Search results for

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the Kamerman Piano Series at UWF featuring guest performers Xiaopei Xu and Chi-Wen Lo, who form the Psychopomp Ensemble. The performance will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

Recognized for their “unconventional transcriptions” and “multidisciplinary performances” the group is known for their improvisation techniques, recompositions and original works, helping us “forge” new musical paths outside typical classical repertoires. The duo has performed for the Harvard Musical Association, the Chinese American Museum, the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and groups across the globe. Called both “sensitive” and “sensible” by Mark DeVoto of the Boston Musical Intelligencer, the group creates an “electric aura” that cannot be missed.

The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music would like to thank the Kamerman Family and Jeannie Kamerman for their support of this and future Kamerman Piano Series events at WF. Established in 2013, the Kamerman Piano Series connects Northwest Florida audiences with international pianists.

This summer, 13 UWF music students participated in a 10-day summer study abroad course hosted by the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick in Eastern Ireland. During their stay, students explored topics including poetry, story-telling, theology, song, philosophy and history led by internationally renowned Irish traditional musicians Owen Ó Súilleabháin, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Nóirín Ní Riain.

To share the impact of this unique experience, the Summer 2024 Irish Experience cohort has since created evolving works of word and song representing the exceptional training they received abroad. The students’ work includes individual and group musical performances and spoken word poetry, which will guide guests through many aspects of traditional Irish Culture.

The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents “Akeelah and the Bee.” Performances will be held November 1, 2, and 3 and November 8, 9 and 10 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

Tackling the universal struggles of adolescence, community and belonging, “Akeelah and the Bee” was adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West, based on Doug Atchison's original screenplay.
In a city where being book-smart gets you nowhere and being street-smart is essential, 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson feels trapped. She is brilliant, but her home life often makes school feel like a chore. When Akeelah finds herself winning her school’s spelling bee, her book-smart brain is suddenly on display for the world to see. Determined to find meaning in spelling, she sets her sights on the National Spelling Bee. Will passion and determination be enough for Akeelah to take home the coveted win? Or will struggling to connect with her peers, family and community be the true challenge?

In addition to being an accomplished actress and director, Marci Duncan, Director of the production, serves as the Director of Acting and an Assistant Professor of Acting at UWF. Duncan is currently in her eighth year of teaching and continues to be an active director, performing both on stage and on screen. Her credits include professional camera appearances for Disney, Verizon Wireless, Neaxium Films and Lifetime TV. Among her credits include roles in the Lifetime TV Network movie, “Life is not a Fairytale: Fantasia Barrino Story” and the urban drama, “Just Another Day.” Most recently, Duncan was featured in the NBC comedy “Young Rock”, the one-woman show, “Florida Girls”, at Emerald Coast Theatre Company as well as directing “The Mountaintop” and James Webb’s award-winning play, “The Contract” at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA. As playwright and actor, Duncan tours frequently in her award-winning original play “DISSONANCE.” In addition to her performing and directing work, Duncan also provides actor coaching through her acting studio, Artists at Play.

Duncan currently chairs the Southeastern Theatre Conference Auditions Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Florida A&M and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.

The Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the UWF Chamber Music Series on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at noon. The concert will be held at Old Christ Church in historic downtown Pensacola. Music lovers of all ages are invited, including school groups and senior citizens.

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required for this event. For more information, call the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music office at 850.474.2147.

The UWF Chamber Music Series at Old Christ Church continues its 18th season. The concert will feature performances by members of the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music programs.

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the Runge Strings Orchestra in concert on Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held in the UWF Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola Campus.

The Runge Strings Orchestra was created in 2001. The Orchestra consists of undergraduate music majors and minors. The orchestra bears the name of the passionate and generous string music supporter, the late Mr. Paul Runge.

The orchestra’s repertoire includes music from the Baroque and Classical eras to the compositions of the 21st century. The ensemble typically presents four concerts per year as well as accompanying various other groups both on and off campus.

Join the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music Voice Faculty for a night of music highlighting the various talents and variety of vocal instruction at UWF. Allanda Campbell, Sheila Dunn, Peter Steenblik, Bihzou Chang, Corey McKern, and accompanist Blake Riley will lead guests through a night of solo and group repertoire to remember!

The University of West Florida’s Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the UWF Singers in “Arrivals.” The performance will be held on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

This event is free and open to the public but tickets are required. For tickets or more information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa or call the CFPA box office at 850.857.6285.

The UWF Dr. Grier Williams School of Music presents the Percussion & Wind Ensembles on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held in Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

This concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. For tickets or more information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa or call the CFPA box office at 850.857.6285.

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the Symphonic Band in concert on Thursday, November 24 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be held in the Mainstage Theatre at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

The University of West Florida Symphonic Band is committed to performing the finest wind band and chamber wind ensemble repertoire—both traditional and contemporary. The Symphonic Band is composed of talented musicians from all majors on campus and is dedicated to providing an opportunity for musical growth. The band performs four concerts per year on campus in the Mainstage Theater of the UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, with occasional concerts in other venues.

The University of West Florida Department of Music will present Ramel Price, adjunct professor of violin, on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. The performance will be held in the Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.

Price is a doctoral fellow at the University of Iowa and holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the UWF. Price will challenge himself in this recital through various complex pieces from notable composers, including Bach and Paganini. Pianist Meredith Stemen will accompany Price to explore complex lyrical and technical melodies throughout this recital.