FIRST FRIDAY NEWS

A Letter from the Events Coordinator

Hello, and welcome to the second-to-last First Friday News of the 2019-2020 Season! This has been a very quiet week in the Music Building at the BSM&A. The students and faculty are off on their Spring Break adventures, some of which we will be featuring in future editions of the First Friday News. In the meantime, the Gallery is preparing for the student artwork and three outside judges that will be involved in the jurying process for the 22nd Annual Student Juried Exhibition. A barnyard is being built and the seats rearranged in TheatreLab for the upcoming production of the classic story, Charlotte’s Web. Students and faculty alike have been rehearsing for all of the various concerts and recitals that we will have between now and the end of the season.

We have been blessed with many sold-out performances so far this season, and look forward to several more before we finish, so please make sure to get tickets to any of our ticketed events early. All of our student ensemble concerts are free and open to the public, as are our Gallery openings, but those have been busy as well, so I encourage you to get to the venues early for the events that truly excite you.

The planning for next season is almost complete, and we will soon begin the creation of the 2020-2021 Season brochure. If you are interested in receiving a copy when they are available in August, please send me an email with your August mailing address. Thank you for your continued support of the Bower School of Music & the Arts, and I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

Sincerely, Joanna Hoch, Events Coordinator

Student News

Nine students from the Bower School of Music traveled to Bradenton in late February to compete in the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions Competition, where they competed against college students from nine colleges and universities in their individual divisions (freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior categories). Five of Jeanie Darnell’s (Music) applied voice students placed:

• Lisa Acevedo (freshman, Music)—3rd place in freshman Classical Women

• Angelina Sozio (sophomore, Music)—1st place in lower college women Musical Theater division

Student News (continued)

• Valeria Estrada (sophomore, Music)—1st place in sophomore Classical Women AND named the MOST PROMISING FEMALE SINGER of the TBNATS 2020 Student Auditions

• Ricardo Rivera (junior, Music)—3rd place in junior Classical Men

• Arienne Fort (senior, Music)—1st place in senior/5th year Classical Women

Marcela Pulgarin (junior, Art) was recently featured in an article for her work in assisting Naples artist Ran Adler, whose exhibition Presence just closed in the Wasmer Art Gallery. The feature can be found on the FGCU360 website.

Valeria Estrada Jaime (sophomore, Music) won the Van Sickle Vocal Scholarship Competition sponsored by the Southwest Florida Symphony Society. Caitlyn Walters (sophomore, Music) received the Runner-Up Award. Valeria is student of Jeanie Darnell (Music) and Caitlyn is student of Jim Patterson (adjunct Music). The Van Sickle Scholarship is for $3,000 renewable for up to four years. The Runner-Up Award is for $2,000, renewable for up to four years.

(left to right) Valeria Estrada; cast members of Balance

Dan Bacalzo’s (Theatre) “Creating New Theatre” class recently performed Balance, a new project responding to the artwork of Presence: Ran Adler in the Wasmer Art Gallery. Written and performed by Madeleine Anderson (senior, Theatre), Charles Banks (freshman, Theatre), Kylie

Carothers (sophomore, Theatre), Sophia Costa (sophomore, Biology), Jesse Emby (junior, Theatre), Brithany Hernandez (senior, Theatre), Morty Joyse (junior, Theatre), Kalie Miner (senior, Theatre), Ayinde

Prather (sophomore, Communication), and Alec Taylor (senior, Theatre), the class performed the new work among the artwork in the exhibition.

Student News (continued)

Music History student Gabie Goral (junior, Music) presented a poster at the American Musicological Society’s chapter meeting at Florida State University. Her research concerned Dr. Cyrus Teed (founder of the Koreshan Unity) and his scientific experiments concerning sound. Gabie’s poster was the only undergraduate one presented at the conference.

Paula Alva (senior, Music) presented her music history research concerning cultural identity in the songs of Rosa Mercedes at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference. She was accompanied by Melissa Sanchez (junior, Music). Arturo Fernandez (sophomore, Music) also presented at the conference, performing Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz. Wendi Shi (junior, Music) presented her poster regarding the influence of rhythm on spatial intelligence in the music of Mozart.

(clockwise from top left) Gabie Goral; Paula Alva, Arturo Fernandez and Melissa Sanchez; Wendi Shi with curious students; Francisco Zabala (’19, Music) and former mentor teacher, Jason Thomashefsky at Dalcroze workshop

Student News (continued)

Dalcroze clinician, Jason Miller, presented two interactive workshops for FGCU music students, graduates and area music teachers. Participants experienced the music and movement connection through intensive Dalcroze Eurhythmic sessions.

Dr. Michael Baron’s piano studio has been busy. Victoria

Paulino (freshman, Music), Arturo Fernandez (freshman, Music) and Michelle Wijaya (junior, Music) performed in a masterclass with Roberto Plano, professor of piano at Indiana University. Jair Zacarias (freshman, Music), Arturo Fernandez, piano, and Miguel Montalvan (junior, Music) performed in a masterclass for David Dubal, former professor at Juilliard. Jair Zacarias, piano, Michelle Wijaya, piano, Melissa Sanchez (junior, Music) and Miguel Montalvan, piano performed in a masterclass for Pavel Nersessian, professor of piano at Boston University and the Moscow Conservatory.

Melissa Sanchez (junior, Music) and Jair Zacarias (freshman, Music) gave a piano recital on the Steinway Society Concert Series in Bonita Springs.

(top to bottom, left to right) Arturo Fernandez, Roberto Plano, Victoria Paulino and Michelle Wijaya; Melissa Sanchez, Michael Baron and Jair Zacarias

Faculty News

On Wednesday, February 19, Dan Bacalzo (Theatre) presented a brief lecture on playwright Henrik Ibsen prior to a showing of a film adaptation of Ibsen's play A Doll's

Faculty News (continued)

House at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. The event was sponsored by Florida Repertory Theatre, in conjunction with their upcoming presentation of Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House, Part 2. Following the screening, Bacalzo was joined by Chris Clavelli (Theatre), director of the Florida Rep production, for a talkback with the audience.

Krzysztof Biernacki (Director, BSM&A) and Jeanie

Darnell (Music), accompanied by Michael Baron (Music), gave a recital at the Steinway Gallery in Naples in mid-February. Michael Baron also performed a Beethoven piano concerto with the Gulf Coast Orchestra in Barbara B Mann auditorium in Fort Myers.

Tom Cimarusti (Music), along with violinist Glenn

Basham (adjunct Music) and pianist Jodie DeSlavo, performed a concert for the Italian Cultural Society of Naples featuring the music of Piazzolla and arrangements of Neapolitan songs. Dr. Cimarusti also provided entertainment as a solo accordionist for the Artis-Naples Gala Dinner. As part of a research grant, he also presented the 1st Koreshan Hymn Sing Along at the Koreshan State Park. Accompanied by four Bower students, Lee Hagen (sophomore, Music), Mike Frick (junior, Music), Susan

Palma (junior, Music), and Tony Claro (junior, Music), Dr. Cimarusti led participants in the singing of Koreshan hymns that he is currently editing. The hymns will be published in 2021.

(top to bottom, left to right) Jodie DeSlavo, Glenn Basham and Tom Cimarusti; Michael Baron (center) with members of his past and present piano studio at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

RSVP NOW…

PLEASE BE SURE TO RSVP TO THE 6TH ANNUAL

CHAMPAGNE SIGNATURE CONCERT. RESERVATIONS

ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED ONLINE:

fgcu.edu/concerts/champagne.aspx

Drum circle at the February 12th Live on the Lawn event at FGCU

If you have any questions or comments concerning the First Friday News, or if you have information about the work being done by our alumni, please feel free to contact Joanna Hoch, Events Coordinator, by email at jhoch@fgcu.edu.

March Events

February 28-March 26 Juxtaposition: Hevelyn Villar exhibition; ArtLab in the west side of the Library building, FGCU; This exhibition is free and open to the public Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and closed during Spring Break (March 1-7); Call 239-590-7199 or visit fgcu.edu/artgalleries for more information

Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. Kevin Chance & Eun-Hee Park, piano duo Nisita Concert Series; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for students and are available at fgcu.edu/concerts

Sunday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m. 6th Annual Champagne Signature Concert In Celebration of Ludwig von Beethoven’s 250th Birthday, Michael Baron, piano; Glenn Basham, violin; Adam Satinsky, cello and Paul Votapek, clarinet will perform a selection of chamber music by the composer; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building; Seating is limited and RSVPs are required at fgcu.edu/concerts/champagne; Contributions are encouraged and all proceeds benefit the Bower School of Music

Thursday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m. 22nd Annual Student Juried Exhibition opening reception and awards ceremony; Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex, FGCU; This event is free and open to the public; Call 239-590-7199 or visit fgcu.edu/artgalleries for more information

Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. Wind Orchestra Concert; The Village Church at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers; This concert is free and open to the public

March 20-April 2 22nd Annual Student Juried Exhibition; Wasmer Art Gallery, Arts Complex, FGCU; This exhibition is free and open to the public Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m; Call 239-590-7199 or visit fgcu.edu/artgalleries for more information

Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Confluence – Musical Traditions of India Nisita Concert Series; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for students and are available at fgcu.edu/concerts

Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Vocal Area Recital: Songs of Spring; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; This concert is free and open to the public

Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m. Kevin Kenner, piano Nisita Concert Series; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for students and are available at fgcu.edu/concerts

Thursday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. String Chamber Ensembles Concert; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; This concert is free and open to the public

Sunday, April 5 at 3:00 p.m. (final Nisita Concert Series event for the season) Kyle Szabo, violin & Michael Baron, piano Nisita Concert Series; U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building, FGCU; Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for students and are available at fgcu.edu/concerts

Student Recitals in the U. Tobe Recital Hall, Music Building; All are free and open to the public: March 10 7:30 p.m. John Imperatore Jr Vocal Recital March 12 7:30 p.m. Tiffany McAuliffe Jr Vocal Recital March 12 8:15 p.m. Peter Noll Jr Saxophone Recital March 25 7:30 p.m. Nicole Mirabile Jr Vocal Recital March 25 8:15 p.m. Julian Grubb Jr Clarinet Recital March 31 7:30 p.m. Kristin Jarvis Jr Violin & Joshua Snelling Jr Viola Recital April 3 5:00 p.m. Othello Senecharles Jr Vocal Recital

For up-to-date information about events at the Bower School of Music & the Arts at FGCU, please visit www.fgcu.edu/bsma.