University of Arkansas Symphony to Perform in Concert Nov. 17

The Fulbright College department of music will feature the University Symphony Orchestra in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Walton Arts Center.  The concert, entitled “Scandanavian Winter,” will include the “Holberg Suite” by Edvard Grieg and the “Karelia Overture” and “Karelia Suite” by Jan Sibelius.  The University Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Robert Mueller. 

The University Symphony Orchestra is made up of superior student musicians from throughout the university. They present a minimum of two concerts per semester, covering a wide range of repertoire from Bach through the present day, including great masterpieces of symphonic literature. 

Admission for this event will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students.  Tickets will be available at the door or by calling the Walton Arts Center box office at (479) 443-5600.  The Walton Arts Center is located at 495 W. Dickson Street in Fayetteville, AR.  Free parking is available across the street from the Walton Arts Center on a first come, first serve basis.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu.

University of Arkansas Opera Theatre to Perform Nov. 19

The Fulbright College department of music will feature the University of Arkansas Opera Theater in “An Evening of Operatic Gems” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19, 20, and 21, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.  This performance will feature opera selections from such works as Guilio Cesare, Griselda, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Carmen, La Boheme and several more, sung in English, French, German, and Italian.  The program will conclude with the famous “Va, pensiero” from Verdi’s Nabucco, performed by the UA Opera Chorus. 

The UA Opera Theater is a premier ensemble made up of upper classmen and community singers and are overseen by Artistic Director Christopher Lacy. 

This performance will be conducted by visiting musical director Stephen Vasta, of New York City.  Vasta has played and conducted at Indianapolis Opera, Berkshire Opera, Metro Lyric Opera, and Ball State University, and has appeared as accompanist at Weill Recital Hall and the Smithsonian Institute.  He has served as Principal Guest Musical Director at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for productions of Rinaldo and Cendrillon, as well as having served as Principal Guest Coach under Sarah Caldwell.  Active as a music journalist since 1993, Vasta contributed surveys of symphonies by Mahler, Bruckner, Shostakovich, and Vaughan Williams to Stereophile’s “Building a Library” feature.  Currently, his CD and DVD reviews , feature articles, and interviews appear regularly in Opera News and  Time Out/New York, as well as online at the prestigious British site, Music Web International (www.musicweb-international.com). 

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts Building on the UA campus.  Free parking is available in the parking deck, which can be accessed from Stadium Drive and is located directly to the west of the Fine Arts Building.  The admission will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and students.  Tickets will be available at the door.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu.

Tuba/Euphonium Studio to Perform in Concert Nov. 12

The Fulbright College department of music will feature the University of Arkansas Tuba/Euphonium Studio in concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.  They will be performing works by Grant, Golland, Morel, Handel, Ito, Snell, Castérède, Telemann and Ellerby. 

The studio is taught by Dr. Benjamin Pierce.  Current studio members are Justin Stowe, Balz Graber, Jordan Wilhelm, Jacob Grewe, A. J. Miller, Matthew Shipes, Lee Larry, Cameron Storm and Gregory Battista. 

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts Building on the UA campus.  Free parking is available in the parking deck, which can be accessed from Stadium Drive and is located directly to the west of the Fine Arts Building.  The admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu. 

Arkansas Wind Symphony to Perform Nov. 16

The Fulbright College department of music will feature the University of Arkansas Wind Symphony in concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Walton Arts Center.  They will be performing works by Markowski, Gould, Holst, Turrin, Ticheli, Rimsky-Korsakov and Ginastera.  The highlight of this concert will be the appearance of special guest artist, Dr. Theresa Delaplain on oboe. Delaplain will be featured on the “Variations on a Theme by Glinka” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. 

The Wind Symphony is a select group of 50-60 serious musicians who concentrate on the finest in band literature during the fall and spring semesters of the school year.  They perform several concerts both on and off campus and have had the unique distinction of performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City.  They are directed by W. Dale Warren.  All UA Wind Symphony concerts are presented as a part of the Joy Pratt Markham Series.

Admission for this event will be $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for UA students.  Tickets will be sold at the door, or can be purchased by calling the Walton Arts Center Box Office at (479) 443-5600.  The Walton Arts Center is located at 495 W. Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Free parking is available across the street from the Walton Arts Center on a first come, first serve basis.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu.

Iron-Hog Bench Press Contest Set for Nov. 9

Intramural/Recreational Sports will host the second Annual Iron-Hog Bench Press Contest in the Donna Axum Fitness Center from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9. The event is open to all HPER members including students, faculty and staff. There will be both men’s and women’s divisions, with separate weight classes in each. Winners of each division will receive prizes. The overall winner will be the person who has the largest body-weight to weight-lifted ratio, so everyone has a good chance to win! Go to HPER Office 225 to sign-up early, or sign up on the day of the event in the Donna Axum Fitness Center! Contact Zach Plunkett at zplunket@uark.edu for more information.

UA Tuba Professor to Perform in Concert Nov. 9

The Fulbright College department of music will feature UA tuba professor, Dr. Benjamin Pierce in concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.  He will be accompanied on piano by Kristy Mezines on pieces by James Grant, Joachim Raff, Roland Szentpali, Christopher Wiggins, Allen Vizzutti, Pancho Vladigerov and Peter Christoskov. 

Pierce teaches applied tuba and euphonium at the University of Arkansas.  He holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan.  Pierce is a founding member of the Boston Mountain Brassworks, the UA’s faculty brass quintet, and the Arkansas Tuba Quartet.  He has been a frequent recitalist and clinician at workshops and conferences in the United States and abroad.  He has performed as a soloist with numerous ensembles including the Tokyo Symphony, the Oulu Symphony of Finland, the United States Army “Pershing’s Own”, the Friuli Veneziano Guilia Symphony Orchestra of northern Italy, the Imperial Brass Band, the Fountain City Brass Band, the Toledo Symphony, and many others.  He has won first prize in a dozen international tuba and euphonium competitions including three in 2008:  those held in Markneukirchen, Germany, Jeju, South Korea, and Porcia, Italy.  Dr. Pierce has recorded three solo albums, Wheels of Life, Cheers, and Pierce Plays Bach.

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts Building on the UA campus.  Free parking is available in the parking deck, which can be accessed from Stadium Drive and is located directly to the west of the Fine Arts Building.  The admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu.

University of Arkansas Trombone Recital Set for Nov. 11

The Fulbright College department of music will feature the UA Trombone Studio Recital in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall.  They will be performing works by Ernst, Bordogni, Lebedev, Ewazen, Simons, Guilmant, David and Tomasi.

The Trombone Studio is under the supervision of UA professor Gerald Sloan.  Students performing will be Tyler Garrett, Kaylee Christie, Matthew Beach, Joseph Wilhelm, Chris Flores, Justin Stowe, Stephanie McCullough, Lance Grigsby and Michael Olefsky. 

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts Building on the UA campus.  Free parking is available in the parking deck, which can be accessed from Stadium Drive and is located directly to the west of the Fine Arts Building.  The admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.  For more information, please call the department of music at (479) 575-4701 or visit http://music.uark.edu.

Celebrate Women's Health Month

November is women's health month! Celebrate the season with the Outdoor Connection Center and Intramural/Recreational Sports as they hold the first ever, two-day, Women's Health & Fitness Expo. It will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the HPER. The event will include a kick-off party, climbing, spin class, yoga session, massage and more. From noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, a wellness fair will be held. There will be lunch, prizes seminars on women’s health, climbing techniques and movement, bicycle tours and drawings.

Open to all University or Arkansas students, faculty, and staff with a university ID.

Second Session of Group Cycle Classes Starts

The department of intramural/recreational sports announces the beginning of the second session of Group Cycle classes. Come join in the fun and participate in an energetic workout that torches hundreds of calories per hour. At just $3 per class, Group Cycle is a great opportunity for both students and faculty/staff. For more information, visit the intramural/recreation sports Web site or e-mail Ambre at asheehy@uark.edu.

Guest Artist David Zerkel Featured in Concert of Tuba Music

The Fulbright College department of music will feature guest artist David Zerkel in a concert of tuba music at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. He will be accompanied on piano by Anatoly Sheludyakov on works by Bach, Gubaidulina, Barry and Emler.

David Zerkel is the assistant professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Georgia. He was the only brass player in the history of the Peabody Conservatory to win first prize of the Peabody Concours and was voted “Teacher of the Year” by Illinois State University music students. Zerkel has served as a juror in several competitions, including the 2002 Leonard Falcone Competition (Whitehall, Mich.), International Tuba Euphonium Conference (Regina, Saskatchewan), and served as competition coordinator for the Young Artist Solo Competition at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Greensboro, N.C. He is a versatile performer with extensive experience in several areas, from orchestral playing and military band performance to chamber music and solo performance.

The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Arkansas campus. Free parking is available in the parking deck, which can be accessed from Stadium Drive and is located directly to the west of the Fine Arts Building. The admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. For more information, please call the department of music at 479-575-4701 or visit the music department's Web site.

Guitar Recital Set for Sept. 13

Dr. James Greeson of the University of Arkansas music department will present a guitar recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, in Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. He will be performing Latin American music on classical guitar, English renaissance era music on the lute, and American music on the electric guitar.  Music by Barrios Mangore, Brouwer, John Dowland, Steve Reich will be performed as well as some fingerstyle jazz selections.  The concert is free and open to the public.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

The Banff Mountain Film Festival will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at the University of Arkansas Global Campus, 2 East Center St., in Fayetteville. Tickets are $17 at the gate and $14 if ordered online at www.fayettevillebanff.com.

Intramural Team Sand Volleyball Registration

Registration for Intramural Team Sand Volleyball will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 and conclude at 11:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.  Teams may register online at http://imrs.uark.edu.  Play will begin Monday, Sept. 14.

Schedules will be completed and can be found online at http://imrs.uark.edu/5415.htm.  An e-mail will be sent to each manager once the schedules are available for viewing.  Before completing registration, please read the intramural handbook at http://imrs.uark.edu/5431.htm as well as sport rules at http://imrs.uark.edu/2839.htm.

If you have any questions, contact the Intramural Sports Staff at 575.2986 or by e-mail at imsports@uark.edu

Jazz Artist Bobby Watson to Peform July 11

Blue Note recording artist Bobby Watson and his group "Live and Learn" returns to Northwest Arkansas at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, in the Arkansas Union Theater. This hard bop ensemble comes out of the Jazz Messenger tradition of Art Blakey fame, in which Watson served as musical director from 1977 to 1981. This formative experience led Watson to become one of the great band leaders of our time. UA students with a current ID receive free admission, and tickets for others are $15 for NAJS members and $20 for the public.  Tickets are available through www.digjazz.com.

Boar's Head Players Present First Summer Production of the Season

"Bleacher Bum," by Joe Mantegna, will be on stage evenings at 8 p.m. and matinées at 2 p.m. June 19 through June 28, at the Nadine Baum Learning Center.

Comedy abounds in the hallowed bleachers of Wrigley Field as the Cubbies take on the Cards in this nine-inning homage to America's favorite pastime.  Die-hard Chicago Cubs fans gather in the "cheap seats" to root for the home team, heckle the outfielders, bet on every conceivable event and occasionally, watch the game!

For tickets, call 479-575-4752. For more information, contact David Wright at 575-3645.

University of Arkansas Jazz Ensembles Concert

The University of Arkansas Jazz Ensembles under the direction of James Greeson and Gerald Sloan will perform their first concert of the year at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the Arkansas Union Theater.  The two 17-piece big bands will play music by Count Basie, Thad Jones, Bill Holman, Tito Puente and many others.  A number of undergraduate and graduate musicians will be featured on the concert in solo roles, including trombonists Matthew Shipes, Matt Cope and Michael Olefsky, trumpeter Michael Howland, and saxophonists Jason Cooney and Sid Winford.   A highlight of the program will be a performance of Bill Holman's composition “A View from the Side” which won a Grammy award in 1996 for “Best Instrumental Jazz Composition.”  Other great music heard on the program will be Tito Puente's “Ran Kan Kan,” Sammy Nestico's arrangement for the Basie Big Band of “A Night in Tunisia,” and a powerful ballad by the legendary band leader and composer Thad Jones called “Kids Are Pretty People.”  Also, local favorite Claudia Burson will also be featured as a piano soloist at different points in the concert.

There is no admission charge and the concert is open to the public.

University of Arkansas Intramural Program Featured by CBS College Sports

Keep an eye out while watching games on television during the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament this year for scenes from the University of Arkansas intramural program.

The Fayetteville campus was selected by Coca-Cola and POWERade as one of five schools to be featured in video clips produced by CBS College Sports.

The clips tell the stories of two intramural teams – a men’s team called the Nomadic Islanders and a women’s team called the Fighting Wombats. The features will be shown on the CBS College Sports network and can also be viewed here:

Show Us Your Tee – Arkansas

http://mfile.akamai.com/9192/wmv/cstv.download.akamai.com/9192/cstv_videos/powerade_im/0308/031908_uashowusyourtee.asx

Nomadic Justice – University of Arkansas

http://mfile.akamai.com/9192/wmv/cstv.download.akamai.com/9192/cstv_videos/powerade_im/0308/032408_nomadic.asx

The videos can also be seen online at www.cstv.com.

The clips, about 3 minutes each, show the students playing in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building on the Fayetteville campus. The university’s Intramural/Recreational Sports program, directed by Craig Edmonston, hosted the POWERade 3-on-3 basketball tournament in February and March.

Edmonston commented on the recognition, “Bill Mock, associate director of intramural sports, and the intramural sports staff did an excellent job of planning and administering the POWERade 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The University of Arkansas had more teams entered than any other university in the Southeastern Athletic Conference. The selection of our teams for the CBS clips is a reflection upon the reputation that Intramural/Recreational Sports has in the country. Our program is highly respected and our students represent us well.”