political atmosphere.  Lisa Erdman will discuss her work at the opening.

Dec. 2 to 9
Annual All-Student Show
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 2
Current work from all of Florida Southern’s eighty art majors will be on sale in the gallery.  Awards will be given at the opening.

Jan. 13 to 27
Robert Recht
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 13
Robert Recht’s paintings and videos concentrate on the flow of media, or mediated information, into our consciousness.  Recht, a former FSC art professor now working in Miami, seeks to capture and analyze the “psychic disarray” of an environment transformed by technology.  He will talk about his work at the opening.

Feb. 3 to 24
William J. Otremsky and C.J. Yeh
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 3
Friends since graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, William Otremsky and C.J. Yeh represent divergent media.  FSC painting professor Otremsky uses traditional old master painting techniques to explore the nature of the visual image and our understanding of ourselves through our image, while Yeh uses digital media to explore how one can be represented visually based on analogue data.  The artists will be at the opening reception to talk about their work. 

March 13 to April 1
Alumni Exhibition
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., March 13
Founders’ Week Reception for Alumni, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., March 31
Florida Southern’s art program is one of the oldest in the state, and over the years, it has produced many outstanding artists.  FSC honors them with this exhibition of their recent work, curated by Professor Emeritus Downing Barnitz (1965-1999), Many of the artists will be present for the Founders Week Reception on March 31.

April 7 to 13
Senior Thesis Exhibition—Studio Art
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., April 7
FSC’s gifted seniors display their works in this annual show. The John R. Reuter award for the outstanding studio artist will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

April 21 to 28
Senior Thesis Exhibition—Graphic Design
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., April 21
Florida Southern’s senior graphic designers bring creativity and professionalism to their work in both print and digital media.  Awards will be announced at 7:30 p.m. at the opening.

May 7 to 26
Lakeland Art Guild—Annual Spring Exhibition
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., May 7
For more than thirty years, the Melvin Art Gallery has hosted this annual exhibition for The Lakeland Art Guild, Lakeland’s oldest community arts organization.  Awards will be announced at the members’ opening on May 7.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelors. Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.