Florida Southern College’s Festival of Fine Arts series has proven time and again its ability to enchant audiences with events representing a variety of disciplines, and this season is no exception. The following offerings will take place through December:
VISUAL ARTS
Annual All-Student Exhibition
Nov. 15- Dec. 6 (Opening Reception Nov. 15, 7 p.m.)
FSC’s Department of Visual Arts and Design presents a showcase of the exceptional talent of freshmen, sophomore, and junior art majors in an assortment of media and techniques, including painting, digital illustration, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture. The exhibition will be held in the Melvin & Burks Art Galleries and admission is free to the public.
THEATER ARTS
The Sound of Music
Nov. 14-17; 21-24, 7:30 p.m. (Sundays at 2:30 p.m.)
Arguably the world’s most beloved musical, The Sound of Music continues to bring joy to the hearts of countless audiences. Follow the story of Maria, a young postulant who proves too high-spirited for life in the abbey, as she is dispatched to serve as governess for seven children of a widowed naval captain. She quickly finds love for the children, and eventually for their father, who is soon faced with a dilemma of his own in the face of World War II. The award-winning musical features classic songs including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and “Edelweiss.” Performances will be in the Loca Lee Buckner Theatre, and tickets will cost $18 for adults and $9 for students.
DANCE
FSC|Dance: Fall into Dance 2019
Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m.
Join us for the FSC Dance Program’s annual fall performance as its students present a variety of works by both faculty and guest artists. The show will feature new and diverse choreography performed by talented students in an assortment of styles ranging from ballet to contemporary modern, all under the artistic direction of Erin LaSala. Mark your calendars and be sure not to miss this exciting celebration of dance. Performances will be held in Branscomb Auditorium, and tickets will cost $18 for adults and $9 for students.
MUSIC
A Brass Menagerie
Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Members of the FSC brass faculty are set to return to the stage in a continuation of our Faculty Artist Series. Join professors Brian Brink on the trombone, Don McLaurin on the trumpet, and Richard Sparrow on the horn, along with several of their instrumental colleagues, as they present a wonderful, wild, and wacky evening of auditory amusements. Their diverse selection will include compositions outside of brass domain, all encircling the evening’s title arrangement, composer John Cheetham’s “A Brass Menagerie.” The event will take place in the Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall and admission is free to the public.
Bandtastic VIII: Band Day Encore
Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.An array of ensembles of various sizes will take the stage in this annual event. Groups will include the FSC Symphony Band, FSC Jazz Ensemble, and FSC Chamber Singers, as well as several small performance groups, all presenting selections from their individual repertoires, ranging from classical and jazz compositions to pop and rock favorites. Under the direction of FSC Symphony Band conductor Jo Jossim, this auditory kaleidoscope will move nonstop, sure to be engaging from start to finish. Tickets for the event, held in Branscomb Auditorium, will cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
The Majesty of the Sun
Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m.From the inspiring beauty of the sunrise, ensuring life to our most essential crops, the sun has been a symbol of majesty in cultures and societies across the globe. This evening of choral music from the FSC Concert Choir, under the direction of Beth Gibbs, will explore the influence of the sun and its promise of warmth as reflected in words, song, and poetry. Tickets for the event, held in Branscomb Auditorium, will cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
Spirit of the Holidays: The Christmas Gala
Dec. 7, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.What better way to celebrate the holidays than to experience the music and words that tie all of the season’s essential elements together with our annual presentation of Spirit of the Holidays: The Christmas Gala. Begin the most joyous time of the year with the ensembles of the FSC Music Department, along with special small groups, as they perform music that includes holiday favorites, new renditions, and several exciting surprises along the way. The performance will be held in Branscomb Auditorium, and tickets will cost $8 for adults and $4 for students.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Florida Dance Theatre Presents: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m.
Experience the enchantment of the holiday tradition of The Nutcracker in a special Festival of Fine Arts performance by the Florida Dance Theatre, FSC’s company-in-residence. The timeless classic will be performed with charm and grace by dynamic dancers, with colorful scenery, dazzling costumes, and entrancing choreography that are sure to create long-lasting memories for all ages. The holiday-defining spectacle will be performed in Branscomb Auditorium, and tickets will cost $25 for adults and $12 for students under 12 years of age.
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.