The upcoming season of Florida Southern College’s Festival of Fine Arts series carries on its long-standing tradition of showcasing exceptional talent in the visual and performing arts to members of the community. The following presentations will take place through the beginning of November:
VISUAL ARTS
Pierre Henri Matisse: Sparks of Creativity
Sept. 27 – Nov. 1 (Opening Reception: Sept. 27, 7:00 p.m.)
Following in the path of his grandfather Henri, the late Pierre Henri Matisse made art his life’s passion. His experimental techniques allowed his unique voice and whimsical nature to be the forefront of every piece he created. This exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to follow Pierre’s creative process and observe how his art was inspired by his grandfather’s legacy. The exhibition will be a two-site set, displayed at the Melvin & Burks Art Galleries and the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. Both exhibitions are free to the public.
MUSIC
Music Under the Stars
Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
As the beautiful Florida fall season begins, prepare to enjoy an evening of instrumental music under the stars. Orchestral performances will include the FSC Symphony Band, members of the FSC Jazz Ensemble, and pieces conducted by senior music education majors as they plan to embark on their spring internships in local public schools. This must-see musical event will be held in the L.N. Pipkin Bandshell, with a rain location in Branscomb Auditorium, and is free to the public.
Valerie Gillespie: Sax for All!
Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Slide into a night of soothing jazz music with Valerie Gillespie, saxophonist with The Florida Orchestra and music professor at FSC. We are excited to have her lead our Faculty Artist Series with a delightful performance featuring her internationally recognized saxophone playing and appearances by several collaborative artists. The performance will be in the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall, and is free to the public.
Live the Questions
Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Leap head-first into the beautiful yet complex world in which we live by following the inquisitive nature of human beings through various selections of music. The FSC Chamber Singers, under the direction of Beth Gibbs, will perform several musical styles, from Renaissance to present day, each posing a question, challenge or predicament to be considered. Tickets for this event, held in Branscomb Auditorium, will cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
A Symphonic Celebration!
Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
In her first Festival of Fine Arts performance, FSC’s new Director of Strings Studies and Orchestra Conductor Martha Placeres will conduct the FSC Symphony Orchestra as a highlight of her first year in the role. Through various musical styles, composers, and innovative ideas, the orchestra and its new conductor will demonstrate the strong bond that they have developed in such a short matter of time. Tickets for this event, held in Branscomb Auditorium, will cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
THEATER ARTS
Biloxi Blues
Sept. 26-29; Oct. 3-6, 7:30 p.m. (Sundays at 2:30 p.m.)
Follow the story of young writer-turned-army-recruit Eugene Jerome as he learns about the harsh lessons of life and love while at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi, during World War II. Biloxi Blues is a Tony Award-winning and semi-autobiographical comedy by Neil Simon, American playwright, screenwriter, and author. All performances of this show will be held at the Loca Lee Buckner Theatre, and tickets will cost $18 for adults and $9 for students.
Copenhagen
Oct. 31- Nov. 3, 10:00 p.m. (Sundays at 7:30 p.m.)
Set around a meeting held in Copenhagen in 1941, international physicists and former partners Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr find themselves on opposite sides of a world war. The two men confront a situation edged with danger as they hope to uncover the mystery of human motivation in this historical drama. The show will be presented in the Frank Lloyd Wright Theatre-in-the-Round, and tickets will cost $18 for adults and $9 for students.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The USAF Concert Band and Singing Sergeants
Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
The United States Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants will bring their world-class act to Branscomb Auditorium to perform selections from their outstanding repertoire. The groups will come together in musicality for a performance that is sure to delight, inspire, and captivate all those in attendance. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information or to purchase tickets in advance for Festival of Fine Arts events, please visit www.flsouthern.edu/ffa, call 863-680- 4296, or visit the Branscomb Auditorium Box Office from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in Florida. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 70+ undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, nursing, and physical therapy. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio; is an award-winning national leader in engaged learning; and boasts 30 NCAA Division II national championships. It is ranked among the top 10 Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News and World Report; and is included in The Princeton Review’s 385 Best Colleges, The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2018, and Forbes magazine’s America’s Top Colleges Guide. The College is committed to the development of the whole student through vibrant student life programs that prepare graduates to make a positive, consequential impact on society. FSC is conveniently located within an hour’s drive of both Orlando and Tampa. FSC is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. Named the “Most Beautiful Campus in the Nation” for two consecutive years by The Princeton Review and one of the nation’s “Ten College Campuses with the Best Architecture” by Architectural Digest, Florida Southern is an internationally-recognized place of beauty and academic excellence.