The New York Brass Arts Trio will visit West Virginia University on Tuesday, Oct. 29 as part of the College of Creative Arts Curiosity Series and Canady Series.
Trumpeter Joe Burgstaller, french hornist David Jolley and trombonist Haim Avitsur have forged together classical, light classical and classical/jazz masterworks of all eras and adapted them in unique and innovative instrumentation.
The West Virginia University Wind Symphony has accepted an invitation from the United States – China Cultural & Educational Foundation to participate in a three-city performance tour of China.
The invitation comes after years of success from the WVU Wind Symphony, with their recent New York City Carnegie Hall debut solidifying their reputation of excellence.
The West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance is excited to welcome Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Jeremiah Downes to the faculty. He received a BFA from Univeristy of the Arts in Philidelphia and a Masters of Music from Oklahoma City University. He is also a member of the Actors’ Equity Association. Professor Downes has spent more than 15 years as a professional performer on stages alongside some of Broadway’s finest performers.
“I am thrilled that we were able to land a teacher-performer as versatile and experienced as Jeremiah Downes,” said College of Creative Arts Dean Keith Jackson. “As both a teacher and performer he has engaged in activities in large metropolitan and in rural cultural centers. As our music theatre program continues to develop into one of the leading programs in the region, his diversity of experiences will be a great benefit to our students.”
Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright, María Irene Fornés describes her play, “Mud”, as “an example of what is possible.” Mirroring the impoverished and lonely conditions in the human mind, the West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance’s season opening production explores the struggle of climbing out of the situation we are born into. Come witness the telling of this incredible and chillingly close to home story Sept. 27-Oct. 6 at WVU’s Creative Arts Center.
“Mud”, first performed in 1983, tells the story of Mae, an impoverished young woman who is working hard to get out of her situation. She is constantly being brought down by her counterpart, Lloyd, a young man content to stay in his situation. Into their world steps Henry, a man whom Mae looks up to because of his knowledge and experience in the world (albeit only a slightly more learned that she). Henry comes to stay at Mae’s, but suddenly becomes one more tether tying her to her place in the mud.
Beloved by so many, Tonya Cesa was a 20-year-old West Virginia University sophomore when she tragically died in a car accident in 2018. Now, her family is honoring her by creating the Tonya R. Cesa Creative Arts Photography Travel Endowment.
“Tonya was full of life, just a really great person,” said Ed and June Cesa, Tonya’s parents. “She was a good student who cherished her faith and family.”
Kristina Olson, associate director of the West Virginia University School of Art & Design, has published a new book titled “Social Practice Art in Turbulent Times” with co-editor Eric J. Schruers.
“I was contacted by an editor with Routledge Publishing about doing a book for their ‘Art and Politics’ series based on a paper I gave at a national conference,” Olson said. “I knew that I wanted it to be a collection of essays by art historians writing about social practice art to make it a well-rounded and lively analysis of the topic.”
The West Virginia University Curiosity Series kicks off Sept. 5 with a visiting artist lecture by Jay Ryan.
Ryan learned about screen printing from Steve Walters at Screwball Press in late 1995, where they worked together until 1999, at which point Ryan started The Bird Machine print shop in the basement of his apartment building. His initial clients were his friends' bands, his own band, and the clubs where they played. By stumbling into the right place at the right time, he fell in with a new movement of screen printed poster makers across the country and around the world.
From woodwinds to music therapy, new faces abound at the West Virginia University School of Music.
“The excitement in the air in the School of Music is almost tangible this week -- not only welcoming our incoming freshmen class and new graduate students, but also our new faculty members,” said School of Music Director Michael Ibrahim. “Our five new full-time faculty members are really hitting the ground running, connecting with people across the college and beyond. Keep an eye – and an ear – open to the important and exciting things these folks will be bringing to WVU!"