UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Performing and Fine Arts

Hard Times Come Again No More: Social Justice Through Song, April 6

The University of Portland’s Nicole Leupp Hanig and Catherine Jacobs and performing and fine arts students will present a concert, “Hard Times Come Again No More: Social Justice Through Song,” on Thursday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. Performances will respond to themes of conflict, displacement, immigration, and equality. Free admission; reception to follow. Sponsored by the Department of Performing and Fine Arts, the Garaventa Center, and the Dundon Berchtold Institute. For ADA accommodations or more information contact PFA at x7228 or brown@up.edu.

UP Students Shine: Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

A group of 38 students and five faculty spent February 20-24 at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for a week of competitions, workshops and performances. More than 750 theater students from schools across the northwest participated, and a number of UP students came away winners:

  • KCACTF Design Technology & Management, Winner in Scenic Design: Megan Macker (junior). Megan will attend the national design competition at the National Festival in Washington, D.C., April 17- 23
  • The Institute for Theater Journalism and Advocacy Regional winner: Madeleine Nguyen (freshman). Madeleine is eligible for attendance at the National Festival in Washington, D.C., April 17- 23
  • The LMDA/ATHE/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award Regional winner: Adele Kennedy (senior). Adele is eligible for attendance at the National Festival in Washington, D.C., April 17- 23
  • Meritorious achievement in scenic design: Maria Edwards (junior)
  • Irene Ryan Finalist in acting: Jacob Orr (senior)
  • Musical Theater Scholarship Auditions finalist: Maddie Tran (senior)
  • Semifinalist for The Society of Directors and Choreographers: John Rice (First year MFA graduate candidate).

The Kennedy Center American College Theater (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide, which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Through state, regional, and national festivals, KCACTF participants celebrate the creative process, see one another’s work, and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design.

For more information contact Gregory Pulver, performance and fine arts, at x7228 or pulver@up.edu.

Music at Midweek: Geno Michaels and Soul City, March 1

The next Music at Midweek performance will feature Geno Michaels (a graduate of UP) and Soul City, an exciting Pacific Northwest group performing classic and new soul, R&B, funk, and jazz, on Wednesday, March 1, at 12:30 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall. The band has been featured at the Portland Rock & Roll Marathon, the Mt. Tabor Summer Concert Series, Tthe Portland Rose Festival, the Bite Of Oregon, the Families In The Park Concerts, and more. The performance is free and open to all.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Music at Midweek: Portland Young Artists, Feb. 22

The next Music at Midweek performance will feature Portland Opera’s young artists, representing some of the best young singing talent in the United States. National auditions result in a few singers being chosen to work for Portland Opera for two seasons, performing in lead mainstage roles, community outreach concerts, and solo recitals. This season’s young artists will perform music that previews the season to come.

Music at Midweek takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 12:30 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall, and is free and open to all. For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Music at Midweek: Vocal Master Class with Brian Gill

The next Music at Midweek performance will feature a vocal master class with Brian Gill, associate professor of voice at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, on Wednesday, February 15, at 12:30 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall. The event is free and open to all.

Gill was previously music associate professor/director of vocal pedagogy at New York University’s (NYU) Steinhardt School and Voice Center (Langone Medical Center). Gill has taught in France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Czech Republic, and South Korea. His students perform throughout the United States and abroad, and he has been published in VOICEPrints (NYSTA official journal), Logopedics, Phoniatrics, Vocology, and Journal of Voice.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Music at Midweek: Oscar Diaz, Trombone

diaz-for-aboutThe next Music at Midweek performance will feature Oscar Diaz, Jr., trombonist, at 12:30 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Recital Hall. His performance is free and open to all.

Diaz was appointed assistant professor of trombone at Texas A&M University Kingsville in 2007. He holds dual bachelors degrees in trombone performance and music education from Texas A&M, a masters degree in trombone performance from The University of Northern Colorado, and a doctor of musical arts degree in trombone performance at the University of Texas at Austin. He has shared the stage with trombone greats such as Bill Reichenbach, Conrad Herwig, Slide Hampton, and The Trombones de Costa Rica to name a few.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at 7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Monday’s Your Last Chance: A Musical Feast with the University Singers, April 16

mikeconnolly copyAll faculty and staff are invited to spend “A Night at the Movies” with the University Singers on Saturday, April 16, at 6 p.m., in Bauccio Commons. Tickets will only be available through Monday, April 11.

Appetizers, main course, and dessert will be interspersed with songs from films going all the way back to the first talking picture. A no-host bar will be available. Michael Connolly, performing and fine arts, will conduct, along with student conducting associates Molly Kerns and Jasmine Tsai.

Tickets are $15 for students and $25 for non-students. Bon Appetit points may be used to purchase tickets, which are available in the PFA office in BC 235, by calling x7228, or pfa@up.edu. No tickets will be sold after Monday, April 11.