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Nashville Pop Star Ben Rector Shares Advice, Lessons Learned with Commercial Music Students

admin — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 18:43:40 +0000

Rector encouraged students to pursue musical collaboration regardless of fame or fortune The School of Music invited renowned pop star Ben Rector to lead a masterclass for commercial music students and members of BYU Vocal Point prior to his headline performance at the BYU Homecoming Spectacular. Gathered in the Cougar Room at the north end of the BYU Marriott Center, a group of nearly 30 students had the unique opportunity to participate in an intimate Q&A with the singer-songwriter. In response to student questions, Rector shared details of his self-driven rise to popularity, a journey which included most of the typical challenges of the commercial music industry, such as the struggle to be noticed. Receiving critical attention and acclaim was only the first step in his journey to fame, however. After attaining popularity, Rector faced new challenges, including expanding his skill set not only as an artist, but also as a producer and manager. Rector recounted his evolution from aspiring artist to jack-of-all trades in the realm of pop music and music management. Today his role in developing his art and managing his personal brand has become a task of keeping the “train rolling.” When others are willing to jump on, he welcomes the opportunity to collaborate, but he doesn’t allow the decisions of others to dictate his progress. Read the full story at the School of Music website.

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BYU Grad Finds Early Success in Music Composition

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 16:01:55 +0000

Keep an eye out for Jordan Kamalu. Or rather an ear. Kamalu, a BYU commercial music studies major who is graduating this month, has been surrounded by music from a very young age. Throughout his university experience, composing music has given him unique opportunities and even earned him a Student Emmy nomination. Before going to college, Kamalu had already received two awards for composing music. Winning the National PTA Reflections contest his senior year in high school gave Kamalu a vision of how he could make a living by doing what he loved. That’s the dream isn’t it? “Music was something that I excelled at and enjoyed doing,” said Kamalu. “I really didn’t see any other way of making money that would be as enjoyable.” From that moment forward, composing became Kamalu’s focus. – See more at https://news.byu.edu/news/byu-grad-finds-early-success-music-composition

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Harris Fine Arts Center marks 51 years of artistic excellence

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 02:46:55 +0000

The Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center has aided in the education and academic success of BYU’s fine arts and communications students for more than 51 years. The HFAC has been home to many major BYU events, arts groups and renowned artists since its dedication on April 3, 1965.

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Charlotte’s Web, a show for the entire family

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 17:50:29 +0000

Adapted from “the best American children’s book of the past two hundred years” (Children’s Literature Association), this heartfelt drama about friendship boasts a girl with the ability to understand the language of animals, a gluttonous rat, an irresistible young pig, and an extraordinary spider who works a miracle within the magic of her fragile web. Final Dress Rehearsal May 26 Post-Performance Discussions June 2, 9 ASL Interpreted Performance June 2 CHARLOTTE’S WEB Adapted by Joseph Robinette Based on the book by E.B. White Directed by Shawnda and Bradley Moss TICKETS

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BYU Arts Spring Performances now on sale

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 15:38:46 +0000

BYU DANCE Evening of Dance May 6-7 | de Jong Concert Hall Young DanceMakers, the performing company of the BYU Children’s and Teen’s Creative Dance program, perform dances inspired by activities and words of discovery BYU THEATRE Charlotte’s Web May 27-June 11 | Pardoe Theatre This heartfelt drama about friendship tells the story of a girl with the ability to understand the language of animals, an irresistible young pig, and an extraordinary spider who works a miracle within the magic of her fragile web. BYU SCHOOL OF MUSIC The Lost Children of Hamelin June 8-11 | de Jong Concert Hall In this new opera, a girl sets into motion a series of events that reveal the true identity of the piper and the fate of the lost children of Hamelin in Germany in the year 1295.

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BYU Ballroom Dance Company in Concert: Swing ‘n’ Sway

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 03:06:03 +0000

Championship formation dancing, breath-taking lifts and spins-all performed in a seemingly endless stream of shimmering costumes-no one does it better than the Ballroom Dance Company. The first American team ever to win the prestigious British Formation Championships, a feat they have repeated an unprecedented 22 times. Over 160 ballroom dancers take the stage and dazzle the audience with breathtaking costumes and creative choreography. This concert promises to thrill audiences with a fast-paced performance of ballroom and Latin dance in a theatrical setting. TICKETS April 8 — 9, 7:30 PM April 9 2:00 PM Location: Marriott Center Time: 7:30 PM Minimum Age: 6 Cost: $16

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Beloved BYU acting professor prepares for final bow

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:07:13 +0000

Acting professor Barta Heiner is retiring this year after spending the past 28 years developing the BFA acting program at BYU and impacting thousands of students’ lives for the better. Heiner was born in Ogden, but grew up in Canada and Arizona due to her father’s career in the LDS Church Education System. Heiner is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA and has performed in more than 100 productions including the recent movie “Once I Was A Beehive,” in which she played the part of Nedra. Read more at the Universe>>>>>

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BYU stages ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:18:08 +0000

The BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts will present the epic, anti-war drama, Mother Courage and Her Children in the Pardoe Theater of the Harris Fine Arts Center, at 7:30 p.m., on March 17-19, 22-25, 28 and April 1, with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees on March 19 and 26. An ASL performance will be presented on Thursday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $14, with discounts available for senior citizens, alumni, students and employees. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com. Frequently hailed as the greatest play of the 20th century, this 1939 anti-war drama tells the story of a mother trying to keep her children alive during one of the most violent and deadly wars of Europe. Written by renowned German playwright, Bertolt Brecht, the play brings to life the folly of conflict as the title character loses all she has to the very clashes she seeks to profit from. Using Brecht’s groundbreaking concept of alienation to tell the story of a simple woman and her family, director David Morgan believes the aesthetic developed for this play will deepen the appreciation of epic theatre. “In telling this story, Brecht wants us to see ourselves. Are we learning nothing, and in so doing, doomed to continue the cycle of war over and over? ‘Ever learning and yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth?’” Morgan said. “Are we the problem? Are we continuously circling our family tree decorated with the strange fruit of our blind choices?” Starring the retiring and incomparable BYU Theatre professor Barta Lee Heiner in the lead role, Mother Courage is dynamic and impactful “epic theatre” at its finest. Story Highlights Performance Dates: March 17-19, 22-25, 28 and April 1 Times: 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. Saturday matinees on March 19 and 26 Location: Pardoe Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $14 (with discounts for senior citizens, BYU students, employees and alumni) Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

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Cougar Queries: "The best part of my job is hearing choral groups practice in the Madsen"

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:16:44 +0000

My job at BYU is… Administrative Assistant in the Theatre and Media Arts Department and Advisor to Divine Comedy. I work to help the TMA administration run smoothly to serve both faculty and students. Several evenings each week, I work with Divine Comedy, a student-run sketch comedy group, as they prepare sketches for their shows. When I have 30 minutes of free time, you can find me… talking to one of my sons or grandchildren, reading, or playing Words with Friends. The best-kept BYU secret is… Divine Comedy. They really are a fun, hard-working, extremely bright and talented group! My favorite part of my job is… the view of Y Mountain from my office window and the choral groups I can hear practice in the Madsen Recital Hall every day. My go-to comfort foods are… herbal tea and sugarless gum. I’ve hiked Y Mountain… maybe three times. My favorite Cougar athletes are… the Haddock twins, Lacy and Lyndie, who were in my ward and are on the BYU Women’s Volleyball team. I’m currently reading… The Boys in the Boat, The Book of Mormon and the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. I am in a 12-step program for compulsive eaters. I am constantly reading this book because I am a big proponent of the 12 steps, or the 12 steps of remedial repentance, as I often refer to them. I think the stories there are nothing short of miraculous, and I see changed lives every day because of the steps. Even the LDS Church has adopted these steps in their recovery programs, and I work them every day in my own life. On Saturday mornings you’ll find me… walking with my dad at the University Mall. My most cherished memory at BYU was when… I sang the BYU Fight Song with a children’s choir at Homecoming when I was about 8 years old in the Brigham Young Academy Building. My go-to BYU Creamery ice cream flavor (if I still ate ice cream) is… Roasted Almond Fudge. (I’ve been off sugar for six months! Yay!) My favorite spot on campus is… the trail above the Botany Pond. A close second is my father’s old office in the Clyde Building (he was a professor of mechanical engineering for 40 years!). And I love the openness of the BF Larsen gallery in the Harris Fine Arts Center. I’m most looking forward to… traveling someday and going on a mission! See Elizabeth at Cougar Queries.

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'Branding the American West' brings Wild West insights to BYU MOA

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 14:04:06 +0000

When a small group of artists assembled themselves in Taos, N.M., in the early 1900s, they had a few goals. Beyond just capturing stunning Southwest landscapes and imagery, they wanted the world to see it – getting their works traveling was an M.O. And the works did travel. The “Taos school” became famous, and Taos became a tourist attraction. Filmmakers came there to film their Westerns. In many ways, the region became the symbol of the Western states. Read more>>>>>>

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