University of Arkansas at Little Rock

A community arts scene is only as strong as its supporters. At Finale 2008, UALR and its six arts partners honored Lewis and Debbie May for their committment to keeping our local arts scene thriving. The gala, held in the Jack Stephens Center, raised more than $50,000.

During the cocktail party, a gallery of student artwork was featured in the rotunda of the Stephens Center. Guests were then treated to a “cabaret-style” jazz performance in the Derek Fischer Court by UALR alumni which included Gigi Ivey, vocalist; Matthew Dickson, saxophone; David Higginbotham, bass, Steve Hudelsohn and Perry Israel, guitar. UALR professor of jazz studies, Tom Cox, accompanied on piano.

Proceeds from Finale go toward the Friends of the Arts endowment fund which provides scholarships to students in art, music, and theatre arts. The fund also supports the UALR fine arts departments and their programs.

The event’s premier sponsor was Glazer’s Distributors of Arkansas, and the presenting sponsor was Little Rock Electrical Contractors.

Finale 2008 Arts Partners included the Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Chamber Singers, Arkansas Festival Ballet, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts.

Here are some photos of the event. Please click a thumbnail to view a larger image:

                   
     Student Artwork              Jazz Performers        Lewis and Debbie May
                                      David Higginbotham
                                          and Tom Cox

The UALR Community Orchestra will present its annual spring concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, in UALR’s Fine Arts Building. Admission is free.

The 45-piece orchestra, directed by Victor Ellsworth, chair of UALR’s Department of Music, will perform Ottorino Respighi’s freely transcribed “Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute, Suite 1″ and Gustav Holst’s “Suite in E Flat,” transcribed for orchestra by Gordon Jacob.

The orchestra will also present the 1970 Alan Hovhaness composition, “And God Created Great Whales, Op. 228, No. 1 for Orchestra and Tape.” The composition incorporates taped songs of whales including humpback, bowhead, and killer whales.

The program will conclude with a medley of Leroy Anderson favorites featuring “Blue Tango,” “Belle of the Ball,” “The Syncopated Clock” and “Serenata” as arranged by Calvin Custer.

Persons interested in playing with the orchestra are encouraged to call the UALR Music Department at 501.569.3294 for more information.

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UALR’s Community School of the Arts is accepting applications for three summer arts camps, including a string program, offering young students an opportunity to experience college-level instruction.

Summer Strings 2008 is a five-day program for violin, viola, cello, and double bass players at the elementary, junior-high and high school levels. Students must have completed at least one year of study on their instrument. Activities include chamber music ensembles, music theory and listening classes, and optional sectionals focusing on the 2008 All-Region audition materials.

The camp will conclude with a performance for family and friends in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. Classes will meet 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 23 – 27. Tuition for this week-long program is $100. Registration after June 13 will include a late fee of $15.

Summer Arts Camp 2008 is a five-day program featuring a variety of art forms for children entering K – age 15. Class choices include musical theatre-dance, piano, voice, violin, guitar, painting, drawing, Chinese brush painting, photography, international cooking arts, Chinese language and culture, creative writing, and more. Children study within their own age group.

All instruments, cameras, and materials are provided. Summer Arts Camp 2008 will be offered in two sessions: June 16 to 20 and Aug. 4 to 8. Classes will be held 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuition for each session is $155, with a 10 percent discount offered for the enrollment of each additional child from one family.

For registration or more information, please contact the UALR Community School of the Arts at (501) 569-3480 or visit the CSA website. On-line registration is available.

Three faculty members from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences―Dr. Andrew Eshleman from philosophy and Dr. C. Fred Williams and Dr. Charles Bolton both from history―were honored at the 20th annual Faculty Excellence Ceremony in May.

A peer review committee selected each professor for faculty excellence at the College level in three categories: Eshleman for teaching; Williams for public service; and Bolton for research and creative endeavors.

At the Faculty Excellence Ceremony, Eshleman and Williams went on to receive awards in their respective categories at the University level. Eshleman received the Ted and Virginia Bailey $10,000 Award for Teaching, and Williams received the $5,000 Society of Philanthropy Award for Public Service.

The Office of the Provost will forward the nominations of Eshleman and Williams to a Faculty Excellence national selection committee for consideration.

In 1988, the UALR Foundation Fund Board instituted this series of annual awards to recognize and reward faculty.

Recognition is accorded at the college level and at the University level. Each award consists of a framed certificate and a cash gift of $1,000 at the college level and, at the university level, $10,000 for teaching and $5,000 in research or creative endeavors and in public service.