CONNECTIONS College of Fine Arts Spring 2022 Edition
CENTER FOR THE ARTS Ribbon Cutting
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Center for the Arts Ribbon Cutting AND Rebecca J. Luker Stage Dedication 2
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1 Theatre students pose with Danny Burstein, husband of the late Rebecca Luker, after speaking with the Tony winner; 2 Dr. Steve Peters, dean of the College of Fine Arts, welcomes attendees to the Center for the Arts; 3 UM Faculty, staff, students and donors mingle in the William & Jeanetta Corbett Keller Lobby before the ribbon cutting; 4 Members of the Luker family during the stage dedication in memory of Rebecca J. Luker; 5 Mr. Burstein shares memories of this late wife, Rebecca; 6 Dr. Peters presents Mr. Burstein with an engraved brick to commemorate the stage dedication; 7 Mr. Burstein poses with the permanent display in the William & Jeanetta Corbett Keller Lobby that honors Rebecca J. Luker.
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FACULTY Highlights Dr. Lori Ardovino, professor of music, recently received the Sigma Alpha Iota National Collegiate Outstanding Advisor Award. The award, which was presented by Taylor Holley, president of UM’s Mu Eta chapter, is intended to recognize individuals who volunteer their time, love and advice to college chapters. Dr. David Callaghan, professor of theatre, published a lengthy article on Richard Foreman in the new Book Series “Great North American Directors, Set Two, Volume Six, Theatrical Avant-Garde Directors, Post-1970.” Methuen/Bloomsbury Press; James Peck, Series Editor; Ann Shanahan, volume editor. Dr. Danielle Deavours, assistant professor of multimedia journalism, won the second-place faculty paper award at the Broadcast Education Association’s Conference for her paper, “Remaining Neutral During the Deadliest School Shooting in History: Nonverbal Neutrality of Broadcasters in the Virginia Tech Coverage.” She completed The Freedom Forum’s Power Shift Project Curriculum, becoming certified to facilitate future trainings in workplace integrity, diversity, equity, inclusion, harassment and discrimination. Deavours will utilize this training to lead workshops with other educators and media industry professionals.
From left: Tiffany Bunt, MBA, director of alumni affairs, Dr. Bruce Finklea and Dr. Sherry Ford, professor of communication studies.
Dr. Bruce Finklea, associate professor of mass communication, was the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association’s 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Dr. Roderick George, professor of music, was a featured artist in “Henosis: An Explosion of Classical Voices,” a benefit concert for the HighArt Foundation, which assists deserving high school seniors and young artists with scholarships and mentorships. He was also featured in a performance with the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers for the opening concert of the 2021-2022 David. R. Davidson Tower Art Series and is a featured artist on their debut album titled “Solace” that released in November. Closer to home, he was the featured tenor soloist in performances of “The Messiah” with the Alabama Symphony and the ASO Chorus in December.
Emily Gill, MFA, associate professor of theatre and interim chair has been accepted into the inaugural cohort of the Experience Design Certification Program offered by Odyssey Works, partially funded by a Midcareer Summer Stipend from UM. Starting in January 2022, for 10 months she will attend remote classes with current practitioners and experts in experience design for entertainment, marketing, performing arts and education to develop a thesis experience design project to present in New York in October 2022. Jennifer Hartsell, MFA, staff accompanist and musical director for theatre, composed and directed music for new work “Flatliners the Musical” starting with the project inception in spring 2021 through the December 2021 performance where she also played for the weekend of performances. Dr. Ted Hoffman, associate professor of music and director of music education, presented a research project titled “A Content Analysis of Brasswind Methods, Techniques and Skills Course Curricula” at the Society for Music Teacher Education’s Biennial Symposium on Music Teacher Education. He also presented a research session titled “An Analysis of Digital Tools for Employment, Tenure, Promotion and Student Portfolios” at the joint national conferences of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction and the College Music Society. Hoffman also presented a research poster titled “Brasswind Methods, Techniques and Skills Courses: A Curricular Analysis” at the 2021 conference of the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors. This is his fifth year serving as the organization’s executive director, NACWPI Journal publisher and webmaster. Marcus Lane, MFA, associate professor of theatre, publishes and curates content for “ThankUFive” a collection of linked public social media accounts centering on sharing the creative and rehearsal processes behind making live theatre from start to finish. Kel Laeger, MFA, associate professor, serves on the planning committee for the 2022 Birmingham African American Genealogy Group’s Black Heritage Fair to be held at the Birmingham Public Library in February. Also, as soon as the renovation for the Carver Theatre in Birmingham is complete, Laeger will restore the lighting hang and light plot for the theatre and program their new light board. Min Sun Lee, MFA, professor of art, was chosen as the designer/artist for the year to design a poster for the Railroad Park Foundation in Birmingham. This 4
poster will be distributed to the Railroad Park Foundation members at the “Park Proud” membership level and above. Lee was also featured in “Create Birmingham” online magazine, createbirmingham.org/min-sun-lee. Kyle Moore, MFA, associate professor of theatre, designed and built pieces for the nationally touring “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit. These large-scale displays were showcased in the BJCC this winter and will continue to tour with the rest of the exhibition. Moore also worked as a scenic consultant for Red Mountain Theatre Company’s “Holiday Spectacular.’’ Additionally, he designed and handcrafted fixtures to be used in their new theatre. Moore began his sabbatical in spring of 2022 to research digital fabrication and explore applications for 3D printing in stagecraft and scenic design. Dr. Eun-Hee Park, assistant professor of music, presented a concert titled “The Soul of Tango” on the series, 2021 UNBOUND: Chamber Music Soirées with Violinist Daniel Szasz & Friends. The concert was held at St. Francis Music Academy where Park collaborated with Daniel Szasz (violin) and Alex Horton (bass) from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra to present music by Astor Piazzolla. Dr. Bart Pitchford, assistant professor of theatre, was part of a panel titled “Pedagogy and Absence” which was published in Theatre Topics and discussed the absence of Arabic representation in American theatrical training programs. Pitchford also presented his
upcoming chapter, “Postmemory Nostalgia in Service of Coerced Nationalism” at the International Federation for Theatre Research in July 2021. Finally, he was awarded a pre-tenured faculty summer stipend to research Arabic theatre at the Internationally renowned Avignon Theatre Festival in July 2022. Dr. Jeff Walker, instructor of communication studies, was one of the recipients of the 15 Within 15 Awards presented by the University of Montevallo Junior Alumni Board. Dr. Tiffany R. Wang, associate professor of communication studies, published a co-authored journal article titled “Communicative Resilience of First-Generation College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic” in Human Communication Research (Advance Access, pp. 1-30). Jason Tanner Young, MFA, assistant professor of art, presented a solo exhibition of his work entitled “Depth Finder” at Berry College, in Mt. Berry, Ga. (Aug. 23-Sept. 16, 2021). He also exhibited alongside Daisie Hoitsma in a two-person show, “Frequency,” at the University of Texas at Tyler (Oct. 4-Nov. 5, 2021).
Congratulations The Department of Music’s Mu Eta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota received the Katherine Becker National Collegiate Chapter Achievement Award. The Collegiate Chapter Achievement Award is given annually to chapters whose officers and members have achieved distinction in fulfilling the national objectives and the chapter’s local obligations. The UM art faculty will exhibit their work as part of the Alabama State Council on the Arts series of faculty spotlights which recognize the outstanding art instruction available at universities here in Alabama. The exhibition will feature works by all nine full-time studio art faculty and will take place in the Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery at the RSA tower in Montgomery from Jan. 10 through March 29, 2022.
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Fall 2021
EVENTS
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1 Joe Ardovino Jr., Music Education-Instrumental (Senior Elite); 2 Opera Scenes; 3 Grace Varner, BFA, Art (Senior Elite); 4 Wind Ensemble; 5 Jada Tubbs, Mass Communication (Senior Elite); 6 COMS Senior Showcase participants with COMS faculty and staff; 7 Jared Sims, B.A., Theatre (Senior Elite); 8 The Theatre production “As You Like It” was performed outdoors in locations on the UM campus; 9 Dr. Bernice A. King (left) offered words of wisdom during the discussion moderated by Dr. Lolita Kincade (right) at the Dr. Wilson Fallin Jr. Lecture Series held on the Rebecca J. Luker Stage in the DiscoverShelby Theatre at the Center for the Arts; 10 Theatre production “Flatliners;” 11 Theatre production “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical;” 12 Gretchen Monson, Instrumental Performance and Mathematics (Senior Elite); 13 Alyssa Williams, Communication Studies and History (Senior Elite); 14 Grayson Sexton, B.A., Music (Senior Elite); 15 “The Crucible Project” art exhibit held in the Poole Art Gallery in the Center for the Arts; 16 Students in the Theatre Department perform “Septic: A Devised Theatre Production;” 17 Raina Verser, Communication Studies (Senior Elite); 18 UM choral members prepare to go caroling; 19 Kyle Everett, instructor and costume shop manager.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
From left: (top row) Greg Funderburg ’06, Arthur Waldrip ’10, Katie Dale ’12 and Britney Ray ’12, Kaley Martin ’16; (middle row) Kristen Berry ’18 (center) at The Hive, Clark Maxwell ’13, Audrey Mecke ’18 (right); (bottom row) David Pohler ’17, Molly Mize Thomas ’21, Lara Matalka ’20 and Meghan Gamble ’20.
Greta Lambert ’78 (Teatre) performed a one-woman version of “A Christmas Carol” for Alabama Shakespeare Festival as well as flling the role of deputy artistic director. Eric SanInocencio ’03 (MC) started a new position as the Head of Brand and Content Strategy at Amazon. Tim Hoobler ’04 (Teatre) is a staf writer for NBC Entertainment in Los Angeles. Leah Luker ’04 (Teatre) was featured soloist in the 2021 Alabama Symphony Christmas concert. Greg Funderburg ’06 (MC) was voted the Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of the Best TV Personality 2021. Amy Johnson ’06 (Teatre) played the baker’s wife in the Homewood Teatre production of “Into the Woods.” Stephen Elkins ’08 (Teatre) entered the MFA program in musical theatre composing at New York University. Arthur Waldrip ’10 (Art) is currently teaching elementary art full time for grades K-6 and special needs and working on a master’s in art education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Edward Karow Wilson ’11 (Teatre) is a working director, educator and creator in Bari, Italy, after graduating from the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU) in Prague, Czech Republic. Lindsey Bristol ’12 (Teatre) completed a mockumentary style television series for Terry Crews, Rock Rising and Funny Girl Productions called “Tis is B.S.” Lindsey is a co-creator and actor in the series about a summer stock theatre company. Katie Dale ’12 (Teatre) and Britney Ray ’12 (Teatre) write, perform and produce the podcast, “Grindhouse Girls,” where they discuss cult horror and camp flms, interview the flmmakers and scholars of the genre. Jade Rice ’12 (Teatre) is COVID safety coordinator on the Netfix series “Better Call Saul.” Dr. Daniel Birdsong ’13 (Choral Music Ed.), assistant professor of counseling at UM, presented content sessions at the New England Educational Assessment Network Conference and the Alabama Counseling Association Conference in November. Additionally, he published an 8
article in the Alabama Association of Professors of Educational Leadership Journal this fall. Devin Burton ’13 (Vocal Performance) was a featured baritone soloist in performances of Handel’s “Messiah” at Springhill Presbyterian Church and for St. Paul’s Singers Christmas concert in Mobile.
David Pohler ’17 (Musical Teatre) is a featured actor in the upcoming Netfix flm “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” based on the work of Stephen King. Megan (Salter) Reece ’17 (COMS) started a new job as Career Coach at Alexander City Schools.
Neal Embry ’13 (MC) took on a new role with Starnes Media as the editor of Te Homewood Star.
Madi Rutledge ’17 (Teatre) is the assistant company manager for the touring production of “Fiddler on the Roof ” for NETWorks on Tour.
Clark Maxwell ’13 (Art and COMS) is PR and communications manager at Fleetio in Birmingham.
Kristen Berry ’18 (Art) is director of art at Te Hive in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Ashley Knowles ’14 (Teatre) is associate director of the ensemble program at TADA! Youth Teatre in New York City, where they have worked since 2016.
James Boynton ’18 (Teatre) is technical director of ArtsWest in Seattle, Washington.
Carly Laing ’14 (MC) started a new job as an anchor with CBS 42 in Birmingham. Lauren Gowins ’15 (Graphic Design) was awarded the 2021 Emerging Business of the Year from the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber. Gowins is founder and CEO at Bold Agency in Huntsville, Alabama. Clarke Stackhouse ’15 (MC) recently accepted the role of marketing manager for Koz. Katy Beddingfield ’16 (Teatre) is now a hair stylist and makeup artist at Sight and Sound Teatres in Branson, Missouri. Kaley Martin ’16 (MC) was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Alliance for Women in Media Foundation & Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship. James Powers ’16 (Musical Teatre) is pursuing an MFA in musical theatre creative writing at NYU. Hannah Jane Sizemore ’16 (Teatre) is the theatre program teacher at Tompson High School in Alabaster. Hannah Stephens ’16 (Teatre) is the media director and a teaching artist with Te Play Group Teatre in New York. She is also a resident director at Teatre Untitled and teaching artist. Tahauny Cleghorn ’17 (Musical Teatre) is a working actor, vocalist and choreographer in the Birmingham area. Frank Deming ’17 (Teatre) is assistant company manager and production assistant on the national tour of “Te Prom.” Malik Van Hoozer ’17 (Teatre) is owner and lead instructor at Te Van Hoozer Experience, an acting coaching academy in Orlando, Florida. Kendra Johnson ’17 (Teatre) resumed performing on Norwegian Cruise Lines. Sierra Riggs Michalkow ’17 (Vocal Performance) is a licensed massage therapist specializing in laryngeal therapy for vocal performers in New York City.
Jesse Byron ’18 (Teatre) is a teaching and performing artist in Birmingham most recently working on “Zombie Toughts” for Birmingham Children’s Teatre. Audrey Mecke ’18 (Art) is a graphic designer for Lewis Communications in Mobile. Kassaundra Couch ’19 (Teatre) is working in experiential performance creation in San Francisco. Katelyn Coley ’19 (Art) is art and education coordinator at Shelby County Arts Council. Harley Jennings ’19 (Teatre) is creative director at Warehouse 31 scare experience. Yael Webster ’19 (Teatre) is a graduate student at DAMU in Prague, Czech Republic. Christina Yancy ’19 (Teatre) is a member of the 2021-2022 Fellowship Company at the St. Louis Black Repertory Teatre. Taylor Chapman ’20 (Teatre) is assistant director for Birmingham Black Repertory’s production of “One in Two.” Aaron Coleman ’20 (Teatre) performed as part of the company at Te Lost Colony in summer 2021. Meghan Gamble ’20 (Instrumental Music Ed.) was named Teacher of the Year by South View Elementary in the Opelika City School District. Amber Hayes ’20 (Teatre) is a certifed personal trainer and teaching artist in theatre for young audiences in Montgomery. Lara Matalka ’20 (Art) is a hand-building instructor at FLUX Studio & Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Stephanie Michael ’20 (MC) started a new job as the administrative assistant at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Brooke Morgan ’20 (Teatre) is the stage manager for the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s touring production of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Continued on page 10.
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Continued from page 9. Ana Muñoz ’20 (Teatre) was a production assistant on “Hometown Takeover” and returns to Teatre Squared in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for “Designing Women and American Mariachi.” Davis Parker ’20 (Teatre) is an intern in Lighting Design at Te Naples Players Teatre in Florida. Lia Williams ’20 (Art) is a graphic designer and photo retoucher at Belmont Studios in Pelham. Nate Blakely ’21 (Teatre) performed in “Ruf!” for Birmingham Children’s Teatre. Sav Cook ’21 (MC) started a new job with WVTM 13 as an editor/photographer. Ashlyn Dismukes ’21 (Teatre) designs costumes and makeup for Central Florida. Lyric Letts ’21 (Teatre) designed costumes for Birmingham Children’s Teatre’s production of “Zombie Dreams.” Molly Mize Thomas ’21 (Piano Performance) had an article published in the September edition of the Iowa Music Teachers Association magazine. She is pursuing a master’s in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Northern Iowa. Cameron Wasner ’21 (Teatre) designed costumes for Birmingham Children’s Teatre’s production of “Ruf!” Kane White ’21 (Vocal Performance) attends graduate school at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He debuted as Marchese d’Obigny in Verdi’s “La Traviata,” a production in which he also served as assistant director. He performed Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ “Songs of Travel” in collaboration with a piano major and he presented selected Lieder of Robert Owens for a Concert of Untapped Composers. White will perform as the “Man with a Coronet Case/Puppet Maker” in Dominick Argento’s “Postcard from Morocco” next semester and serve as an assistant director of “Guys and Dolls.” Cassandra Whitt ’21 (Teatre) was a production assistant on “Shoebox Picnic Roadside” for Alabama Shakespeare
Festival after fnishing an internship in the Sound Department at Florida Studio Teatre. Te University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Junior Board of Directors established the 15 Within 15 to recognize driven UM graduates who have demonstrated strong leadership and career passion within the frst 15 years after earning their degree. Of the inaugural class, 10 of the alumni recognized are College of Fine Arts alumni and include:
• Justin Averette ’06 (MC), senior communications specialist, Southern Company.
• Kelli Solomon ’06 (MC), VP of operations and programs, Birmingham Urban League.
• Jason Styres ’06 (Teatre), casting director and creative director of Te Casting Collaborative; founder of the Caucus for Independent Casting. He has cast national tours of “Fiddler on the Roof ” and “Anastasia the Musical.”
• Lynsey Weatherspoon ’06 (MC), portrait, editorial and commercial photographer and videographer.
• Rebecca Aparicio ’07 (Teatre), adjunct acting
instructor in Musical Teatre at Pace University who has directed productions at the Kennedy Center and American Repertory Teatre.
• Dr. Jefferson Walker ’08 (Communication and History), author and instructor of Communication Studies, University of Montevallo.
• E.J. Wilson ’09 (Teatre), artistic director of child
performers and assistant stage manager for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Randall Porter ’11 (MC), brand strategist. • Heather Buckner ’14 (MC), senior editor, Atlanta Magazine.
• Stacy Daniels ’16 (Vocal Performance and Choral
Music Ed.), choral director in Huntsville, Alabama.
Read more at montevallo.edu/15-within-15.
From left: (top row) Kane White ’21, Katelyn Coley ’19, Carly Laing ’14, Nate Blakely ’21; (bottom row) Eric SanInocencio ’03, Lauren Gowins ’15, Greta Lambert ’78.
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UM Athletics Welcomes Pep Band to Game Day Environment
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n Jan. 13, the UM Pep Band made their debut during the home women’s and men’s basketball games at Trustmark Arena. Tis is the frst organized pep band for athletics in many years. Under the leadership of Dean of the College of Fine Arts Dr. Steve Peters, Pep Band Director AJ Covey, Music Department Head Dr. Lori Ardovino and Music Professor Dr. Jody Landers, the Pep Band will continue to perform throughout the basketball season. “Tank you to everyone in the music department who made this happen,” said Director of Athletics Mark Richard. “With the performance of the Cheer and Dance teams, the Pep Band adds to the entertainment of Falcon basketball at Montevallo. We couldn’t be more fred up for the Pep Band to add to this atmosphere.” Members of the Pep Band include: Maggie Tippett, Edwin Anthony, Makala Cone, Nathan Nunnally, Ashlynn McElroy, Dashandria McKinney, Gabe Vargas, Alyssa Watts, Sean Jones, Grayson Sexton, Patrick Hurley, Jalaah Blue, Anna Dunteman, Michaela Collins, Luke Taylor, Airelle Herron and Nethan Crew.
Rebecca J. Luker Digital Archive at UM The University of Montevallo’s Carmichael Library has preserved archived material documenting College of Fine Arts alum Rebecca Luker’s life and work through a generous donation made by Sarah Rebell. Luker, who majored in vocal performance at UM, was Rebell’s longtime friend and mentor. Te Rebecca J. Luker Digital Archive is a digital collection of over 100 video interviews with Luker’s colleagues in professional theatre, transcripts and video highlights from Luker’s body of work in musical theatre on the Broadway stage, voice concerts and television. Te archive will be available to the public in early summer 2022 at the libguides.montevallo.edu/ archives/luker.
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SPRING SEASON
at a glance
Spring 2022 — Free and ticketed events
JANUARY Jan. 14March 3
A Ribbon of Quicksilver: Art & the Environment on the Kankakee River Closing reception TBD, The Gallery at Bloch Hall
Jan. 14-24
“Othered” Student Pop-Up Show (Art) Closing reception Jan 24, 4 to 6 p.m., Poole Art Gallery
Jan. 24
Guest Artist: Edisher Savitski, piano 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
Jan. 31Feb. 19
25th Annual Alumni Art Auction Poole Art Gallery
Details: montevallo.edu/cfa Tickets: montevallotickets.universitytickets.com Season information: montevallo.edu/performances-and-events Locations: Center for the Arts: Rebecca J. Luker Stage in the DiscoverShelby Theatre, Michael and Sue Meadows Black Box Theatre, Poole Art Gallery Davis Hall: LeBaron Recital Hall Bloch Hall: The Gallery at Bloch Hall
FEBRUARY Feb. 19
“Poole Party” 4 to 5:30 p.m., William & Jeanetta Corbett Keller Lobby
Feb. 23
Mass Comm Media Day 10 a.m., McChesney Student Activity Center
Feb. 26
Middle School Honor Band Concert 5:30 p.m., Palmer Auditorium
MARCH March 1
151st Army Band Youngbucks Brass Band 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
March 3-17 Juried Foundations Art Show Opening reception and awards March 3, 4 to 6 p.m., The Gallery at Bloch Hall
▲ “Cathedral” by Bryce Lafferty, as part of the Intermountain Mythology exhibition
If you would like to receive our monthly email COFA Calendar of Performances, contact us at cfa@montevallo.edu or call 205-665-6663.
March 3-6
“Anon(ymous)” March 3-5, 7:30 p.m., March 5-6, 2 p.m., Rebecca J. Luker Stage in the DiscoverShelby Theatre. Ticket required.
March 4
Wind Ensemble Concert 7:30 p.m., Palmer Auditorium
March 6
High School Honor Band Concerts 3 p.m., Palmer Auditorium
March 7
Faculty Recital: Jay Evans, trombone; Dr. Eun-Hee Park, piano 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
March 9April 28
Intermountain Mythology Opening reception March 6, 4 to 6 p.m., Poole Art Gallery
March 17
Duo Montagnard: Joseph Murphy, saxophone; Matthew Slotkin, guitar 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
March 17
COM Speaker Series: Beth Chapman ’84, UM Board of Trustee
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April 21-24 “A New Brain” April 21-23, 7:30 p.m., April 24, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Michael and Sue Meadows Black Box Theatre. Ticket required. April 23
Senior Recital: Elicia Freeman, soprano 2:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
April 25
Wind Ensemble 7:30 p.m., Rebecca J. Luker Stage in the DiscoverShelby Theatre
April 26
Concert Choir & University Chorus 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall
JUNE
June 19-24 Young Musicians’ Camp
JULY
July 11-22
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Kodály Workshop
What do you want to learn to do? • Arts Administration
• Social Media Administration
• Digital Filmmaking
• Public Relations
• Theatre Design/Technology
• Music Studies
• Graphic Design
• Musical Theatre
• Broadcast Production
Scholarships available. Learn more at MONTEVALLO.EDU/COFA