FGCU Bower School of Music & the Arts 2023-24 Season Brochure

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AUGUST

Mon 28 + Wild Garden: Jen Clay, Cynthia Mason, Luca Molnar, Grace Ramsey and Anastasia Samoylova

All dates and locations are subject to change.

For up-to-date information, visit fgcu.edu/bsma

KEY

Gallery Exhibitions

Art Special Events

Nisita Concert Series & Music Special Events

Student Ensemble Series

Theatre

BSM&A Special Events

$ -Ticketed event + - Multiple occurrences

Thu 31 Wild Garden: Jen Clay, Cynthia Mason, Luca Molnar, Grace Ramsey and Anastasia Samoylova artists’ talk

SEPTEMBER:

Thu 14 Wind Orchestra

Sat 16 $ Voice Faculty Recital

Sun 17 Jazz Ensembles

Tue 19 Symphonic Band

Sun 24 $ Woodwind Quintet

Sat 30 Songs of the Night: a vocal area concert

OCTOBER:

Sun 8 Chamber & University Choirs, Bel Canto & Cantabile

Thu 12 Citrus Flux: Lauren Baker, Jessica Dehen and Karri Leamon exhibition opening

Thu 12 $+ HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

Fri 13 + Citrus Flux: Lauren Baker, Jessica Dehen and Karri Leamon

Thu 19 Wind Orchestra

Sun 22 Symphony Orchestra

Thu 26 Fjelstul Art Lecture with Cristina Molina

Sun 29 $ Baron & Navarro Piano Duo

NOVEMBER:

Thu 2 $ Andrus Madsen, harpsichord &

Susan Ogata, violin

FEBRUARY: continued

Thu 15 Symphonic Band

Fri 16 $+ Silent Sky

Sun 18 Chamber & University Choirs, Wed 8 Percussion Chamber Ensembles Bel Canto & Cantabile

Sun 5 Jazz Ensembles

Thu 9 $ Daniel Lochrie, clarinet and bass

Tue 20 $ Laila Biali Jazz Trio clarinet & Michael Baron, piano

Mon 13 Wind Chamber Ensembles

Tue 14 Symphonic Band (Blue Band)

Wed 15 Wind Chamber Choirs

Thu 16 Symphonic Band (Green Band)

Thu 30 Wind Orchestra

DECEMBER:

Fri 1 22nd Annual Pottery Sale

Fri 1 17th Annual Empty Bowls

Wed 21 Seidler Showcase of Arts & Humanities

Thu 22 Jazz Ensembles

Sun 25 Symphony Orchestra

Thu 29 $ Spencer Myer, piano

MARCH:

Thu 14 Wind Orchestra

Thu 21 26th Annual Juried Student Art

Exhibition opening

Fri 22 + 26th Annual Juried Student Art Fundraiser Exhibition

Fri 1 FGCU Chamber Strings with

Sat 23 $+ Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte Sanibel Music Festival:

Thu 28 $ Emile Naoumoff, piano All is Bright

Sun 3 $ Jeffrey Williams, baritone &

APRIL: Michael Baron, piano

Tue 2 Chamber Strings at Emerging

Tue 5 $+ Choirs & Symphony Orchestra: Artist Series at Sanibel Music Joyful & Triumphant Festival

Thu 7 Senior Projects, Fall 2023

Tue 9 Wind Chamber Ensembles exhibition opening

Thu 7 Piano Ensembles

Fri 8 + Senior Projects, Fall 2023

JANUARY:

Thu 18 A Tenuous Framework: Shana

Wed 10 Percussion Chamber Ensembles

Thu 11 Wind Chamber Choirs

Fri 12 $+ The Life of Galileo

Fri 12 Bel Canto & Cantabile

Tue 16 Symphonic Band (Green Band)

McCaw and Brent Budsberg

Fri 19 + A Tenuous Framework: Shana

McCaw and Brent Budsberg

Thu 18

Senior Projects, Spring 2024 exhibition opening exhibition opening

Thu 18

Wind Orchestra

Thu 18 $+ University Choir with the

Sun 21 $ Amernet String Quartet Naples Philharmonic

Sat 27 $ Iva Ugrcic, flute & Satoko

Hayami, piano

FEBRUARY:

Sun 4 $ Kinga Augustyn, violin &

Michael Baron, piano

Thu 8 Wind Orchestra

Sat 10 $ A Celebration of Spirituals

Fri 19 +

Senior Projects, Spring 2024

Sun 21 $ Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra with Choral Artistry

Tue 23 Symphonic Band (Blue Band)

Thu 25 Chamber Choir

Sat 27 Jazz Ensembles

Sun 28 Piano Ensembles

Mon 29 $ Jazz Ensembles

For up-to-date event information FGCU.EDU/BSMA 3

INSPIRE | CREATE | PERFORM

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2023-24 artistic season at the Bower School of Music & the Arts. I am honored to share with you our exciting schedule of musical performances, theatrical productions, art exhibitions, and special events taking place on the FGCU campus and in our community. The outstanding level of talent, the boldness of creative vision, and the variety of exceptional performances strengthen our reputation as a place of artistic and academic excellence. We are particularly excited about the plans to expand our facilities and the fundraising campaign to raise the necessary funds to increase the instructional space of the Bower School of Music. I invite you to review our fundraising plans on page 38 and encourage you to join our campaign by donating to support this ambitious cause. Now is the time to set the stage for the future, where you play an integral part in enriching the lives of our students and leading the artistic growth of our institution.

There is so much to experience during this artistic season. The wealth of cultural activities reflects our ongoing pursuit of excellence and the vital role the Bower School of Music & the Arts plays in the cultural life of FGCU and Southwest Florida.

We hope to see you on campus, we count on your support, and we thank you for being an integral part of our artistic journey. With warm welcome,

Krzysztof K. Biernacki, D.M.A

Alan R. Korest Endowed Director Bower School of Music & the Arts

Art Gallery Exhibitions

2023-24 SCHEDULE FOR THE FGCU ART GALLERIES

The Wasmer Art Gallery in the Arts Complex is open Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The gallery is closed during all university holidays and breaks and in summer. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date information regarding dates, times and locations. For more information: fgcu.edu/artgalleries

ARTLAB

For the 2023-24 Season, ArtLab will be used as a research and preparatory space for the Permanent Collection.

WILD GARDEN:

JEN CLAY, CYNTHIA MASON, LUCA MOLNAR, GRACE RAMSEY AND ANASTASIA SAMOYLOVA

WASMER ART GALLERY

August 31, 5:00-7:00 p.m., reception and artists’ talk

AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 28

Employing different mediums and methods, the work of five Florida artists drifts between the natural and the surreal to conjure distinctive environments, lifeforms and habitats. The colors, textures and narrative mysteries on display create an immersive space wild, and lush. If these works are alluring, even playful, they also hint at darker visions, grappling with questions of control, cultivation and social responsibility. The natural world has a history much longer than human culture; in Florida, we are bearing witness to the changes we have wrought. These artists do not shy away from troubling questions about the future even as they revel in human possibility and natural (or supernatural) wonder. Jen Clay (Miami), Cynthia Mason (St. Petersburg), Luca Molnar (Deland), Grace Ramsey (Fort Myers) and Anastasia Samoylova (Miami) will return for a reception and artists’ talk on August 31.

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, The Wasmer Endowment, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

} Luca Molnar, Baker-Miller Pink, 2022, Oil on linen, 36 x 36 in.

ARTS

CITRUS FLUX: LAUREN ASHLEY S. BAKER, JESSICA DEHEN AND KARRI LEAMON

WASMER ART GALLERY

October 12, 5:00-7:00 p.m., opening reception and artists’ talk

OCTOBER 13-NOVEMBER 16

FGCU Art Galleries has long had a practice of bringing Art Program alumni back to exhibit their work. This year, we feature three artists who have each recently completed their MFAs: Lauren Ashley S. Baker (’10, Art; MFA 2018, Florida State University), Jessica Dehen (’14, Art; MFA 2022, University of Miami) and Karri Leamon (’18, Art; MFA 2022, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis).

Together, these artists span the gamut of materials from traditional paintings on canvas to sculpture, to video projection and installation art. All are currently teaching and creating in their institutions. They come to us to share their questions and answers that allow us to better understand how to make art, study art and teach art.

Sponsored by the FGCU Alumni Association, Gene and Lee Seidler, The Wasmer Endowment, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Design by Anica Sturdivant }

PSYCHOLOGY OF SUSTAINABILITY: EHREN FRITZ GERHARD AND MICHAEL V. SANTACROCE

OUTDOOR MURAL PROJECT

October 12, opening reception in conjunction with the Citrus Flux exhibition

OCTOBER 13, 2023-SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

As part of the FGCU Art Galleries’ continuation of site-specific projects, FGCU alumni Ehren Gerhard (’09, Art) and Michael Santacroce (’20, Art) are collaborating on two mural-style paintings to be installed at the end of the Arts Complex Courtyard. The murals explore how the Psychology of Sustainability is incorporated into everyday life and the challenge to understand the full impact those choices have in relation to the environment.

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

} Ehren Fritz Gerhard and Michael V. Santacroce, Psychology of Sustainability, 2023, Digital mockup

SENIOR PROJECTS, FALL 2023

WASMER ART GALLERY

December 7, 5:00-7:00 p.m., opening reception and artists’ talk

DECEMBER 8-DECEMBER 15

Faculty mentor: Mary Voytek

At the end of their studies, art majors are required to develop and present a coherent body of self-generated work. This exhibition combines their knowledge of techniques and concepts while drawing on research of historical and contemporary artists. Each senior art major in the exhibition designs and creates a unique installation that combines their technical skills and conceptual vision.

Sponsored by The Layden Family Foundation, The Smith Family Foundation of Estero, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Senior

Projects, Spring 2023 student Kea Suiko Kamiya (right) poses with supporter in front of her exhibition, Consider the Ravens, 2023. Photo by Darron Silva

A TENUOUS FRAMEWORK: SHANA MCCAW AND BRENT BUDSBERG

WASMER ART GALLERY

January 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m., artists’ talk in U. Tobe Hall followed by reception in the Arts Complex

JANUARY 19-FEBRUARY 29

For over 20 years, Shana McCaw and Brent Budsberg have investigated perceptions of history, ancestral memory and psychological displacement through gallery interventions, explorations of architecture and intuitive performance. A Tenuous Framework exhibits for the first time in a gallery setting, The Inhabitants, a video installation made in collaboration with filmmaker and Florida native Tate Bunker. Improvised over a multi-year period, this hybrid project melds film with numerous artistic forms that can be experienced both independently and in relation to the film. For this exhibition, The Inhabitants will be accompanied by architectural miniatures, installations, photography and video works that both led to and emerged out of the filmmaking process. Objects seen on the screen are simultaneously experienced firsthand in reinterpreted forms, creating uncanny associations that bring into question the relationship between reality and artifice.

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, The Wasmer Endowment, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

} Shana McCaw, Brent Budsberg and Tate Bunker, film still from The Inhabitants, 2012-2022

26TH ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBITION

WASMER ART GALLERY

March 21, 5:00-7:00 p.m., opening reception and artists’ talk

MARCH 22-APRIL 4

Students working in sculpture, drawing, printmaking, painting and ceramics submit their finest works for this annual juried exhibition. Up to 70 works of art demonstrating students’ accomplishments and experiments will be featured. The jurors for the exhibition are area arts professionals.

Sponsored by The Layden Family Foundation, The Smith Family Foundation of Estero, Method & Concept, The Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paul Firmin, Fall from Freedom, 2022, Oil on canvas, 60 x 60 in. }

SENIOR PROJECTS, SPRING 2024

WASMER ART GALLERY

April 18, 5:00-7:00 p.m., opening reception and artists’ talk

APRIL 19-MAY 3

Faculty mentor: Patricia Fay

At the end of their studies, art majors are required to develop and present a coherent body of self-generated work. This exhibition combines their knowledge of techniques and concepts while drawing on research of historical and contemporary artists. Each senior art major in the exhibition designs and creates a unique installation that combines their technical skills and conceptual vision.

Sponsored by The Layden Family Foundation, The Smith Family Foundation of Estero, WGCU Public Media and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

} Senior Projects, Spring 2023, (left to right) Seniors Adrian Matheson and Sarah A. Baker speaking in front of Sarah A. Baker’s exhibition Unraveling. Photo by Darron Silva

FGCU storytelling@Wasmer Art Gallery

Florida Gulf Coast University presents “Spoken Stories Creating Community” in the Wasmer Art Gallery in the Arts Complex (unless otherwise noted)

FALL 2023 SEMESTER

Tue, Sep 12 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Failure”

FREE and open to the public.

Tue, Sep 19 6:00–7:30 p.m. Josh Goforth – Folk Music and Stories of Appalachia

Wed, Sep 20 6:00–7:30 p.m. Josh Goforth – Stories and Songs of Appalachia

Tue, Oct 17 6:00–7:30 p.m. Robin Schulte – Jack and the Levitator

Wed, Oct 18 6:00–7:30 p.m. Robin Schulte – Healing with Stories

Tue, Oct 31 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Spooked”

Tue, Nov 14 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Food”

Wed, Nov 15 6:00–7:30 p.m. Joel Ying – What the Folk Are Saying

Wed, Nov 29 5:00–7:00 p.m. Student Showcase: Storytelling as Healing (Veterans Pavilion, Library Lawn)

SPRING 2024 SEMESTER

Tue, Jan 30 6:00–7:30 p.m. Tim Tingle – Choctaw Tales: Crossing the River of Life

Wed, Jan 31 6:00–7:30 p.m. Tim Tingle – Trail of Tears: Learning to Swim

Tue, Feb 13 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Love”

Tue, Mar 26 6:00–7:30 p.m. Sheila Arnold – African American Folk Tales and Songs

Wed, Mar 27 6:00–7:30 p.m. Sheila Arnold – Stories of the Underground Railroad

Tue, Apr 2 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Unbelievable”

Wed, Apr 3 6:00–7:30 p.m. Joel Ying – Myths & Legends: It’s all Greek to me

Wed, Apr 17 5:00–7:00 p.m. Student Showcase: Storytelling as Healing (Veterans Pavilion, Library Lawn)

Tue, Apr 23 5:00–7:00 p.m. Open Mic Storytelling – Theme: “Inspired”

2023-24 ART SPECIAL EVENTS

Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date information regarding occupancy and safety protocols. fgcu.edu/artevents

FJELSTUL ART LECTURE SERIES

MOTHERLANDS, SUNSPELLS AND GHOST ORCHIDS: ART MAKING IN PRECARIOUS LANDSCAPES

CHRISTINA MOLINA

U. TOBE RECITAL HALL, MUSIC BUILDING

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26 6:00 p.m.

Cristina Molina is a visual artist from Miami who lives and works in New Orleans — two environmentally precarious sites that have influenced her research on identity, loss and disappearing landscapes. Spanning performance, video installation, photography and textile design, Molina’s artwork is set amongst vulnerable terrains both real and imagined. Using the language of magical realism, her works reshape and centralize little-known narratives to upend dominant histories. Molina’s projects are typically collaborative and often include the participation of The Crystal Efemmes — a collective that produces immersive installations and performances with feminist agendas and mythical proposals.

Recent accolades include fellowships at the Artist in Residence in Everglades program (2019) and the Joan Mitchell Center (2021), and project support from the National Association for Latino Arts and Culture, The Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2020 Molina was one of 61 artists selected for the national exhibition “State of the Art” at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Previously, her work has been featured at the New Orleans Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The Polk Museum, New Orleans Film Festival, and Syros International Film Festival among others.

Cristina Molina is an associate professor and gallery director at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Sponsored by Alice and Dean Fjelstul

} Cristina Molina, Matrilineal Portrait, 2016, Archival Pigment Print

22ND ANNUAL POTTERY SALE

FGCU ARTS COMPLEX (FACING THE LIBRARY)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

In December 2023 we welcome you to join us for the 22nd edition of the FGCU Pottery Sale, made possible through our ongoing collaboration with the United Arts Council of Collier County. Beautiful, functional ceramic works from our talented Art Program alumni are featured at this annual event, along with contributions from current faculty, students and community participants.

Enjoy free coffee with the artists at 10:00 a.m.

art special events

17TH FGCU EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER

FGCU ARTS COMPLEX COURTYARD

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1

Intended start time 11:30 a.m.

Now in its 17th year, the FGCU Empty Bowls fundraiser is committed to helping our neighbors in need who are experiencing food insecurity through support for the food pantry at our partner organization, Interfaith Charities of South Lee. As always, there will be handmade bowls and delicious soups, dedicated student volunteers, and the friends, colleagues and community participants that make this support possible. Please join us!

For more info closer to the event, follow Facebook.com/FGCUEmptyBowls

} Photo courtesy of Patricia Fay

Handmade bowls by FGCU students, faculty and alumni. Photos courtesy of Patricia Fay

The Seidler Showcase of Arts & Humanities

THE

SEIDLER SHOWCASE OF ARTS & HUMANITIES

FGCU ARTS COMPLEX

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

5:00 p.m.

The College of Arts & Sciences’ vibrant arts and humanities projects supported by Lee and Gene Seidler will be highlighted in presentations by faculty and students. The program also features performances by theatre and music students.

Sponsored by Maurizio and Laura Nisita

2023-24 Nisita Concert Series and Music Special Events

All performances take place in the U. Tobe Recital Hall in the Music Building. Tickets can be purchased online at fgcu.edu/concerts and are $15 for the general public or $7 for students.

VOCAL FACULTY RECITAL

NATHALIE AVILA, soprano

LYDIA HOWERY, mezzo-soprano

HELEN TINTES-SCHUERMANN, mezzo-soprano

RAYMOND DIAZ, baritone

ISABELLE AUBIN, piano

ROBIN SHUFORD FRANK, piano

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 p.m.

The talented applied voice and diction faculty of the Bower School of Music will delight you with an evening of vocal music selections, solos and ensembles, from art song and opera classics to musical theater repertoire. Soprano Nathalie Avila, mezzo-sopranos

Lydia Howery and Helen Tintes-Schuermann, baritone Raymond Diaz and pianists Isabelle Aubin and Robin Shuford Frank will be featured, with a short appearance by Jeanie Darnell, soprano. Join us for this much-anticipated return concert from last season.

Helen Tintes-Schuermann

Nathalie Avila

Raymond Diaz

Isabelle Aubin

Lydia Howery

Robin Shuford Frank

WOODWIND QUINTET

SUZANNE KIRTON, flute

JUDY CHRISTY, oboe

PAUL VOTAPEK, clarinet

SPENCER BAY, horn

KRISTEN SONNEBORN, bassoon

with MICHAEL BARON, piano

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

3:00 p.m.

The Bower School of Music Woodwind Quintet provides a captivating musical experience that showcases the beauty and versatility of woodwind instruments. Each instrument brings its unique tonal qualities, blending together to create a rich and diverse sound palette. Each member of the quintet is also a member of the Naples Philharmonic. The repertoire of the woodwind quintet is diverse, ranging from classical compositions like Mozart and Beethoven to contemporary pieces ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. They will be joined by pianist Michael Baron for a performance of the everpopular Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.

Suzanne Kirton

Paul Votapek

Spencer Bay

Judy Christy

Kristen Sonneborn

ANDRUS MADSEN, HARPSICHORD & SUSAN OGATA, VIOLIN

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

7:30 p.m.

Come join Andrus Madsen for an evening of music that will transport listeners to the 17th and 18th centuries. An early-music specialist and graduate of the Eastman School of Music in harpsichord performance, Madsen currently acts as minister of music at Second Church in Newton, Massachusetts, where he also directs the Newton Baroque Ensemble. This program will feature both solo works for harpsichord and chamber music that promises to dazzle and delight its audience.

BARON & NAVARRO PIANO DUO

MICHAEL BARON, piano PRISCILA NAVARRO, piano

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

3:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand, the Baron & Navarro Piano Duo performs a wide range of music for two pianos with electric energy and melting lyricism to critical acclaim. Formed in 2013, they have been praised for their technical brilliance and innovative programming. Their debut at Carnegie Hall and the release of their first international CD, French Music for Piano Duo, which was recorded at FGCU, have garnered spectacular reviews. Navarro is Professor of Piano at Whitworth University of Spokane, Washington. This is a concert guaranteed to please!

Michael Baron and Priscila Navarro

Andrus Madsen and Susan Ogata

DANIEL LOCHRIE, CLARINET AND BASS CLARINET & MICHAEL BARON, PIANO

with KYLE SZABO, viola

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

7:30 p.m.

Daniel Lochrie is clarinetist and bass clarinetist in the Nashville Symphony and is a professor of clarinet at Belmont University. In addition to playing clarinet and bass clarinet recitals throughout the U.S., Lochrie has been associated with summer festivals in Crested Butte, Colorado, Lancaster, Ohio, Urbino, Italy, and Szeged, Hungary. He is an active chamber and recording studio musician in Nashville, where he has frequently performed as soloist and chamber musician on WPLN’s Live in Studio C, Belmont’s Camerata chamber series, and Lipscomb’s Faculty and Friends. He is joined by pianist Michael Baron and violist Kyle Szabo from the Bower School of Music for a delightful evening of exquisite music.

JEFFREY WILLIAMS, BARITONE & MICHAEL BARON, PIANO

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

3:00 p.m.

Jeffrey Williams has been hailed by the Baltimore Sun, as “very likable, a winning performance sung with much confidence, phrasing everything stylishly,” by the Miami Herald as possessing a “commanding, sizeable, effortless, manly baritone” and by Opera News as a “versatile, fearless performer.” The November/December 2021 issue of the Journal of Singing declared, “Jeffrey Williams is a superb singer in every respect. His voice is opulent and beautifully balanced, and he sings with flawless musical polish and insightful expressiveness.” He is joined by pianist Michael Baron in a wideranging program chosen from the rich repertoire for baritone voice.

Daniel Lochrie

Jeffrey Williams Michael Baron

AMERNET STRING QUARTET

MISHA VITENSON, violin

AVI NAGIN, violin

MICHAEL KLOTZ, viola

JASON CALLOWAY, cello

with MICHAEL BARON, piano

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21

3:00 p.m.

Praised for their “intelligence” and “immensely satisfying” playing by the New York Times, the Amernet String Quartet has garnered recognition as one of today’s exceptional string quartets and are Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University in Miami. Their sound has been called “complex” but with an “old world flavor.” The Amernet’s performance schedule has taken the quartet across the Americas and to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. They have collaborated with many of today’s most prominent artists and ensembles. They are joined by pianist Michael Baron in the rarely heard Piano Quintet by Enrique Granados.

IVA UGRCIC, FLUTE & SATOKO

HAYAMI, PIANO

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27

7:30 p.m.

Described as “luminaries,” “world-class” and “adventurous,” Iva Ugrcic and Satoko Hayami have presented uniquely diverse and virtuosic programs through dynamic performances and storytelling since 2017. Passionate about premiering and commissioning works by contemporary composers, especially women composers from diverse backgrounds, the duo prioritizes and thrives in sharing the perspectives of newly composed works while celebrating the ones that paved the path for future generations. We are proud to welcome back Dr. Hayami, who graduated from FGCU in 2010.

Amernet Quartet Group

Iva Ugrcic & Satoko Hayami

KINGA AUGUSTYN, VIOLIN & MICHAEL BARON, PIANO

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

3:00 p.m.

Polish-American violinist Kinga Augustyn is a versatile New York City-based virtuoso performer and recording artist. “Stylish and vibrant” (The Strad), and “beyond amazing, one hell of a violinist!” (Fanfare), Augustyn has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the United States, Europe and Asia. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Kinga has appeared at the Stern Auditorium and the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Aspen Music Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, Teatro Ristori and Gran Teatro La Fenice. For this recital she partners with pianist Michael Baron in presenting masterpieces for violin and piano, and solo violin.

A CELEBRATION OF SPIRITUALS

VALERIE FRANCIS, soprano

IMANI SARAI FRANCIS, soprano

MICHAEL BARON, piano

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

7:30 p.m.

Dr. Valerie Francis, Director of Opera at Nicholls State University, Executive Artistic Director for the Celebration of the Negro Spiritual Concert Series, and the Nicholls State University Gospel Choir will be joined by her daughter, emerging artist Imani Sarai Francis, first-place winner in the Advanced American Negro Spiritual category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Region Competition in their first concert in the Nisita Concert Series. This amazing mother and daughter artist duo celebrate the African American Spirituals in performances and lectures throughout the United States and abroad. Their presentations preserve the Negro Spiritual literature, its proper performance practices, interpretation, historical significance, and vocal techniques.

Kinga Augustyn

Valerie Francis

Imani Sarai Francis

LAILA BIALI JAZZ TRIO

LAILA BIALI, vocals

BRANDON ROBERTSON, bass

PAUL GAVIN, percussion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

7:30 p.m.

Join the multi-award-winning Canadian vocalist, pianist and songwriter Laila Biali for a memorable evening of live music as part of the Nisita Concert Series. Laila’s trio will feature bassist Brandon Robertson, Dorothy and John Guigon Endowed Director of Jazz Studies, and drummer Paul Gavin, masterfully mixing jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy. Expect pop hits reimagined, jazz classics as you’ve never heard them before, Canadian songbook gems, plenty of original material and personal stories that weave it all together with warmth and joy.

SPENCER MYER, PIANO

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29

7:30 p.m.

Laila Biali

Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by the Boston Globe, and labelled “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent after his 2012 Wigmore Hall recital debut, American pianist Spencer Myer is one of the most respected and soughtafter artists on today’s concert stage. Myer has garnered stellar audience and critical acclaim from around the globe and is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most outstanding pianists of his generation. Currently an Associate Professor at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, his appearance in the Nisita Concert Series will be highlighted by a performance of all 24 Debussy Preludes.

Spencer Myer

EMILE NAOUMOFF, PIANO

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

7:30 p.m.

Emile Naoumoff has been likened to Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein as a pianist, displaying the fire of the former and the poetry of the latter. He was also signed as a composer at age 18 – the youngest on their roster – with the music publisher Schott Group in Mainz. Since that time, he has enjoyed a worldwide performance career. He has been professor of piano at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music since 1998.

MAKE A GIFT

The Bower School of Music & the Arts at FGCU offers the broadest range of visual and performing arts programs of any university between Miami and Tampa. As we achieve more and more success, we have more students than our buildings were designed to hold. Our student population is bursting at 200 and we have more who want to attend our school.

These students and the programs they choose need ongoing funding. Generous community members like you set the stage for our students’ ongoing success. To continue this, we need your support.

For more information about giving to The Bower School of Music & the Arts, please visit fgcu.edu/cas/bsma/giving/ or contact Katie Schweikhardt at kschweikhardt@fgcu.edu.

Emile Naoumoff, photo by Jean-Baptiste Millot

music special events

FGCU CHAMBER STRINGS WITH SANIBEL MUSIC FESTIVAL: ALL IS BRIGHT

U. TOBE RECITAL HALL, MUSIC BUILDING

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1

7:30 p.m.

Join members of the Bower School of Music’s string program as they perform a concert of chamber pieces as part of the ongoing partnership with the Sanibel Music Festival. While the concert is free, there will be a freewill offering and reservations, while not required, may be obtained in advance at sanibelmusicfestival.org.

MOZART’S DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE

ST. LEO THE GREAT CATHOLIC CHURCH, 28290 BEAUMONT ROAD, BONITA SPRINGS

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24

3:00 p.m.

FGCU Opera Workshop will perform Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the FGCU Symphony Orchestra. The music will be sung in German, but the dialogue will be in English.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $7 for students and can be purchased at fgcu.edu/concerts.

CHAMBER STRINGS AT EMERGING ARTIST SERIES AT SANIBEL MUSIC FESTIVAL

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5840 MCGREGOR BLVD., FORT MYERS*

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

7:30 p.m.

Sanibel Music Festival’s 4th Annual Emerging Artist Series will once again feature the strings of the Bower School of Music. For the past three seasons, Kyle Szabo has brought student string ensembles to perform as part of the Sanibel Music Festival and will continue the tradition in 2024! While we are hopeful that the 2024 festival will once again be held on Sanibel, be sure to check the festival’s website or ours for updates and ticketing information. sanibelmusicfestival.org

*Please note that this location is subject to change. Check fgcu.edu/concerts for the most up-to-date information

2023-24 Student Ensemble Concert Series

All concerts are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date information regarding dates, times, locations and ticketing information. All ensemble concerts in the U. Tobe Recital Hall will be livestreamed at youtube.com/@BowerSchoolofMusicLiveStream/streams

CHORAL

The Chamber Choir is a select, auditioned ensemble of mixed voices.

The University Choir is a large ensemble of mixed voices and is open to all students.

Bel Canto is a select, auditioned ensemble of treble voices.

Cantabile is a select, auditioned ensemble of bass and tenor voices.

Sun, October 8, 2023 Chamber & University Choirs Naples United Church of Christ, 3:00 p.m. Bel Canto & Cantabile 5200 Crayton Road, Naples

Tue, December 5, 2023 Choirs & Symphony Orchestra: Moorings Presbyterian Church, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. Joyful & Triumphant 791 Harbour Drive, Naples

Tickets are $30 and are available at fgcu.edu/joyful

Sun, February 18, 2024 Chamber & University Choirs, New Hope Presbyterian Church 3:00 p.m. Bel Canto & Cantabile 10051 Plantation Road, Fort Myers

Fri, April 12, 2024 Bel Canto & Cantabile U. Tobe Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Music Building, FGCU Campus

Thu, April 18, 2024 & University Choir with Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples

Sat, April 20, 2024 Naples Philharmonic 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for students and $29-65 for the general public and are available at artisnaples.org/events/

Sun, April 21, 2024 Chamber Choir & Symphony Moorings Presbyterian Church 4:00 p.m. Orchestra with Choral Artistry 791 Harbour Drive, Naples

Tickets are $35 for premium seating and $20 for general admission and are available at choralartistry.org/performances

Thu, April 25, 2024 Chamber Choir Bower Chapel, 4:00 pm 130 Moorings Park Drive, Naples

student ensemble concert series

ORCHESTRA

The Symphony Orchestra is a large, auditioned ensemble performing standard symphonic literature. Students of all majors are eligible to participate. Regular collaborations with FGCU choral ensembles include the annual holiday concert, Joyful & Triumphant.

U. Tobe Recital Hall, 3:00 p.m. Music Building, FGCU Campus

Sun, October 22, 2023 Symphony Orchestra

Tue, December 5, 2023 Symphony Orchestra & Choirs: Moorings Presbyterian Church, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. Joyful & Triumphant 791 Harbour Drive, Naples

Tickets are $30 and are available at fgcu.edu/joyful

Sun, February 25, 2024 Symphony Orchestra

U. Tobe Recital Hall, 3:00 p.m. Music Building, FGCU Campus

Sun, April 21, 2024 Symphony Orchestra & Moorings Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m. Chamber Choir with Choral Artistry 791 Harbour Drive, Naples

Tickets are $35 for premium seating and $20 for general admission and are available at choralartistry.org/performances

JAZZ

The Bower School of Music offers a variety of jazz experiences from an auditioned big band to various combos.

Sponsored by Dorothy and John Guigon

Sun, September 17, 2023

Jazz Ensemble

U. Tobe Recital Hall, 3:00 p.m. Music Building, FGCU Campus

Sun, November 5, 2023

Jazz Ensemble

U. Tobe Recital Hall, 3:00 p.m. Music Building, FGCU Campus

Thu, February 22, 2024

Jazz Ensemble

Veterans Pavilion (outdoors), 7:30 p.m. Library Lawn, FGCU Campus

Sat, April 27, 2024

Jazz Ensemble

North Fort Myers High School, 3:00 p.m. 5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers

Mon, April 29, 2024

Jazz Ensemble

Tribby Arts Center, Shell Point, 7:00 p.m. 17281 On Par Blvd., Fort Myers

Tickets are $10 for students, $25 for the general public and $20 for Shell Point residents and can be purchased at tribbyartscenter.com/boxoffice/ beginning in March 2024

BANDS

The FGCU Wind Orchestra and Symphonic Band perform the highest quality music composed and adapted for wind band.

Thu, September 14, 2023

Tue, September 19, 2023

Thu, October 19, 2023

Tue,

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

The Bower School of Music offers instrumental ensembles of modest size to perform chamber music.

Wed, November 8, 2023

Mon, November 13, 2023

Wed, November 15, 2023

Tue, April 9, 2024

Wed, April 10, 2024

Thu, April 11, 2024

ADDITIONAL STUDENT CONCERTS

Sat, September 30, 2023

p.m.

of the Night:

Building, FGCU Campus

Tobe Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Thu, December 7, 2023

Building, FGCU Campus

Sun, April 28, 2024

Tobe Recital Hall, 3:00 p.m.

Building, FGCU Campus

All concerts are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted

2023-24 Theatre Series

All performances take place in TheatreLab in the Arts Complex. Tickets can be purchased online at fgcu.edu/theatrelab and are $15 for the general public or $7 for students, unless otherwise noted.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

Book, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy

Based on the film written by Daniel Waters

Directed by Mark Danni

OCTOBER 12-15

OCTOBER 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30 p.m.

OCTOBER 14 & 15 at 2:00 p.m.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is based on the classic 1989 film. The setting is Westerberg High, ruled by the shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. Misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under. Brought to you by the award-winning creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, Desperate Housewives), Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde) and Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness, She’s the Man), HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal new show based on the greatest teen comedy of all time.

Tickets are $40 & $45 for the general public and $10 for students and are available at theatre.zone 888-966-3352, ext. 1

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL was originally directed Off-Broadway by Andy Fickman and choreographed by Margeurite Derricks.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. concordtheatricals.com

SILENT SKY

By Lauren Gunderson

Original Music by Jenny Giering

Directed by Dan Bacalzo

FEBRUARY 16-25

FEBRUARY 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 7:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 18, 24* & 25 at 2:00 p.m.

An intelligent and ambitious scientist pursues her passion for astronomy, but is constrained by gender norms of her era, and the pull of family obligations. Lauren Gunderson’s play, written in 2011, is a contemporary take on an overlooked historical figure, Henrietta Leavitt, who solved one of the mysteries of the stars.

Silent Sky is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

Commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory with support from the Elizabeth George Foundation.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $7 for students and can be purchased at fgcu.edu/theatrelab

*There will be a discussion with the cast and crew following this performance

ANTIGONE

THE LIFE OF GALILEO

By Bertolt Brecht

Directed by Barry Cavin

APRIL 12-21

APRIL 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 14, 20* & 21 at 2:00 p.m.

In the year sixteen hundred and nine The light of science began to shine. At Padua city, in a modest house Galileo set out to prove The sun is still, the earth is on the move.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $7 for students and can be purchased at fgcu.edu/theatrelab

*There will be a discussion with the cast and crew following this performance

SET THE STAGE FOR THE FUTURE

Support The Bower School of Music & the Arts’ $20 million expansion

FROM INSPIRATION TO CREATION

The Bower School of Music & the Arts at Florida Gulf Coast University offers musicians, artists and thespians the opportunity to inspire, create and perform while pursuing their areas of study. They train with world-class faculty to hone their professional skills prior to joining the workforce and inspiring the next generation of artists. The Bower School also serves as the cultural hub of campus and the surrounding communities.

To help us educate and inspire even more students and enhance our capacity to serve Southwest Florida with diverse programming, we are undertaking a $20 million campaign to fund expansion of Bower School facilities and programs.

We are seeking generous individuals who value the power of the arts to transform lives, so we can take this plan from inspiration to creation.

WE NEED MORE ROOM TO GROW

We cannot admit more students or expand programs without adding more space:

u Music majors don’t have enough practice rooms.

u Our performing ensembles and theatre productions draw students from all majors, and larger rehearsal spaces are needed to increase participation.

u Performance space limits the scale of programming we can offer our community.

EXPANSION OFFERS EXCITING POSSIBILITIES

With $20 million, we could double the Music Building’s size and add:

u 400-seat performance hall with space for a fullscale orchestra and theatre productions.

u Choir rehearsal suite.

u 20 additional practice rooms.

u 10 faculty offices.

u Large rehearsal room for 120 students.

u Three classrooms for 30-60 students.

ENHANCING THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Your investment in our expansion will help us achieve other critical initiatives:

u Growing enrollment to 375 music majors, almost double the current number, in seven to 10 years.

u Launching graduate programs in music therapy, music performance and music education and adding new concentrations and other programs.

u Adding faculty and staff positions to maintain academic excellence as a core value of the school and university.

u Increasing opportunities for nonmajors to participate in ensembles and productions.

BUILDING ON SUCCESS

The Bower School offers the broadest range of performing and visual arts programs at any university between Miami and Tampa. We give musicians, artists and thespians the opportunity to inspire, create and perform while pursuing their areas of study. They train with world-class faculty to hone their professional skills prior to joining the workforce and inspiring the next generation of artists.

Renderings show how the Music Building could be expanded.

We invite you to join this initiative to strengthen artistic excellence and interdisciplinary opportunities at FGCU while growing cultural inspiration in Southwest Florida.

Embarking on this endeavor is inspiring — and costly. Capital investments for the arts and humanities come from private

donations rather than state allocations. We hope you’re inspired to help us meet our goal of raising $20 million over three years. Naming opportunities will be available to recognize significant gifts.

Now is the time to set the stage for the future, and you can play a vital role.

BOWER SCHOOL OF MUSIC

$10M+ in music endowments

10 large and 10 small music ensembles

14 adjunct faculty full-time 33 faculty degree programs

200 music majors

4 Contact Katie Schweikhardt at kschweikhardt@fgcu.edu or 239-590-7638 for more information or a tour of our facilities.

QUESTIONS? WANT MORE INFO?

For Bower School of Music & the Arts at FGCU concerts, special events and theatrical productions, please contact Joanna Naumes, Events Coordinator, at jhoch@fgcu.edu or by phone at (239) 745-4268

For gallery exhibitions, contact Anica Sturdivant, Assistant Curator, at asturdiv@fgcu.edu or by phone at (239) 590-7199

The BSM&A’s monthly newsletter, First Friday News, can be found at fgcu.edu/cas/bsma/newsletter

The BSM&A would like to thank our streaming partner, WGCU Public Media. Many past performances and lectures can be found at video.wgcu.org/show/bower-school-music-arts/

2023-24 Subscription Series for Music & Theatre

The Bower School of Music & the Arts is pleased to offer a subscription series for our events. Get tickets in advance for the 2023-24 season and save up to 33%. Pick your package and choose your concerts and/or theatre performances. You can choose the performances now or contact us later. A subscription does not, however, guarantee tickets to any performance. You must reserve your spot. Your tickets will be at the door.

ALL-ACCESS PACKAGE

10-PERFORMANCE PACKAGE

7-PERFORMANCE PACKAGE

One ticket for each Choose Choose performance in the season 10 performances

Please note that individual ticket prices have increased to $15 for the 2023-24 Season HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is not included in the subscription series.

Subscription Form – Indicate performance preferences/number of tickets

2023-24 NISITA CONCERT SERIES

Sat, September 16, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Voice Faculty Recital

Sun, September 24, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Woodwind Quintet

Sun, October 29, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Baron & Navarro Piano Duo

Thu, November 2, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.

Andrus Madsen, harpsichord & Susan Ogata, violin

Thu, November 9, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.

Daniel Lochrie, clarinet and bass clarinet & Michael Baron, piano

Sun, December 3, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

Jeffrey Williams, baritone & Michael Baron, piano

Sun, January 21, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Amernet String Quartet

Sat, January 27, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Iva Ugrcic, flute & Satoko Hayami, piano

Sun, February 4, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Kinga Augustyn, violin & Michael Baron, piano

Sat, February 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. A Celebration of Spirituals

Tue, February 20, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Laila Biali Jazz Trio

Thu, February 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Spencer Myer, piano

Thu, March 28, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Emile Naoumoff, piano

2023-24 THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is not part of the BSM&A Subscription Series

S ilent S ky

Fri, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat, February 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun, February 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Fri, February 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat, February 24 at 2:00 p.m.*

Sat, February 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun, February 25 at 2:00 p.m.

The Life of G alileo

Fri, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun, April 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Fri, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat, April 20 at 2:00 p.m.*

Sat, April 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun, April 21 at 2:00 p.m.

*Post-performance discussion with cast and crew

2023-24 Subscription Series for Music

& Theatre

Number of Subscriptions:

All-Access Package(s) at $150 each

10-Performance Package(s) at $110 each

7-Performance Package(s) at $85 each

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name:

TOTAL:

Address: City: State: Zip:

Phone: Email:

PAYMENT METHOD

AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa and checks accepted.

Name on Card:

Card #: Exp. ____ /____ CVV:

Check # (Payable to FGCU BSM&A):

Please call or email Joanna Naumes with any ticketing or subscription questions at (239) 745-4268 or jhoch@fgcu.edu. Thank you for your support of the Bower School of Music & the Arts.

MAIL ORDER FORM TO:

Joanna Naumes, Events Coordinator

Bower School of Music & the Arts at FGCU

Music Building, Room 115 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Florida Gulf Coast University

Where to find the Music Building and Arts Complex on campus

DIRECTIONS

From Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, turn onto FGCU Boulevard (FGCU's Main Entrance). Drive to the first stop sign and turn right. Follow the curve around to the next stop sign and turn left. There is a parking lot directly on the right and a parking garage on the left as soon as you turn at the stop sign.

} The Music Building and the Arts Complex are at the northern end of the parking lot. Please park here for all events in the Music Building and the Arts Complex.

} TheatreLab and the Wasmer Art Gallery are in the Arts Complex.

} The U. Tobe Recital Hall is in the Music Building on the right once you enter through the sliding glass doors.

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

10501 FGCU Boulevard South Fort Myers, Florida 33965-6565

fgcu.edu/bsma

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ARTS