February 24, 2020 (Jackson, Miss.) - The arts are thriving at Belhaven University, and this semester will feature some of the best productions, concerts, and exhibitions. Our students and faculty spend countless hours refining their craft to showcase their talents in plays, dances, music, poetry, gallery exhibits and more.
All of the events are open to the public, family friendly and many of the performances are free. The Arts Ablaze Calendar has a complete listing of the many art events along with the time, place and information.
Browse through the upcoming Arts Ablaze Spring 2020 events, and join us as we celebrate the arts.
FEBRUARY 22 - MARCH 25
JACOB ROWAN GRADUATE EXHIBITION
BITSY IRBY VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE CENTER, ART GALLERY
A solo exhibition featuring work produced during graduate study. Rowan received his Master of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
*this is an event happening but wasn't put on this list.
FEBRUARY 28 & 29
SENIOR DANCE CONCERT
CONCERT A- FRIDAY, 7:00 P.M.
CONCERT B- SATURDAY, 7:00 P.M.
BITSY IRBY VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE CENTER STUDIO THEATRE
DAN FREDERICKS PERFORMANCE DANCE STUDIO
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.
General Admission, $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm.
MARCH 16
READING: Adam Vines, Poet
VISITNG WRITER SERIES
MONDAY, 5:30-6:30 P.M., STUDENT CENTER THEATER
Adam Vines is editor of Birmingham Poetry Review and author of two books of poetry, The Coal Life (2012) and Out of Speech (2018).He also co-authored a book of poems (According to Discretion, 2015) with Allen Jih. Vines graduated with his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and received his MFA from the University of Florida. He is now an assistant professor at UAB, where he teaches poetry writing workshops. Vines has published work in Kenyon Review, Southwest Review, Poetry, and many other journals. He was named the Tennessee Williams Scholar at the 2008 Sewanee Writers' Conference and was awarded the William Alexander II & Lisa Percy Fellowship at the Rivendell Writers' Colony in 2017. Complimentary admission. Open to the public.
MARCH 28
COLLABORATIVE ARTS CONCERT
SATURDAY, 7:00 P.M.
BITSY IRBY VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE CENTER STUDIO THEATRE
DAN FREDERICKS PERFORMANCE DANCE STUDIO
This student-produced event features collaborative works created from the Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, Film, and Graphic Design Departments.
Complimentary admission.Doors open at 6:30pm.
APRIL TBA
READING: THE BEST OF BELHAVEN'S WRITERS
STUDENT WRITER SERIES
TBA, 6:00-7:30 P.M., STUDENT CENTER, THEATER
APRIL 2-4, 8-9, 16-18
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
MUSIC BY ARTHUR SULLIVAN
BOOK & LYRICS BY W. S. GILBERT
DIRECTED BY JOSEPH FROST
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY, THURSDAY-SATURDAY, 7:30 P.M.
SATURDAY MATINEES, 2 P.M.
BLACKBOX THEATRE
From the minds of Gilbert and Sullivan, this timeless tale of topsy-turvydom tells the story of Frederick, an honorable young lad freed from his apprenticeship to a band of misfit pirates by the arrival of his 21st birthday, who falls in love with the virtuous Mabel and, with the help of a bumbling bunch of bobbies, must save her sisters and their father the Major-General from the approach of the Pirate King.
APRIL 3
STRINGS & ORCHESTRA CONCERT
FRIDAY, 7:30 P.M., CONCERT HALL
Come and enjoy a night showcasing brilliant string solos, chamber groups and the BU Symphony Orchestra featuring outstanding Belhaven string students. The BU Symphony Orchestra will present timeless favorites including Rossini's “Barber of Seville” Overture, Gustav Holst's “Carnival,” and “Trisch-Tratsch Polka” by Johann Strauss. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7 p.m.
APRIL 4
ALL-STATE STRINGS CONCERT
SATURDAY, 3 P.M., CONCERT HALL
Mississippi's best high school string students present the results of two intensive days of rehearsal and study. This year's guest conductor is Grammy award winning conductor and violin virtuoso, Luis Haza. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
APRIL 4-MAY 9
STUDENT INVITATIONAL ART EXHIBITION
BITSY IRBY VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE CENTER, ART GALLERY
OPENING RECEPTION SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2:00-4:00 P.M.
The Student Invitational Art Exhibition is the centerpiece of the year for the Visual Art Department and will showcase a variety of artwork from freshmen to seniors. This annual exhibit will run from April 2 to May 8 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. It will highlight a wide range of styles and media including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. Admission is free to the art exhibition.
APRIL 9
INSTRUMENTAL ARTS CONCERT
THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M., CONCERT HALLExperience the new and unique timbres of the Wind Ensemble as Belhaven's student instrumentalists perform music by traditional and modern composers in the small ensemble repertoire. You will hear everything from Baroque to 20thCentury music. IT'S GONNA BE FUN!Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7 p.m.
APRIL 14
CHORAL ARTS CONCERT
TUESDAY, 7:30 P.M.
CENTER FOR THE ARTS CONCERT HALL
Join us as the BU Chorale shares inspirational choral works, traditional choral literature, and contemporary worship music as shared in weekly Belhaven Chapel services. It's a night celebrating our great God, presented by an eclectic ensemble of Belhaven's awesome vocalists. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7 p.m.
APRIL 16
READING: THE BEST OF BELHAVEN'S WRITERS
STUDENT WRITER SERIES
Thursday, 6:00-7:30 P.M., STUDENT CENTER, THEATER
Students currently enrolled in the BFA Program in Creative Writing at Belhaven University will read from their work. Representing many states and several countries, these students have enrolled at Belhaven because of their gift for writing and devotion to craft. Readings will include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scripts for screen and stage. Upon graduation, Belhaven's Creative Writers will join a group of alumni who have published novels, topped The New York Times bestseller list, won national poetry prizes and Fulbright Scholarships, and secured positions with prestigious presses and institutions of higher education.
Complimentary Admission / Open to the public / Reception to Follow.
APRIL 17-18, 24-25
SPRING DANCE CONCERT
BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY DANCE ENSEMBLE
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, 7:00 P.M.
BITSY IRBY VISUAL ARTS AND DANCE CENTER
DAN FREDERICKS PERFORMANCE DANCE STUDIO
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. General Admission, $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm.
APRIL 20
BEST OF BELHAVEN III
MONDAY, 7:30 P.M.
CENTER FOR THE ART, CONCERT HALL
The “Best of Belhaven” concert series is a well-deserved encore celebration of the most outstanding student performances of the semester, compiled into one compelling concert of musical variety and excellence. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7 p.m.
APRIL 21 & 25
STUDENT COMPOSERS CONCERT XXIII
TUESDAY & SATURDAY, 7:30 P.M.
CENTER FOR THE ART, CONCERT HALL
The Composers Forum invites you to Student Composers Concert XXIII, an interactive showcase of engaging new music by Belhaven student composers. This continuing adventure of bringing new musical designs to life includes newly-composed works, interactive structured improvisations, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This semester the concert will be performed twice: Tuesday, April 21, and Saturday, April 25.Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7p.m.
APRIL 27
MSO COMPOSERS FORUM:ORCHESTRAL READINGS
MONDAY, 5:30 P.M.
MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART, DOWNTOWN JACKSON
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs, in an open forum, the new orchestral compositions of selected college and university student composers from Belhaven University, Mississippi College, and Jackson State University.Complimentary admission. Doors open at 5 p.m.