School of the Arts Archives - Page 2 of 23

World-renowned choir to perform at Hammons Hall March 13

February 24, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Tuks Camerata, one of South Africa’s top choirs, will perform with Missouri State University’s Chorale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts 7:30 p.m. March 13.

High school choirs from Nixa and Republic will also perform. Daniel Gutierrez conducts the Nixa choir, and Chandler Cooper conducts the Republic choir. Gutierrez and Cooper are both MSU graduates.

MSU students, faculty and staff can receive up to two complimentary tickets by presenting their Bearpass ID at the box office. Tickets can also be purchased online.

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Concert reflects range of musical styles

The Tuks Camerata and MSU Chorale will form a combined choir, said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Clif and Gail Smart Professor in Music and Director of Choral Studies.

“This concert encapsulates the power that choral music has to bring people together,” LaBarr said. “Our two choirs come from different backgrounds, yet we are united in our love for communal music making.”

They will perform pieces that showcase the wide range of musical styles from the USA and South Africa and will later feature on an album they will record in March, he added.

“Working with the MSU Chorale is a little like being at home. There is so much similar to our approaches and philosophies pertaining to choral music,” said Dr. Michael Barrett-Berg, conductor of Tuks Camerata and Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria.

Scouts earn badges at MSU’s Merit Badge University

February 21, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University resumed its Merit Badge University (MBU) program by holding a one-day camp Jan. 25, 2025, on the Springfield campus.

In total, 116 scouts from St. Louis, Kansas City, Joplin, Lebanon, Webb City, Aurora, Carl Junction, Carthage, Ozark, Clever, Springfield, Republic, Nixa, Branson, Rogersville and St. Robert participated in the event.

Program director Dr. Michael Suttmoeller, associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and coordinator of the Conservation Law Enforcement Certificate, said several RCASH faculty volunteered to help the scouts earn various merit badges.

Suttmoeller acknowledged MSU’s faculty and RCASH Associate Dean Dr. Jason Jolley for their support and effort. “I really appreciate all of the hard work and preparation that they each did to deliver high quality courses for the scouts,” he said.

Reviving a great idea

When Suttmoeller learned that MSU had hosted a merit badge program several years ago, he decided reviving the program would be a great idea. He immediately began organizing the event, recruiting faculty and arranging the logistics.

“A merit badge university was previously held at MSU, with the last date being 2016. None had been held since that time until 2025,” Suttmoeller said.

“I have been exposed to merit badge universities at other institutions and recognized that this was a program that could benefit both Scouting America as well as MSU.”

Sustainability meets creativity with Radical Jewelry Makeover Exhibit

February 3, 2025 by Reynolds College

The Department of Art and Design has teamed with the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center to host the Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) exhibition Jan. 27-Feb. 21 and the First Friday Art Walk Feb. 7, 6-9 p.m.

The RJM exhibition is free and open to the public. All pieces on display are for sale.

Telling new stories with old jewelry

The exhibit features reimagined jewelry created by students and local jewelers, highlighting the combination of artistry, sustainability and community engagement. By showcasing the transformation of old, donated pieces into stunning new designs, this inspiring project advocates for sustainable and ethical jewelry-making practices.

Working together, students and local jewelers repurposed donated jewelry into meaningful pieces to tell new stories. This hands-on process also included tracking donor information to distribute discount coupons for the January sale of the final designs.

“This initiative highlights one of the project’s core goals: ensuring that donated materials return to the world in a new form,” said Jina Seo, art and design faculty member who is overseeing the RJM project.

Annual Foundations Exhibition on view Jan. 27-Feb. 14

January 31, 2025 by Reynolds College

The Department of Art and Design announces its Annual Foundations Exhibition is now on view at Brick City Gallery. The exhibit is available Jan. 27-Feb. 14 and during the First Friday Art Walk Feb. 7, 6-9 p.m.

Three dimensional artwork in brown tones — One of the student artworks on display at the Annual Foundations Exhibition.

The exhibit features the work of students enrolled in the department’s foundation courses. These courses, which include 2D Design, 3D Design, Drawing I and Introduction to New Media, are mandatory for all art, design (studio) and art education majors and minors.

Selections reflect variety of assignments

The annual exhibition highlights student projects that were curated by their art and design instructors. The instructors choose works that best represent the variety and scope of assignments in their classes.

Art and Design Foundations Coordinator Megan Frauenhoffer explained that the artworks “focus on formal studies of the elements and principles of art and design while also giving students a wide variety of media to learn.”

These pieces reflect the students’ progress in mastering fundamental art concepts while exploring different techniques and materials, she said.

“Rent” opens Spring 2025 Theatre and Dance production schedule

January 23, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its 2024-25 “Connection” series with the production of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent.”

Evening showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21-22, 24 and Feb. 26-March 1. Matinee showtimes are 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 2.

Directed by Dr. Kurt Heinlein, all performances will be held in the Craig Hall Balcony Theatre.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for students/seniors. Special advance rates are available for students with an MSU ID.

A special group rate is available for 10 or more. Call 417-836-7678 for details.

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