UNF Music Flagship Program Kicks Off Fall Season

Dr. Randy Tinnin, chair of UNF's Music Flagship Program, and J.B. Scott, associate professor of music and Great American Jazz Series artistic director, discuss the fall concert season and the 25th anniversary of the Great American Jazz Series on NPR affiliate WJCT 89.9 FM's "First Coast Connect" radio talk show. Scroll to the 36-minute mark to lisen to the interview.

Listen now. 

UNF Jazz Studies Professor Releases New Book on iTunes

Book Available on iTunes 

 
Barry Greene has published an interactive ibook called "Playing Jazz Guitar," a comprehensive guide to playing jazz guitar. Written by Barry Greene, one of the leading educators of guitar instruction. This ibook is fully interactive containing numerous audio, video, and notation examples. There are several chapters that discuss the aesthetic of being a musician. Topics such as ear training and learning to be an artist are fully explored. This ibook is unique in it's presentation and scope.

Learn more. 

UNF Jazz Pianist and Singer's Passion to Succeed Bolstered by a Helping Hand

UNF Recent Graduate D'Sean Kirkland 

HEATHER LOVEJOY/The Times-Union 

 
D’Sean Kirkland just received a Bachelor’s Degree in music from UNF, and he’s headed to graduate school at Full Sail University in Orlando for music business. Without the Jacksonville Commitment Scholarship program, a public/private partnership, none of it would have been possible.

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UNF Jazz Guitar Professor Goes Home

UNF Professor Barry Greene 

 
Talented guitarist Barry Greene comes long way from North Bergen. Growing up in North Bergen, Barry Greene was always known as one of the good guys. And although handsome and happy-go-lucky, he was super-shy. Not anymore.

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UNF Piano Professor Wins Teaching Award

UNF Professor Erin K. Bennett 

 
UNF Piano Professor Erin K. Bennett was awarded a UNF "Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award" for the College of Arts and Sciences, Music Flagship Program. 

UNF Percussion Professor Honored

UNF Professor Charlotte Mabrey 

 
Charlotte Mabrey has won the “Educator Award” from The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. She will be honored at the 2012 City Lights Arts Awards celebration on May 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the AT&T Tower. 

UNF Music Award Winners Announced

 
UNF Freshman Music Students 

 
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Freshman - Sophomore - Junior - Senior 

UNF Program Offers Students with Intellectual Disabilities Full University Experience

 
Student Joel Reeves in Professor Jason Hibbard's Class 

WILL DICKEY/The Times-Union 

 
Joel Reeves (center) attends a music appreciation class at the University of North Florida where he is enrolled in the On Campus Transition Program Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. The program offers young adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to have a college experience while receiving transition services.
 

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UNF Opera Ensemble and Orchestra Wow Audiences

 
Student Members of the UNF Opera Ensemble and Orchestra 

 
The UNF Opera Ensemble under the Direction of Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki and the UNF Orchestra conducted by Dr. Simon Shiao presented a staged concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” for four performances from March 30 to April 1 in the Lazzara Performance Hall on the campus of the University of North Florida. If you missed this excellent production, be sure to read to the end where we will tell you of another opportunity to experience the music and comedy of future Gilbert and Sullivan productions.

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UNF Vocal and Orchestral Students Perform 'The Mikado'

Student Hannah Meloy 

 
UNF performers, along with a full symphony orchestra, will transform W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s most famous opera, “The Mikado,” into their very own concert performance.

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UNF Jazz Studies Student Wins DownBeat Magazine Award

Student Mica Bethea and His Big Band 

 
Mica Bethea, Jazz Studies student of Dennis Marks and Dr. Clarence Hines, was selected by DownBeat Magazine as an undergraduate college winner for his Jazz Arrangement “Outskirts.”

UNF Voice Student Wins Metropolitan Opera Award

Student Brittany Sherree Fouché  

 
Voice Senior Brittany Sherree Fouché, a student of Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, won the “Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Encouragement” award.

UNF Clarinet Student Wins Major Competition

Student Brandon Mosley 

 
Clarinet Freshman Brandon Mosley, a student of Dr. Guy Yehuda, won the prestigious “Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Concerto Competition.”

UNF Chamber Singers Perform Live on NPR

Abigail A. Coker, Masami Miyazaki, Azschrielle Jackson, Dr. Cara Tasher, and Maria C. Peña  

 
The UNF Chamber Singers performed live on NPR (WJCT 89.9 FM) Public Radio's "First Coast Connect." Dr. Cara Tasher, director of Choral Activities at UNF, also discusses the group's upcoming singing tour to South Africa. 

Scroll to the 44:25 minute mark to hear the performance and interview.

Listen now. 

UNF Music Professor Performs for Oprah Winfrey

Dr. Nick Curry 

 
Cello professor, Dr. Nick Curry, was invited to play for the filming of the finale of Oprah Winfrey’s reality TV show “Lovetown U.S.A.”, where he played his cello with Oprah in attendance.

UNF Music Students Win Talent Showcase

UNF Present and Former Music Students Bryan Hayes, Emorja Robinson, Lamar Boyde, Jacob Rothman, and Nathaniel Edwards 

 
UNF Music Flagship Program students won the Jax Talent 2012 contest. Jax Talents 2012 is a competition event organized by Eco Latino Media Group and supported by The Florida Times-Union Media and WJXT - Chanel 4 to support local talent.

Click here to watch performance video.

UNF Chamber Singers Perform National Anthem on CNN

UNF Chamber Singers Open the 2012 Republican Debate Hosted by Wolf Blitzer 

 
UNF Chamber Singers sing the National Anthem at the Florida Republican Presidential Debate held at the Lazzara Performance Hall.  

Click here to watch the Youtube video.

UNF Piano Students and Faculty Present at Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium

Students and Faculty at the Inaugural Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium 

 
Dr. Erin K. Bennett and UNF piano pedagogy major Sarah Hartley traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan January 20-21, 2012 for the inaugural Collegiate Piano Pedagogy Symposium. The event featured original research presented by representatives from 16 different collegiate chapters of Music Teachers National Association from across the country. Dr. Bennett gave a piano master class and Hartley presented a paper and demonstration, entitled “Creating a Culture of Fun in Group Settings: Instructional Strategies for the Music Teacher.”

UNF Saxophone Student Wins Awards

UNF Saxophone Student Nicki Roman 

Winner in the Florida Division of the MTNA’s Young Artist Competition (Nov 2011): UNF Saxophone student Nicki Roman competed in the woodwind category of the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition for the state of Florida and was selected as the winner to represent the state in the regional round. She was one of the youngest competitors in the 19-26 group.

Winner of the Niceville Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition (Feb 2012): After a taped audition process, Nicki competed in the finals in Niceville, FL, and won the opportunity to perform Glazunov’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String orchestra in February 2012. 

UNF Music Grad Takes to the Stage - Tours with "Glee" Star

"Glee" Cast Member Matthew Morrison with UNF Music Graduate Daniel Kalisher 

 
He was about 8 or 9 years old when he realized what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. After listening to his father, an accomplished musician, play with his friends, he realized that was the life for him. “I took after him from an early age,” said Daniel Kalisher, a 2009 graduate from the University of North Florida’s Department of Music. “And I really haven’t changed my life goal since I was really young. I wanted to be a musician, play guitar and tour. Now I’m doing what I saw myself doing when I was a kid. How crazy is that?”

Read full story. 

UNF Cello Student Receives Special Award

Cello Student Hannah Hoffman 

 
Hannah Hoffman (freshman cello major and student of Dr. Nick Curry) was awarded the "Florida American String Teachers Young Artist of the Year" award. ASTA is the largest professional organization of string players in the United States and this is a great honor.  

UNF String Students Meet American Grammy Award-Winning Violinist Joshua Bell

Sam Felber, Joshua Bell, and Dayna Osan 

Joshua Bell performed with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in January to rave reviews. UNF strings students enjoyed the performance and speaking with the acclaimed violinist.

UNF Cello Professor Featured on New CD

"Journey Around the Sun" CD 

Cello Professor Dr. Nick Curry's playing is featured on Bill Wren and Frank Ralls’ album “Journey Around the Sun,” which is being played all over the U.S. and abroad on Sirius radio. It has been as high as #1 on the new age charts and #2 on the world music charts on cdbaby.com.

UNF Cello Professor Performs with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Dr. Nick Curry, Roddy Chong and Kyle Wehner
 

Cello Professor Dr. Nick Curry performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a soloist in the 2011 December concert in the Jacksonville Arena. 

UNF Piano Professor Featured Artist at Festival of Creative Pianists in Colorado

Dr. Gary Smart 

 
Piano Professor Gary Smart will be the featured artist at the "Festival of Creative Pianists" in Colorado this April 11-15, 2012. He will play a concert of standard repertoire of his own works, jazz and classical improvisations, and also present a workshop, and give private lessons and masterclasses. 

UNF Piano Professor's New CD Receives Rave Reviews

Blossoms CD by Dr. Gary Smart