LATEST IN School of Fine and Performing Arts
Eye on UMSL: ‘The Marriage of Figaro’

UMSL students rehearse a selection from Mozart’s comic opera masterpiece as Opera Theatre Interim Director Karen Kanakis leads them from the front row.

MORE IN School of Fine and Performing Arts
Gallery season will range from DIY art to quilts

Gallery season will range from DIY art to quilts

Do-it-yourself art, large-scale surreal dreamscapes and a series of handmade quilts will be part of the 2012-13 exhibition season in Gallery Visio at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The exhibits are free and open to the public.

A star is born: Student carves out thriving music career

A star is born: Student carves out thriving music career

“I don’t sleep as much as I’d like to,” said a chuckling Lydia Vaughan. The 19-year-old junior majoring in communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is extra busy these days balancing her school work, a part-time job and a thriving music career.

Eye on UMSL: Corned beef on rye

Eye on UMSL: Corned beef on rye

UMSL alumni siblings Robert “Max” Protzel, BSBA 2004, and Erica Protzel, BFA 2008, serve up Protzel’s Delicatessen’s signature corned beef on rye with a pickle, which the family-owned establishment has been serving since 1954.

Students pull out all stops to make ‘The Stakes’

Students pull out all stops to make ‘The Stakes’

Joshua McNew thought he’d scouted out the perfect location to shoot the gritty student-driven drama “The Stakes.” In January, cast and crew set up shop at the Ford Asphalt Company building in Bridgeton, Mo., for a two-day, 24-hour marathon shoot. One problem, the site is right next to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Instructor shows off international instrument collection

Instructor shows off international instrument collection

Aurelia Hartenberger has been collecting musical instruments for nearly four decades. But, they’re not your average run-of-the-mill ones. They come from all over the world. Her collection features African drums, bells and rattles, plus historical Civil War instruments and one-of-a-kind custom-made modern jazz pieces, including some played by jazz greats Artie Shaw and Clark Terry.

Eye on UMSL: Big camps on campus

Eye on UMSL: Big camps on campus

Saxophonist Dave Pietro leads a Jazz Camp class in J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center at UMSL. Held June 10-15, it’s one of several precollegiate camps on campus each summer. Others include Girls Leadership Camp, STARS, UMSL Bridge Program Summer Academy, Xtreme IT! Summer Academy and UMSL Boys Basketball Camps. The picture, by campus photographer August Jennewein, is the latest to be featured at Eye on UMSL.

Scholar walks away winner at Madrid Film Festival

Scholar walks away winner at Madrid Film Festival

Niyi Coker’s film “Pennies for the Boatman” took center stage at the Madrid International Film Festival by beating out the competition and taking home the prize for best film script.

Celebrated choral groups to converge at Touhill

Celebrated choral groups to converge at Touhill

Many of the world’s best a cappella voices will fill the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall during a pair of performance June 23 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Piano students to hold benefit concert

Piano students to hold benefit concert

A group of University of Missouri–St. Louis piano students will soon travel to Russia and to help defray the costs they are holding a special benefit concert June 15 at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis.

Musicians learn from best at UMSL’s Jazz Camp

Musicians learn from best at UMSL’s Jazz Camp

Student and adult musicians interesting in studying with some of the finest and most talented jazz musicians in the county need look no farther than the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Division of Continuing Education at UMSL will present the Jazz Combo/Improv Camp June 10-15. It includes musical instruction from beginner to advanced, jazz improvisation and combo playing, instrument master classes, ear training and daily concerts.

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

A movie with ties to the University of Missouri–St. Louis has scored a major coup. The thriller “Fatal Call,” was recently screened at the Marché du Film, a film market that is part of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Jack Snyder, a lecturer in media studies at UMSL wrote, produced, directed and edited the film. He also makes a cameo in it.

3 honorary degree recipients devote lives to service

3 honorary degree recipients devote lives to service

Dr. Patricia Wolff, a St. Louis pediatrician who left her private practice last year to devote her time to providing food and medicine to malnourished children in Haiti, is one of three individuals receiving honorary degrees at five commencement ceremonies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis May 12 and 13.

Teacher of music teachers enters hall of fame

Teacher of music teachers enters hall of fame

Fred Willman, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Music and Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has influenced music education and music educators for almost half a century. His contributions were recognized in January with his induction into the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Arianna String Quartet mentors high school chamber groups

Arianna String Quartet mentors high school chamber groups

The Arianna String Quartet is taking a hands-on approach to fostering music education in the area. The Arianna, composed of four associate professors of music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, is the university’s resident quartet.

Schools collaborate for new Gallery 210 exhibit

Schools collaborate for new Gallery 210 exhibit

Students from three St. Louis-area high schools have collaborated on a new exhibit of their artwork that will be on display in Gallery 210 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “Collaborative II: The Things That Bring Us Together” can be viewed through May 19.

Director helps St. Louisans take Shakespeare to the streets

Director helps St. Louisans take Shakespeare to the streets

The culmination of months of hard work will play out in the streets of the Benton Park West neighborhood of St. Louis this weekend. The intersection of Cherokee Street and California Avenue will be the backdrop for the Shakespeare-inspired play “The New World.” It’s an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” being presented by Shakespeare in the Streets.

Put UMSL in your pocket

Put UMSL in your pocket

Whether you are lost on campus, want to easily contact a faculty member or are looking for the latest University of Missouri–St. Louis news, UMSL has a new solution. And it’s free and fits in your pocket.

Students, faculty, alumni express multiculturalism at Gallery Visio

Students, faculty, alumni express multiculturalism at Gallery Visio

The newest exhibit at Gallery Visio will celebrate cultural differences. The show, called “Multi-Cultural Expressions,” will be on display April 26 through May 16 at Gallery Visio at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. An opening reception will take place from 4 to 7p.m. April 26. Admission is free and the exhibit is open to the public.

Grammy winner headlines 2012 Jazz Festival

Grammy winner headlines 2012 Jazz Festival

As a sideman with more than 20 years experience, bassist Christian McBride is no stranger to winning Grammy Awards. But never has he basked in Grammy glory as a bandleader – at least not until the most recent awards were handed out.

Choral, orchestra groups to share stage

Choral, orchestra groups to share stage

University of Missouri–St. Louis performance groups University Orchestra and University Singers will share the stage for a free concert at 7:30 p.m. April 23 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Award-winning copywriter ‘lets loose the large’

Award-winning copywriter ‘lets loose the large’

It’s never prudent to turn in that first idea. Why? Often times it sounds like a first idea and that’s not a good thing, according to Walt Jaschek, an award-winning freelancer copywriter.

Pianist steps in from side, fronts first CD

Pianist steps in from side, fronts first CD

For years, pianist Ken Kehner has appeared on a number of his colleagues’ recordings, and now, he is finally fronting his own CD, “From This Moment On.”

Gallery FAB to display work by students

Gallery FAB to display work by students

Come out to Gallery FAB at the University of Missouri–St. Louis this evening (April 11) and see what five hours of hard work looks like. That’s how long it took to install the senior thesis exhibit by Bachelor of Fine Arts photography students.

Gallery 210 to issue ‘Parental Advisory’

Gallery 210 to issue ‘Parental Advisory’

The annual “Parental Advisory” art exhibit will open April 12 in Gallery 210 at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. On display will be artwork by students from the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at UMSL. The exhibit will run through April 28. An opening reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 12.

International photo, poster contest winners unveiled

International photo, poster contest winners unveiled

A photograph of women at an outdoor bread stall in Tajikistan took the top prize in the seventh annual international photo contest sponsored by International Studies and Programs at the University of Missouri­–St. Louis.

Studio recital promises wonderful evening of piano music

Studio recital promises wonderful evening of piano music

Piano students at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will present a wonderful evening of piano music at 7:30 p.m. April 11 in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL.

‘Sum of Motion’ headed to Touhill stage

‘Sum of Motion’ headed to Touhill stage

Dance students will put on an eclectic performance when they take to the stage for the University of Missouri–St. Louis’ spring dance concert, “Sum of Motion.”

Musical potpourri coming to Touhill stage

Musical potpourri coming to Touhill stage

Like popular, ethnic and classical music? A concert at the University of Missouri–St. Louis next month will offer a one-stop shop for fans of all three genres. The third annual collaborative event between the University Percussion Ensemble, Afro-Cuban Ensemble and Vocal Point will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

MADCO celebrates 35 years of movement

MADCO celebrates 35 years of movement

Known for its fresh, athletic style, it’s hard to believe MADCO, the dance company in residence at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, turns 35 this year. The repertory company will celebrate its anniversary with evening performances March 30 and 31 in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Center to kick off National Poetry Month

Center to kick off National Poetry Month

The Center for the Humanities at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will kick off National Poetry Month in April with a pair of Monday Noon Series events. Jeff Friedman, who has been called “the funniest poet in PoBiz” will give a reading April 2 at UMSL. He will explore poems from his most recent collection, “Working in Flour,” and selections from his new manuscript of parables, fables, tales and comic sketches.

Music students perform for UCDC preschoolers

Music students perform for UCDC preschoolers

After a lesson on music, preschoolers at the University Child Development Center received a spontaneous concert from University of Missouri–St. Louis music students. When students in the Discoverers class returned from their motor skills lesson, they were surprised by a string quartet who were there to perform for the two-and-a-half to 4-year-olds.

Eye on UMSL: Olympic interview

Eye on UMSL: Olympic interview

Richard Wright, Curators’ Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UMSL, interviews Susan Brownell, professor...

Sweating to the symphony

Sweating to the symphony

The speakers are blasting Beethoven, hands are punching the air and sweat is starting to form on brows. This is what learning looks like in Gail Fleming’s music class. “Pretend you’re in sixth, seventh and eighth grade,” Fleming, a lecturer in music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, instructs her students, all future elementary school teachers.

Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band to perform at Touhill

Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band to perform at Touhill

A performance later this month by the University Wind Ensemble and the University Symphonic Band will feature performances of works by two St. Louis composers: Barbara Harbach, professor of music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Kim Portnoy of Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo.

Art students represent UMSL at exhibition

Art students represent UMSL at exhibition

Two University of Missouri–St. Louis art students have the thrill of their work being on display at Art St. Louis through the end of March. Matt Wahlman and Katharine Stucker, both seniors in studio art were on hand for last Friday’s opening reception for the exhibit, which runs through March 29.

Director helps St. Louisans take Shakespeare to the streets

Alumnus dazzles on new CD

Last February, Brian Owens was feeling frustrated with his music career and like so many musicians do, he put his thoughts to paper. A year later, those thoughts have been transformed into his new single – “I Just Want to Feel Alright.” It’s on his new CD “Moods and Messages,” which comes out this summer.

Dance students practice with Broadway pro

Dance students practice with Broadway pro

Under the watchful eye of Broadway professional Daryl Gray, a group of University of Missouri–St. Louis dance students were put through the paces recently.

Jazz Combos to perform at Touhill

Jazz Combos to perform at Touhill

It’s going to be a night of unforgettable jazz. The University of Missouri–St. Louis Jazz Combos will perform at 7:30 p.m. on March 8 in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. It’s free and open to the public.

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Stan Kenton

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Stan Kenton

Innovative, sometimes controversial and unquestionably influential, Stan Kenton made an inimitable mark on big band jazz. As The New York Times noted, “Mr. Kenton was the last major jazz band leader to emerge from the Big Band Era of 1934-45, and his was one of only a handful of bands that survived when that era came to an end.”

Legendary dancer’s technique to come alive at UMSL

Legendary dancer’s technique to come alive at UMSL

Legendary dancer Katherine Dunham was an innovator in combining individualistic dance movements of Caribbean and African cultures with European-style ballet. Her intense research of primitive rhythms of various cultures explored the foundation of movement, its form and function. Dance instructor Theo Jamison will bring her dance method to the University of Missouri–St. Louis with the Katherine Dunham Dance course.

Students win big at St. Louis ADDYs

Students win big at St. Louis ADDYs

The University of Missouri–St. Louis continued its hot streak at this year’s St. Louis ADDY awards, the local round in the world’s largest and toughest advertising competition.

Scholar’s film earns international recognition

Scholar’s film earns international recognition

A film set, shot and first screened in St. Louis is now earning international recognition. “Pennies for the Boatman,” by University of Missouri–St. Louis scholar Niyi Coker, has been nominated for four awards at the Madrid International Film Festival in Spain.