Alum Bree Murphy to Play Adelaide in Upcoming Production of 'Guys and Dolls'

Bree Murphy (MFA 2014) is playing Adelaide in Music Theatre West’s upcoming production of Guys and Dolls, and current second year MFA in Music Direction candidate Benet Braun is the Music Director for the show.

Lex Leigh is Associate Music Director for South Coast Repertory’s upcoming production of Shakespeare in Love

Current second year MFA in Music Direction candidate Lex Leigh is Associate Music Director for South Coast Repertory’s upcoming production of Shakespeare in Love. Lex previously worked on last summer’s production of Once at SCR. 

Nicole Mitchell Top Best Jazz Concert of 2017

The Chicago Tribune named Nicole Mitchell and Malian kora virtuoso Ballake Sissoko's September performance at the University of Chicago's Logan Center for the Arts one of the top jazz performances of the year for the "daring world premiere" of “Bamako*Chicago Sound System," calling it "intensely...

Alumni Composer Jeffrey Mumford had recent works performed at over a half dozen venues in 2017

Composer Jeffrey Mumford (BA, 1977) had recent works performed at over a half dozen venues in 2017: the  violin piece “eight musings . . . revisiting memories” (2005), was performed at Eastman School of music, Lawrence University and Chicago; “eight aspects of appreciation II” (2005...

Ry Bradley Nominated for California Country Artists in the Best Album category

Alumni Ry Bradley is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter rising to prominence in the country music scene. Bradley is based in California but travels frequently  to Nashville to perform and co-write songs with Nashville songwriters.  Ry performs constantly in venues ranging from bars to...

Nicole Grimes presented at the symposium Music Aesthetics in Britain in the Long Nineteenth Century

Nicole Grimes, Assistatn Professor of Musicology, presented a paper called "On Silencing Brahms: Ethics and Aesthetics in E. M. Forster's Howards End," at the symposium "Music Aesthetics in Britain in the Long-Nineteenth Century," King's College London, December 15-16, 2017.

Alumni Kelly Moran’s album “Bloodroot” was named one of the top 25 classical albums of the year by the New York Times

‘BLOODROOT’ Kelly Moran, keyboards (Telegraph Harp). When writing for “prepared” piano, some composer-performers focus on timbral effects to the exclusion of all else. Throughout this rewarding set of miniatures, Ms. Moran avoids this pitfall. The avant-garde touches she employs may be...

Nicole Grimes gave talk at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Nicole Girmes, Assistant Professor of Musicology gave a talk at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on "Performing Wagner in Israel" on December 12, 2017.

Artforum names UCI faculty and alum in the "Best of 2017" issue

Congratulations to the Department of Art faculty and alumni from the were recently named in Artforum's “Best of 2017” issue. Rhea Anastas (faculty) Curator Jamillah James selects Cauleen Smith’s  "Lessons in Semaphore", curated by Rhea Anastas at UCI’s University Art Galleries, as one of...

Take the next step in your dance career with an MFA in Dance

LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR DANCE CAREER? WHAT: Your chance to do a Dance MFA, the degree that opens doors WHEN: Apply by Jan 12, 2017, and audition on January 26 in sunny Southern California WHY? Because you know dance matters, and you want to keep moving ahead Consider pursuing an...

Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble was Awarded an International Grant

Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble was awarded an international grant by USArtists International, a program of the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, to perform at the Edison festival in Sweden. For more information on the final grant recipients.

Nicole Mitchell was awarded top jazz album of the year by the New York Times

Nicole Mitchell was awarded top jazz album of the year by the New York Times for Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble, “Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds” on FPE records.

Quinn VanAntwerp to perform in Broadway in Concert Series

"Theatre West's acclaimed Broadway in Concert series returns for the company's 65th anniversary season with an exciting line up of stars. Cast member from Broadway and film production of Jersey Boys' Quinn VanAntwerp in Oh What a Night (Saturday, February 3, 2018; and Los Angeles and...

For Women in Jazz, a Year of Reckoning and Recognition

This year women in the music industry, especially jazz, has managed to break through the barriers of sexism and stereotypes. Espereza Spalding is a bassist and vocalist that has recorded an entire album titled "Exposure", a portrayal of self expression and form of breaking social norms. For 77...

Nicole Mitchell profiled by the New York Times as leader of a banner year for women in jazz:

UCI Drama alumni performing in the Broadway musical 'The Book of Mormon'

True to the Department of Drama's long-standing reputation of training the future stars of Broadway, three UCI Drama alumni are currently performing in the Broadway musical 'The Book of Mormon': Jacob Haren (BFA 2013) can be seen on Broadway; Jacob Ben-Shmuel (BFA 2017) and Oge Agulué...

UCI Drama alumni in 'Frozen' at Disneyland Resort’s Hyperion Theatre

Two UCI Drama alumni are currently working on Frozen at Disneyland Resort’s Hyperion Theatre; Ashley Moniz (BA 2009) is performing as Anna, and Nathaniel Chase (MFA 2017) is working as an Assistant Stage Manager.

UCI Drama alumni Karyn Lawrence works as Lighting Designer in several shows

Karyn Lawrence (BA 2007/MFA 2012), winner of a 2016 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Lighting for her work on Fences, has worked as Lighting Designer on five shows this year thus far, including Next to Normal at East West Players and Moby Dick at South Coast Repertory.