Contact: Public Relations
(863) 680-4118

Festival of Fine Arts presents 45th season

LAKELAND, Fla. (August 27, 2004) - Florida Southern's Festival of Fine Arts presents its 45th season of art, music, dance, and theater. Festival II returns as well with its second series of intimate chamber concerts. The season begins Sept. 17, with the opening of the Melvin Art Gallery, and runs through May 30. 

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: $140-$195
Single ticket prices are listed with each event.
Festival events are held in Branscomb Auditorium unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
MUSIC OF THE OPERA MEETS MUSIC OF THE DANCE
Soloists and ensembles of the music department combine vocal and instrumental talents to perform well-known music from operas and ballets. Cost: $20.

Oct. 7-9; 14-16, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 10, 17, 2:30 p.m.
"MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING"
The campus theatre season begins with "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare's comedy of lovers Hero and Claudio and verbal sparring partners, Benedick and Beatrice. Buckner Theatre. Cost: $20. 

Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
TZIMON BARTO, PIANIST
Tzimon Barto, a Florida native, has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras, and the Chicago, Houston, National, and San Francisco symphonies as well as touring frequently in Europe. Cost: $25

Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
The college's Symphony Band and Jazz Band take turns in an evening of music at the Pipkin Bandshell. Conductors Jo Jossim and Brian Brink share the podium. Admission is free with open seating. Rain cover: Branscomb Auditorium.

Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.
THE POLISH PHILHARMONIC RESOVIA
Formed in 1955, the Polish Philharmonic Resovia, conducts its first tour of the United States. Cost: $25.

Nov. 18-20; Dec. 2-4, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees Nov. 21, Dec. 5, 2:30 p.m.
"COULD ANGELS BE BLESSED"
Nancy Kiefer's drama addresses the eternal theme of intolerance toward those outside society's norms. Directed by James F. Beck. Cost: $20.

Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m.
SOUNDS OF THE FABULOUS FORTIES
The Terry Myers Orchestra is joined by Connie Brink and other soloists in performing big band music from the 1940s. Cost: $25. 

Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
CHRISTMAS GALA
Music department soloists and ensembles combine in a yuletide performance of both sacred and secular music. Cost: $20. 

Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.
THE DAVIES-NAMEKAWA PIANO DUO
The international keyboard team of American Dennis Russell Davies and Japanese Maki Namekawa present music for two pianos, including selections from Schubert and Phillip Glass. Cost: $25. 

Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m.
MOZART'S "DON GIOVANNI"
The Mozart Festival Opera Company stages one of Mozart's finest operas. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Cost: $30.

Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.
BOBBY MCFERRIN RETURNS
Bobby McFerrin returns to Florida Southern College, bringing his unique vocal-instrumental music. Cost: $30.

Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.
JOSÉ LIMÓN DANCE COMPANY
The Limón Dance Company, in its 56th year, performs both classic modern dance and contemporary works. Cost: $25. 

Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.
BURNING RIVER BRASS
Debuting in 1996, this ensemble of twelve brass and percussion players presents a variety of music including classics as well as original works written specifically for the group. Cost: $25.

Feb. 17-19; 24-26, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 20, 27, 2:30 p.m.
"HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING"
The Vagabonds perform this hit Broadway musical comedy, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and seven Tony awards. Buckner Theatre. Cost $20. 

Feb. 20, 2:30 p.m.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor Arthur Pranno leads the orchestra in a variety of great musical works. Cost: $20. 

Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m.
THE PEKING ACROBATS
The ancient acrobatic arts of China are passed down from one generation to the next by these dedicated artists. Cost: $25. 

March 10, 7:30 p.m.
ROBERT MACDONALD AND FRIENDS
The college's pianist-in-residence and director of the Festival of Fine Arts presents a "concert retrospective" of his Festival recitals over the years. Cost: $25. 

March 15, 7:30 p.m.
THE ACTING COMPANY IN
"THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA"
The professional New York touring Acting Company presents William Shakespeare's comedy of deception, friendship and fidelity. Cost: $25. 

March 22, 7:30 p.m.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN SYMPHONY BAND
The talented student ensembles present their spring concert, led by conductor Jo Jossim. Cost: $20. 

March 31, 7:30 p.m.
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
The internationally recognized orchestra celebrates thirty years of touring around the world. Cost: $30. 

April 2, 2:00 p.m.
"CHILD OF THE SUN" JAZZ FESTIVAL
This year's outdoor festival salutes "Women in Jazz." Admission is free with open seating at the Wall Plaza. Rain cover: Branscomb Auditorium. 

April 7-9; 14-16, 7:30 p.m.
& Matinees 10, 17, 2:30 p.m.
"I HATE HAMLET"
The theater troupe performs "I Hate Hamlet," a comedy about a young, successful television actor offered a role as Hamlet in a New York stage play. Buckner Theatre. Cost: $20. 

April 9, 7:30 p.m.
RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET IN "SWAN LAKE" 
The international group of over 35 dancers performs one of the world's best-loved ballets. Cost: $30. 

April 11, 7:30 p.m.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE SPRING CHORAL GALA
Director Larry Sledge leads the talented FSC choral ensembles in the finale to the Festival season. Cost: $20.

Festival II Schedule
Season tickets: $50
Single event tickets: $12
Festival II events take place in the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall.

Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.
INGRID MACDONALD IN "MASTER CLASS"
Stephen McNally's play is based on transcripts of opera diva Maria Callas as she coaches young singers. Directed by John Thomasson. 

Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.
ANA VIDOVIC, GUITARIST
An internationally renowned classical guitarist and Peabody graduate, Vidovic has established herself on three continents. This is her first Florida performance. 

Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
ARTHUR PRANNO, VIOLINIST; PAULA PARSCHÉ, PIANIST
Florida Southern's talented artists perform great works for violin and piano.

March 29, 7:30 p.m.
THE GIDEON STRING TRIO WITH PHILLIPE MAGNAN, OBOIST
This renowned trio from the Czech Republic has become a leading ensemble on the European chamber music scene. They are joined by the Quebec-born oboist Magnan for an evening of varied chamber repertoire.

April 12, 7:30 p.m.
"IN A CHAMBER MOOD" WITH RITA FANDRICH, PIANIST
Rita Fandrich joins with other talented Florida Southern instrumentalists in an evening of music for woodwinds and piano. 

Melvin Art Gallery Schedule

Sept. 3 - Oct. 4
"BALCOMB GREENE-ABSTRACTIONIST AGAINST THE TIDE"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 3
Balcomb Greene (1904-1990) was among the earliest American abstractionists to gain wide attention. He was a force in the period after World War II during which New York and the United States became the center of the art world. Over fifty oil paintings trace Greene's work from the early 1930s to the mid-1980s. Greene's long-time dealer, William Meek, will speak at the opening.

Oct. 8 - Nov. 8
"ALLEN BENTLEY-ONE-PERSON EXHIBITION"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 8
Philadelphian Allen Bentley, a recent M.F.A. graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, explores the figure in motion in nearly life-sized oil paintings in which he uses bold mark-making to describe figures with flowing anatomical accuracy. Bentley will discuss his work at the opening. 

Nov. 12 - Nov. 26
"THE GUERILLA GIRLS-TWENTY YEARS OF REVOLUTIONARY ART POSTERS"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Nov. 12
Beginning in 1985, dressed in gorilla suits and using the names of women artists and writers from the past, the Guerrilla Girls set out to shock the art world into recognition of the discrimination that existed against women and persons of color. Guerilla Girls Frida Kahlo and Kathe Kollwitz will be at the opening of this retrospective exhibition of the posters that have helped make the Guerilla Girls known as "the Conscience of the Art World."

Dec. 3 - Dec. 13
"ANNUAL ALL-STUDENT SHOW"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 3
This exhibition affords an opportunity to purchase current work from Florida Southern's 80 art majors. Awards will be announced at the opening.

Jan. 14 - Feb. 11
"AWARD WINNING GRAPHICS FROM THE A.I.G.A."
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 14
Each year, the American Institute of Graphic Arts selects the best commercial design projects in America-from books and posters to web sites. The college's graphic design majors and the public are invited to see the most beautiful and exciting contemporary design work. Professor Robert Recht, Director of FSC's graphic design program, will discuss the exhibition at the opening.

Feb. 18 - Feb. 28 
"PRINTS FROM REVOLUTIONARY EUROPE-1789-1814"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 18
Before photography, handmade prints were the medium for publishing visual information. These prints cover the period from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 until the exile of Napoleon in 1814. Of great historical importance, they demonstrate the finest in the print-making techniques of that era. This exhibition is being held in conjunction with the meeting of the Consortium on Revolutionary Europe on the FSC campus. 

March 3 - March 25
"MICHAEL BARICKMAN-INSTALLATION SCULPTURE
ERIKA SCHMIDT-MULTI-MEDIA PRINTS AND ASSEMBLAGES"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., March 3
Michael Barickman and Erika Schmidt, Lakeland-based professional artists, have taught at FSC. Michael Barickman orchestrates found objects into sculptural ensembles that interact with the spaces around them. Erika Schmidt assembles images, colors, and textures into prints and drawings that express the world as a complex web of inter-relationships. The artists will talk about their work at the opening reception.

April 1 - April 11
"SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION-GRAPHIC DESIGN"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., April 1
Florida Southern's senior graphic designers incorporate the results of their training in print and digital media into the senior projects shown in this exhibition. The senior graphic design awards will be announced at 7:30 during the opening.

April 15 - April 30
"SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION-STUDIO ART"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., April 15
FSC's gifted young artists display their works in this annual show. Each year, several senior art majors go on to top graduate programs. The John R. Reuter award for the outstanding studio artist will be announced at 7:30.

May 7 - May 30
"LAKELAND ART GUILD-ANNUAL SPRING EXHIBITION"
Opening reception: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., May 6
The Lakeland Art Guild is Lakeland's oldest arts organization. The Spring Exhibition is open to members and non-members alike and attracts a wide variety of outstanding professional and amateur artists. The Melvin Art Gallery has been proud to host this annual exhibition for several decades. Awards will be presented at the opening. 


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 24 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.

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