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Festival of Fine Arts presents 43rd season

LAKELAND, Fla. (August 23, 2002) - Florida Southern's Festival of Fine Arts presents its 43rd season of art, music, dance, and theater. The season begins Sept. 12, with the opening of the Melvin Art Gallery, and runs through April 25. 

"The roster juxtaposes campus-generated events with guest attractions of national and international format," said Robert MacDonald, the Festival Director. Some of the guest events are encores, he added, special favorites that audiences have singled out through the years, such as the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, River North Dance, and the Count Basie Orchestra. 

The schedule of events is listed below. All events are in Branscomb Auditorium unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available at the Branscomb Auditorium ticket office Monday through Thursday 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 intermissions of Festival events and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Admission to the gallery is free. For more information, please call the ticket office at 863-680-4296. 

Festival Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m.
MILESTONES IN MUSIC
From Beethoven to William Walton, from Schubert to Richard Rogers, the 2002-03 season brings a rich array of composers' anniversaries. To celebrate them, our music department's soloists and ensembles combine vocal and instrumental talents in a fitting tribute to all. Cost: $15.

October 10-12; 17-19, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 13, 20, 2:30 p.m.
"THE SHADOW BOX"
Our campus theatre season begins with playwright Michael Cristofer's Pulitzer Prize-winning account of three terminal cancer patients' anxieties as they individually come to grips with the finality of their conditions. This 1997 Tony Award-winner is directed by James F. Beck. Buckner Theatre: Cost: $15. 

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.
DENIS MATSUEV, PIANIST
Last season, this exciting young Russian virtuoso-newest Gold Medalist in the Tchaikovsky Competition-took Branscomb by storm as soloist with the Russian State Symphony. Now he returns to us with a full recital program on his first U.S. solo concert tour. Cost: $15

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
The college's Symphony Band and Jazz Band take turns in a delight-fully upbeat evening of music perfectly suited to the beautiful Pipkin Bandshell. Conductors Jo Jossim and Brian Brink share the podium. Admission is free with open seating. Rain cover: Branscomb Auditorium.

Thursday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
THE PHILADELPHIA QUARTET
With a former concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra as violinist, this talented ensemble makes a welcome return visit to our series. Their repertoire of works for piano and strings is considered by many the most instantly enjoyable in all of chamber music. Cost: $15.

Nov. 14-16; 21-23, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 17, 24 2:30 p.m.
"LYSISTRATA"
Like the classic Aristophanes original, this updated comedic battle of the sexes finds its heroine leading a host of other wives in a war of celibacy, thus to end their husbands' warring ways. Result: victory for the women and hilarity for the audience! Adapted and directed by Mary T. Albright. Cost $15. 

Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m.
THE STANISLAVSKY OPERA IN "LA BOHÈME"
Bringing to Puccini's masterpiece the method-acting techniques of their namesake Stanislavsky, this prestigious Russian opera company sets out to achieve a perfect balance between acting and music. The production is costumed and fully staged with orchestra. Cost: $25. 

Saturday, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.
CHRISTMAS GALA
Each season the inspirational sights and sounds of Christmas are ours to enjoy when music department soloists and ensembles combine their forces in performance. From sacred to secular, from nativity scenes to chestnuts roasting on an open fire, yuletide joys abound. Cost: $15. 

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG ICE BALLET
IN "THE NUTCRACKER"
To welcome the Christmas season, the Festival proudly presents Russia's renowned St. Petersburg Ice Ballet in what is possibly the most entertaining of Tchaikovsky's ballets. Cost: $20. 

Feb. 13-15; 20-22, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 16, 23, 2:30 p.m.
"PIPPIN"-MUSICAL
This Broadway favorite turns to the eighth century to find its affable-but-malcontent hero, Pippin, eldest son of Charlemagne. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, it makes an ideal choice for our all-campus musical. Directed by James F. Beck. Buckner Theatre. Cost $15. 

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m.
VOICES RAISED IN SONG-A CHORAL FEST
A richly varied vocal evening can always be expected when the college's versatile Larry Sledge leads his choral ensembles through their vocal paces. On such festive occasions we are reminded, after all, that in the beginning was the voice. Cost: $15. 

Monday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.
BOBBY MCFERRIN IN CONCERT
The road to success has brought countless accolades to this uniquely talented vocal-instrumental artist. From his earliest years with "Don't Worry, Be Happy" to present-day international stardom, audiences of every age and taste have made him a legend in his own time. Truly a high point in the Festival! Cost: $25. 

Monday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA
The legend lives on! "The Count," who appeared personally on our Branscomb stage in years gone by, passed away in 1984; but his orchestra members, led by jazz great Grover Mitchell, still share one goal: to continue in the best Basie tradition. Cost $25. 

Friday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.
THE TEN TENORS
Fresh from their native Australia on their first American tour, this captivating group of ten-yes, count them!-youthful male soloists sing repertoire ranging from "La Traviata" to "West Side Story" to "Danny Boy" and invariably leave their audiences asking for more. Cost: $20. 

Saturday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.
STUTTGART CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Having delighted us in our 1996-97 season, this distinguished ensemble returns to bring us some more exciting chamber repertoire. American conductor Dennis Russell Davies ensures that their world-wide tradition of excellence is well served in both avant-garde and traditional music. Cost: $20. 

Saturday, March 29 (Wall Plaza) 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 30 (Branscomb Auditorium) 2:30 p.m.
"CHILD OF THE SUN" JAZZ FESTIVAL
FLORIDA SOUTHERN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Jazz meets the classics this year when festival host Larry Burke's outdoor Saturday lineup of international jazz artists is followed Sunday afternoon in Branscomb by Arthur Pranno and his talented young symphony players. And the perfect "bridge" is jazz pianist-composer Larry Willis, guest soloist in the premiere of his own FSC Orchestra-commissioned work for piano and strings. Admission is free with open seating for both events. Rain cover on Saturday: Branscomb Auditorium. 

Thursday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY OF IRELAND WITH JOHN O'CONOR, PIANO SOLOIST
For its initial tour of the United States, this long-established and prestigious orchestra includes in its repertoire some of the greatest world classics, along with sounds endemic to the Emerald Isle. And pianist O'Conor is considered one of the top keyboard virtuosi of our day. Cost: $25.

April 3-5; 10-12, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 6, 13, 2:30 p.m.
"THE ROADS TO HOME"
From talented Southern author Horton Foote comes this trilogy of one-act plays as our theatre's season closer. In "A Nightingale, "The Dearest of Friends," and "Spring Dance," we view with poignancy and good humor the lives of Texas friends and neighbors. Buckner Theatre. Cost: $15. 

Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN SYMPHONY BAND
There could be no more fitting way to finish the concert season than with a performance by this talented student ensemble. Each program, honed to a fine point by gifted conductor Jo Jossim, endears them to an enthusiastic audience. Cost: $15. 


The Melvin Art Gallery Schedule

Sept. 12 - Oct. 3
Michael Auerbach, Installation -"The Administrator." Michael Auerbach, Professor of Art at Vanderbilt University, is a nationally renowned sculptor whose work is shown throughout the country and appears regularly in national and international art publications.

Oct. 15 - Nov. 8
Umarid "Tony" Eitherong, Drawings and Paintings-One Person Show. Thai native Eitherong is an up-and-coming Florida artist whose exquisite drawings and paintings are winning many art shows and are attracting ever growing attention in art circles. 

Nov. 12 - Dec. 6
Florida Southern College All Student Art Show. Students display a variety of media from painting to ceramics to graphic design. 

Jan. 9 - 31 
John Briggs, Paintings-One Person Show. Renowned Florida artist John Briggs is known especially for his large, awe-inspiring Florida landscapes. He is represented by a top New York gallery, and his murals adorn many of the finest public buildings in Florida. 

Feb. 6 - 28 
Lucas Michael and James Yamada-Two Person Show. Two cutting-edge videographers/photographers are bringing their work from New York and Los Angeles to Florida Southern. 

March 4 - 28
Lakeland Art Guild Exhibition. Each year the gallery is pleased to present new works from Lakeland's community of artists. 

April 8 - 15
FSC Senior Graphic Design Show. The design work done both in print media and in web design by our Florida Southern seniors will be on display. 

April 16 - 25
FSC Senior Studio Art Show. Florida Southern's senior art majors will display their paintings and drawings. 

About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. 

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