School of Fine Arts Schedule

Hosik Kim

• Run Dates: August 24th – September 20th
• Opening Reception: August 24th 2-4 p.m.

Join us for the opening reception for visiting artist and Belhaven Art Department Alumni, Hosik Kim, on Saturday August 24th from 2-4 p.m. in the Bitsy Irby Gallery. Kim’s show will feature ceramic pottery.

Doubt: A Parable

By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Elissa Sartwell

• September 11-14, 7:00 pm
• September 14, 2:00 pm matinee
• Blackbox Theatre

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best New Play in 2005, Doubt is set in a parochial school in the 1960s. The school principal, Sister Aloysius, takes matters into her own hands when she suspects the young Father Flynn of being in the priesthood for the wrong reasons. Has Father Flynn crossed any lines?  The play asks a compelling question: what do we do when we’re not certain?

*Content Advisory: Please be advised this play deals with allegations of abuse between a priest and a minor student.

Tickets can be reserved by emailing boxoffice@belhaven.edu beginning one week before the opening night. Tickets can also be purchased at the door (if seats are still available). Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and BU Alumni, and complimentary for Belhaven students, faculty, and staff. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance time.

Jordan Hess

• Run Dates: September 28th – November 9th
• Masterclass: September 27th
• Gallery Talk: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
• Process Demonstration: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
• Opening Reception: September 28th at 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Join us for a masterclass on September 27th, led by artist and Belhaven Alumni, Jordan Hess. The masterclass will feature a gallery talk in the Bitsy Irby Gallery from 10-11:30 a.m., and a process demonstration from 1-3 pm in Bitsy Irby. Artwork by Hess will be on display in the Bitsy Irby Gallery from September 28th – November 9th. The opening reception will be on September 28th from 4-6 p.m.

Community Dance Concert

Belhaven University dance students and alumni join with other local dance artists to offer an inspiring and lively evening of dance.

• When: Saturday, October 5, 7:00 PM
• Where: Center for the Arts Concert Hall

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. Advanced ticket reservations are not required.

Glimpses of the Moon

A Jazz Age Musical

Book and Lyrics by Tajlei Levis
Music by John Mercurio
Based on the novel by Edith Wharton
Directed by Jeff Allen Young
Musical Direction by Chrissy Hrivnak
Choreography by Kellis Oldenburg

• October 24-26 and October 31-November 2, 7:00 pm
• October 26 & November 2, 2:00 pm matinee
• Blackbox Theatre

A sparkling romantic musical, Glimpses of the Moon follows the jazzy whirl of New York society in 1922. Popular but penniless, Susy and her friend Nick devise the ultimate fundraising scheme – to marry and live off the wedding presents while they help one another look for suitable millionaires. The plan works perfectly – until they fall in love! BroadwayWorld described it as “one of the best new musicals we’ve seen in ages . . . a well-crafted, witty musical comedy . . . a sparkling valentine to the Jazz Age.”

Tickets can be reserved by emailing boxoffice@belhaven.edu beginning one week before the opening night. Tickets can also be purchased at the door (if seats are still available). Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and BU Alumni, and complimentary for Belhaven students, faculty, and staff. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance time.

Fall Dance Concert: 30 Years of Dance at Belhaven!

A showcase of choreography by dance faculty and guest artists, presented by the Belhaven University Dance Ensemble and members of DOXA. Styles include classical and contemporary ballet and modern dance.

• When: November 1-2 & 8-9, Friday & Saturday, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. To reserve tickets, please email dancetickets@belhaven.edu.

Belhaven University Symphony Orchestra Concert

• Friday, November 8, 2024
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Prepare for an evening of symphonic masterworks performed by the Belhaven University Symphony Orchestra. The program features the depth and intensity of Johannes Brahms' "Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98" and the enchanting "Valse Triste" by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Join us for a night of exceptional music that promises to captivate and inspire. 

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook. 

Student Composers Concert 31

• Thursday, November 14, 2024
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

The Belhaven Composers Forum invites you to participate in the profound and playful pursuit of premiering new compositions and improvisations. Join us for the creation of freshly fabricated compositions and inventive, interactive improvisations.  

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook. 

Emerging Choreographers Concert

This event is produced by members of DOXA and highlights student choreography and performance.

• When: November 15 (Concert A) and November 16 (Concert B), Friday & Saturday, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. To reserve tickets, please email dancetickets@belhaven.edu.

Festival of Shorts

A Collection of 10-Minute Plays

Directed by Students in Belhaven Theatre’s Directing Class

• November 15-16, 7:00pm
• Barber Theatre

Each fall, students in the Directing Class demonstrate their directing skills by selecting, casting, and staging 10-minute plays. The plays range from comedic to dramatic and everything in between. Come support our students as they make their directing debuts!

Admission is complimentary. Seating is first come, first served. Individuals must be physically present to claim a seat. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance time.

Poets Corner  

Belhaven Choral Arts 

• Tuesday, November 19, 2024
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Join us for an enchanting concert featuring beautiful settings of well-known poems by renowned poets, inspired by Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. The Belhaven Chorale and Women’s Ensemble will bring these literary masterpieces to life through captivating choral arrangements. Experience the unique blend of poetry and music as we celebrate the timeless beauty of poetic expression. Enjoy an evening that will touch your heart and inspire your soul, honoring the great poets remembered in Poets' Corner. 

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook. 

Best of Belhaven I Concert  

• Thursday, November 21, 2024
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

The Music Department presents the most outstanding student performances of the semester on one concert. Musical variety and excellence are the gifts from our student performers to you. 

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook. 

The 92nd Annual Singing Christmas Tree

• Friday, December 6, 7:30 p.m., Belhaven Bowl Stadium
• Saturday, December 7, 7:30 p.m., Belhaven Bowl Stadium

Voices! Carols! Lights! The Belhaven University Singing Christmas Tree is the oldest continuous outdoor singing Christmas tree tradition in North America. Dr. Rebecca Geihsler-Chittom, assisted by Mrs. Katie Moody, conducts the tree made up of Belhaven Choral Arts singers along with additional students, faculty, staff, alumni, and choristers from area churches, in collaboration with Belhaven’s other fine arts programs. Together we join forces to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas! 

Complimentary admission. 

Senior Exhibitions

Alex Parker & Ke’Marri Thompson

• Run Dates: January 18th – February 1st
• Opening Reception: January 18th 2-4 pm
• Gallery Talk: January 27th 4 p.m.

The Senior Exhibition is the culminating experience for our BFA and BA candidates. These students have worked hard to develop their own voices as artists throughout their coursework in the Art and Design Department. This exhibit serves as a launching point for professional practice and allows the students to gain the practical knowledge of museum work through the curating and installing of their exhibit. 

Shannon Aardsma, Macon Bentley, Colby Prichard, Dan Warren

• Run Dates: February 8th – February 22nd
• Opening Reception: February 8th 2-4 p.m.
• Gallery Talk: February 17th 4 p.m.

The Senior Exhibition is the culminating experience for our BFA and BA candidates. These students have worked hard to develop their own voices as artists throughout their coursework in the Art and Design Department. This exhibit serves as a launching point for professional practice and allows the students to gain the practical knowledge of museum work through the curating and installing of their exhibit. 

Dajah Carter, Victoria Steinmetz, Abigail Wilemon

• Run Dates: March 1st – 22nd
• Opening Reception: March 1st 2-4 p.m.
• Gallery Talk: March 17th 4 p.m.

The Senior Exhibition is the culminating experience for our BFA and BA candidates. These students have worked hard to develop their own voices as artists throughout their coursework in the Art and Design Department. This exhibit serves as a launching point for professional practice and allows the students to gain the practical knowledge of museum work through the curating and installing of their exhibit. 

Dance Ministry Ensemble Concert

The Dance Ministry Ensemble and members of DOXA present a selection of original dances created by guest artists and dance faculty aimed to encourage and inspire the spirit of all who attend.

• When: February 13-15, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. To reserve tickets, please email dancetickets@belhaven.edu.

Eurydice

By Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Elissa Sartwell

• February 20-22, 7:00 pm
• February 27 – March 1, 7:00 pm
• February 22 & March 1, 2:00 pm matinee
• Blackbox Theatre

In Eurydice, pronounced (yr-ih-duh-see), playwright Sarah Ruhl imagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, this play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.

Tickets can be reserved by emailing boxoffice@belhaven.edu beginning one week before the opening night. Tickets can also be purchased at the door (if seats are still available). Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and BU Alumni, and complimentary for Belhaven students, faculty, and staff. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance time.

Senior Dance Concert

Senior dance majors present an evening of original choreography and performance, created at the intersection of scholarship and practice. This event is sponsored by DOXA.

• When: February 26-27, February 28 - March 1, 7:00 PM
• Concert A: Wednesday & Friday, 7:00 PM
• Concert B: Thursday & Saturday, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. To reserve tickets, please email dancetickets@belhaven.edu.

Seafaring Serenades

Vocal Arts Ensemble Concert

• Tuesday, March 4, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Join us for an unforgettable Vocal Arts Ensemble Concert featuring songs of the sea, shanties, and enchanting melodies of sirens and mermaids. Our talented vocalists will transport you to the maritime world with their stirring renditions of seafaring tunes and mythical ballads. Experience the rich traditions and captivating tales of the ocean as we bring to life the adventurous spirit of sailors and the mesmerizing allure of sea creatures. Don't miss this evening of nautical music that promises to captivate your imagination and leave you longing for the open sea. 

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.

Senior Dance Research Presentations

Senior dance majors present an evening of scholarship, lecture demonstrations, and creative process discussions on topics from the field of dance and beyond.

• When: Thursday, March 6, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

Complimentary admission.

Night of Broadway

A Concert Celebration of Musical Theatre
Directed by Jeff Allen Young & Chrissy Hrivnak

• March 21-22, 7:00pm
• March 22, 2:00pm matinee
• Blackbox Theatre

Join us as students from across campus share their singing, dancing, and acting talents in a concert celebration of musical theatre! With selections from musicals past and present, this annual event is sure to have something for everyone!

Admission is complimentary. We will not be accepting reservations for this production. Seating is first come, first served. Individuals must be physically present to claim a seat. Seating list opens one hour prior to the performance time.

Belhaven Strings & Orchestra Showcase

• Friday, March 21, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Please come to cerebrate and enjoy an evening with Belhaven University’s outstanding string soloists, chamber ensembles and the Symphonic Orchestra. You are guaranteed a night full of musical variety and delight!

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook. 

All-State strings Festival Concert

• Saturday, March 23, 2025
• 3:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Mississippi All-State String Orchestra consists of talented pre-collegiate string students from all over Mississippi.  This concert is the culmination of their two-day intensive orchestra training. Please come to support our young generation of talented Mississippi musicians.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.

Instrumental Arts Concert 

• Tuesday, April 1, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Join us this evening as Belhaven wind and percussion students showcase their musical talents through brass quintets, woodwind choirs, percussion ensemble and wind ensemble literature of the highest quality.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.

Student Composers Concert 32

• Friday, April 4, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

The Belhaven Composers Forum invites you to participate in the profound and playful pursuit of premiering new compositions and improvisations. Join us for the creation of freshly fabricated compositions and inventive, interactive improvisations.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.

MS TrebleSong Honor Choir Concert

• Saturday, April 5, 2025
• 3:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

The Mississippi Treblesong Honor Choir consists of talented 7-12^th grade vocalists from all over Mississippi.  This concert is the culmination of their two-day intensive choral training. Please come to support our young generation of talented Mississippi musicians.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook

Smoke Screens and Graceland: A Double-Billing of One-Act Plays

Two One-Act Plays

• April 9-12, 7:00 pm
• April 12, 2:00 pm matinee
• Barber Theatre

Smoke Screens

By Harold Brighouse
Directed by Tessa Bierle

Graceland

By Ellen Byron
Directed by Hannah Beth Gosnell

Students Tessa Bierle and Hannah Beth Gosnell make their mainstage directorial debuts with two one-act plays that are sure to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings.

Tickets can be reserved by emailing boxoffice@belhaven.edu. Tickets can also be purchased at the door (if seats are still available). Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and BU Alumni, and complimentary for Belhaven students, faculty, and staff. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance time.

Spring Dance Concert

A showcase of choreography by dance faculty and guest artists, presented by the Belhaven University Dance Ensemble and members of DOXA. Styles include classical and contemporary ballet and modern dance.

• When: April 10-12, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 7:00 PM
• Where: Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center Studio Theatre

General Admission $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. To reserve tickets, please email dancetickets@belhaven.edu.

Annual Student Art + Design Exhibition & Open House

• Run Dates: April 12th – Summer Break
• Opening Reception: April 12th 2-4 p.m.

The Art and Design department cordially invites the Belhaven University and greater Jackson community to The Annual Student Art and Design Exhibition reception to beheld on April 12th from 2-4 p.m. in the Bitsy Irby Visual Art and Dance Center Gallery.

The Annual Student and Art Design Exhibition features work produced within the past year by students in the Art and Design Department. This exhibit is juried and curated by the faculty and reveals the diversity and range of disciplines taught in the department. None of the work included in this show was made for a class, but instead reflects the vision and expertise developed by each student as they pursue their various disciplines.

Gallery patrons will enjoy a wide variety of work ranging from the traditional fine art mediums of painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography to graphic design, digital illustration and two- and three-dimensional mixed media work.

John 14:27

Belhaven Choral Arts Concert

• Monday, April 14, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

Join us as the Belhaven Chorale and Women’s Ensemble presents a concert focusing on the text from John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Our Choral arts will present a beautiful selection of sacred and contemporary choral works, exploring the message of peace and reassurance. Experience an evening of music that reminds us that true peace is found through Christ and that His love always surrounds us.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.

Best of Belhaven II and Music Awards

• Saturday, April 26, 2025
• 7:00 p.m., Center of the Arts Concert Hall

The Music Department presents the most outstanding student performances of the semester on one concert.  We will also present music awards to several of our talented majors.

Complimentary admission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Watch the livestream on the Belhaven University Music Department page on Facebook.