Franklin Fine and Performing Arts Brochure 26|27

Greetings all new and returning fans of the arts at UGA

For the second year, this brochure brings together the vibrant arts programming of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences in one place. Inside, you will discover the creative work and cultural offerings of the Department of Dance, the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, the Lamar Dodd School of Art, and the Department of Theatre and Film Studies.

I am continually inspired by the talent, innovation, and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. This issue highlights the many ways our arts community enriches campus life and engages audiences across Georgia and beyond through exhibitions, performances, concerts, student film screenings, and community arts programming. These experiences are not only opportunities to encounter the arts, but also opportunities for experiential learning, collaboration, and discovery.

Across Franklin, the arts are deeply connected to multidisciplinary research and teaching. The stories featured in this brochure demonstrate how faculty and students are building partnerships that cross disciplines and create new ways of understanding our world. At the Lamar Dodd School of Art, faculty and students are contributing to arts research ecosystems that connect museums, the humanities, the sciences, and public scholarship through initiatives such as the UGA Arts Collaborative. At the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, faculty are advancing work in music therapy and music technology, including collaborations with environmental scientists who use the sounds of tides to raise awareness about coastal resilience and ecosystem change.

Collaboration continues across the performing arts as well. In the Department of Dance, faculty continue to develop innovative courses that connect movement, creativity, and wellbeing, giving students new opportunities to explore the relationship between artistic expression and physical and mental health.

The arts serve as a crossroads for students across the university, welcoming both majors and non-majors into transformative experiences rooted in creative expression, critical thinking, and collaboration. We often speak about the power of the ampersand, and our “&” that connects us across the arts and sciences and with audiences and communities far and wide. That spirit of connection is reflected in the partnerships highlighted throughout this brochure, where artists, researchers, educators, and students come together to create new knowledge and new possibilities.

I encourage you join us throughout the year for these rewarding opportunities to experience the arts at the University of Georgia.

Anna Stenport Dean

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

see more art

Open six days a week with free admission and events for all. Come put more art in your life.

THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA’S ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE VISUAL, LITERARY, AND PERFORMING ARTS

The UGA Arts Council invites you to celebrate the variety of arts at the University of Georgia with a bold lineup of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, literature, and more. November

Inspiration and anticipation

As the Lamar Dodd School of Art gears up for an exciting centennial celebration in the 2027-2028 academic year, we look back at a century of impact in craft and contemporary art, design, art historical scholarship, and art education. With five facilities across UGA’s campus and 14 areas of study, we are proudly the highest-ranked fine arts graduate program in Georgia and a top-ranked program in the nation.

Our local community is invited to join us for dozens of free, donor-funded programs throughout the year — exhibition openings at the Athenaeum and Dodd Galleries, open student and faculty studios, art sales, and lectures by artists and designers from all over the world. We also invite you to make art in our studios by taking a class in our growing UGA Community Art School for adults and UGA Summer Art Camp for teens.

This August, we welcome back Victoria Dugger MFA ’22 to present a public lecture and exhibition of works in the Dodd Galleries as the 2026 Margie E. West Alumni Prize Winner. This season’s esteemed Visiting Artist and Scholar Lecture Series will include awardwinning graphic designer Georgianna Stout and New Hampshire-based furniture designer and craft artist Aspen Golann. Moreover, our Art History Faculty Lecture Series will highlight current scholarship at the school, such as Professor Nell Andrew’s investigation into the role of the puppet within the avant-garde imagination. Take your pick of subject matter and inspiration among our programs.

Partnering with our arts peers for the Franklin Fine and Performing Arts Brochure for a second year speaks to our collective cultural output and connection on and off campus. I look forward to encountering new and returning audiences this season in the lead up to the Dodd’s 100th birthday. Stay tuned for the UGA Year of the Arts in 2027-28, and we’ll see you in our studios, lecture halls, and galleries!

Joe Peragine Director

Lamar Dodd School of Art

The UGA Community Art School features courses for adults seeking to learn new skills, hone techniques, and expand their artistic expression at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. The UGA Summer Art Camp offers teen artists a pre-collegiate dive into painting, photography, printmaking, and more in state-of-the-art studio facilities on UGA’s campus.

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ATHENAEUM

EXHIBITIONS

Fall 2026

AUGUST 29-MARCH 20

The Measure is Something Else

Erin Johnson

AUGUST 29-NOVEMBER 20

The Field (2022-2026)

Megan Ledbetter

NOVEMBER | TBA

A-Division: The Dark House Experiment

UGA Professor Tad Gloeckler

EVENTS

Fall 2026

AUGUST 29 from 4-6 p.m.

Fall Exhibitions Opening Reception

Exhibiting artists Erin Johnson and Megan Ledbetter in attendance.

OCTOBER 16 at Noon

Main Gallery Lunch-and-Learn

Spring 2027

JANUARY 23 from 4-6 p.m.

Spring Exhibition Opening Reception

Exhibiting artist Christy Bush in attendance.

Spring 2027

JANUARY 23-MARCH 20

Continuum

Christy Bush

APRIL 10-MAY 7

2027 MFA Thesis Exhibition

Summer 2027

JUNE | TBA

Athens Art Book Fair

FEBRUARY 19 at Noon

Main Gallery Lunch-and-Learn

MARCH 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Closing Symposium for The Measure is Something Else and Keynote Visiting Artist and Scholar Lecture with Erin Johnson

APRIL 10 from 4-6 p.m.

MFA Exhibition Opening Reception

APRIL 22 at 6 p.m.

MFA Speaks

C-U-B-E GALLERY

EXHIBITIONS

Fall 2026

AUGUST 17-SEPTEMBER 30

Watermarks, Reading Rivers of Southern Appalachia

Ted Whisenhunt

OCTOBER 5-DECEMBER 10

Cross Section

2 x 4

New York Design Studio

Spring 2027 C-U-B-E Gallery programming TBA

GALLERY LOCATIONS

Athenaeum

287 W. Broad St.

Dodd Galleries

Lamar Dodd School of Art

Main Building

270 River Rd.

C-U-B-E Gallery

Lamar Dodd School of Art

Main Building - N231

270 River Rd.

DODD GALLERIES

EXHIBITIONS

Fall 2026

AUGUST 27-NOVEMBER 6

True Conceal

Katie Hargrave and Meredith Lynn

Cornucopia: Ties That Bind curated by UGA Professor Joseph Norman

Through Service We Grow

UGA Lecturer Blake Jacobsen

Hope this Finds You Well curated by Paul Knopf

AUGUST 27-NOVEMBER 20

Runner Up

Victoria Dugger

2026 Margie E. West Prize Exhibition

NOVEMBER 20-DECEMBER 4

Fall 2026 BFA Exit Show

EVENTS

Fall 2026

AUGUST 27 from 5-7 p.m.

Fall Exhibitions Opening Reception

Gallery Talks and Workshops for Cornucopia: Ties That Bind

SEPTEMBER 16 time TBA

OCTOBER 14 time TBA

OCTOBER 15 time TBA

NOVEMBER 20 from 5-7 p.m.

Fall BFA Exit Show

Opening Reception

Spring 2027

JANUARY 11-23

La Mostra

2026 UGA Cortona exhibition

FEBRUARY 4-MARCH 19

Scientific Illustration

Annual Juried Exhibition

Furrealism

Joshua Bienko

curated by UGA Professor Isabelle Wallace

weeping to the moon

Eve Brown

Tidal Flow

curated by UGA Professor

Michael Marshall, Social Ecology Studio

APRIL 2-MAY 7

Spring 2027 BFA Exit Shows

Spring 2027

JANUARY 23 from 3-5 p.m.

UGA Cortona Reception and Reunion

FEBRUARY 4 from 5-7 p.m.

Spring Exhibitions Opening Reception

APRIL 2 from 5-7 p.m.

Spring BFA Exit Show Opening Reception

APRIL 16 from 5-7 p.m.

Spring BFA Exit Show Opening Reception

APRIL 30 from 5-7 p.m.

Spring BFA Exit Show Opening Reception

For updates and additions to all exhibition and event schedules, visit art.uga.edu

VISITING ARTIST AND SCHOLAR LECTURE SERIES

The Visiting Artist and Scholar Lecture Series offers insights into the craft and profession of art. These unique perspectives by renowned practitioners provide students and the Athens community an insider view of how the business works, ideas on how to approach art making, and new ways to experience an artist’s work. All lectures are free and held at the Lamar Dodd School of Art Main Building, 270 River Rd. unless indicated.

PLEASE NOTE

AUGUST 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Kelli Anderson

Graphic Arts

AUGUST 27 at 4 p.m.

Victoria Dugger

2026 Margie E. West Prize Winner Conversation with Benjamin Britton, associate professor of art

SEPTEMBER 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Janina Myronova Ceramics

OCTOBER 6 at 5:30 p.m.

Georgianna Stout

Graphic Design

Jack Davis Distinguished Lecture in Illustration

NOVEMBER 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Bob Dilworth with guests Ben F. Jones, Leslie King Hammond, and Lowery Stokes Sims (former curator of contemporary and modern art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art) discuss Cornucopia: Ties That Bind

FEBRUARY 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Aspen Golann

Furniture/Woodworking

Inaugural Abraham and Carmen Tesser Lecture in Wood Art and Design

FEBRUARY 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Emerging Scholars Symposium Keynote at the Georgia Museum of Art

90 W. Carlton St., Athens, GA

Association of Graduate Art Students Lecture

MARCH 2 at 5:30 p.m.

Adam Whitney Jewelry and Metalwork

Ann Orr Morris Lecture in Jewelry

MARCH 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Closing Symposium for The Measure is Something Else and Keynote with Erin Johnson at the Athenaeum, 287 W. Broad St., Athens, GA

MARCH 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Suzanne Kite Performance and Emerging Media

ART HISTORY FACULTY LECTURE SERIES

Lamar Dodd School of Art is adding lectures and events throughout the year.

Please remember to check our website at art.uga.edu for the most up-to-date information and for any unexpected changes to the existing schedule.

Scan the QR code to see the latest version of our lecture series and related events.

The Art History Faculty Lecture Series provides School of Art faculty an opportunity to share their latest research with students and the Athens Community. All lectures are free and held at the Lamar Dodd School of Art Main Building, 270 River Rd., Room N100.

SEPTEMBER 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Current Research in 18th Century French Art and Natural History

Elizabeth Browne

Assistant Professor of Art History

NOVEMBER 10 at 5:30 p.m.

The Puppet in the Avant-Garde Imagination

Nell Andrew Professor of Art History

JANUARY 19 at 5:30 p.m.

The Many Lives of an Art Collection

Asen Kirin

Professor of Art History

Parker Curator of Russian Art

Georgia Museum of Art

FEBRUARY 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Topics in Early Modern Art

Sunghoon Lee

Assistant Professor of Art History

MARCH 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Topics in Contemporary Art

Isabelle Wallace

Professor of Art History

APRIL 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Topics in Antiquity

Mark Abbe

Associate Professor of Art History

Poet Bryn Ashley Evans speaking at the closing symposium for Beverly’s Athens: Beverly Buchanan in Athens, GA at the Athenaeum, March 2026.

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DODD MARKET

A STUDENT ART SALE NOT TO BE MISSED

Get ready for another year of the Dodd Market — a signature studentrun event featuring over 100 student artists at UGA!

Organized by the Lamar Dodd School of Art’s Dodd Ambassadors, the Dodd Market’s mission is to provide valuable selling experience to art students and to engage the UGA and Athens community.

Fall 2026

NOVEMBER 6 from Noon-6 p.m.

Spring 2027

MARCH 20 from Noon-6 p.m.

Tentative

Student growth in motion

Looking back on the last academic year, it is incredible to see the continued momentum we are experiencing in the Department of Dance. For starters, being included in the inaugural Franklin Fine and Performing Arts Season Brochure in 2025 brought us new presales and audience members who discovered us for the first time. Additionally, many of our shows were better attended than ever before. Thank you for joining us last year for an incredible season.

This year’s season features three exceptional shows as we lay the groundwork for an exciting lineup of large-scale performance events in celebration of the UGA Year of the Arts in 2027-28

Over the past year we have seen our students do incredible things, from graduating with Double Dawg degrees and double majors, to booking fantastic work in and outside of dance. Also, one of our faculty, Elizabeth Stich, published her first book A”erial Arts and Dance Improvisation: A Practical Guide to Creativity for Aerialists.” We look forward to continuing this upward trajectory and bringing you

UGA Department of Dance

STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY CONCERT

NOVEMBER 11-13 at 7:30 p.m.

The UGA Department of Dance Student Choreography Concert is both a Senior Exit and Emerging Choreographer Showcase. The performances feature original works choreographed and produced by students, with faculty and staff providing guidance and mentorship throughout the creative process. This show highlights a variety of music genres and styles of dance.

FEBRUARY 11-13 at 7:30 p.m., FEBRUARY 13 at 2 p.m.

The Ballroom Performance Group promotes appreciation of ballroom dance through performances on campus and around the community. The company, comprised of students from across campus, was founded in 1991 by Mark Wheeler, Professor Emeritus of Dance.“Ballroom Magic” consists of 20 to 25 choreographed pieces in Smooth and Latin dancing plus guest performances.

BALLROOM MAGIC UGA DANCE COMPANY SPRING CONCERT

APRIL 8-10 at 7:30 p.m., APRIL 10 at 2 p.m.

Featuring dance faculty and guest artist choreography, and often guest alumni artists, this department-wide annual concert provides high-level performance training for dance students, where their learned technical and artistic skills are applied in an authentic setting, reflecting true experiential learning.

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at dance.uga.edu

Department of Dance performances are at the UGA Dance Theatre, 263 W. Green St., Athens, GA.

DANCE

Inspiring creation and introductions

MUSIC

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It is an exciting time for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. As we enter our 99th year, our faculty, staff, students, and community are already looking ahead to our centennial year, which will coincide with the UGA Year of the Arts in 2027-28

Before we arrive at that milestone, this season offers a remarkable range of performances: classic works central to the Western musical tradition; brand-new compositions that harness innovative technologies; musical expressions from across the globe; and pieces once lost to history finding new life with contemporary audiences.

As I begin my tenure as director of the School of Music, I cannot imagine a more inspiring season. These performances will be a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know our students and faculty by experiencing them at their best: creating, performing, teaching, and sharing music at the highest level.

To our returning audience members, I look forward to meeting you at our concerts, recitals, and performances throughout the year. And to those who, like me, are new to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, I look forward to exploring this extraordinary season alongside you.

Felix Olschofka Director

Hugh Hodgson School of Music

HODGSON SCHOLARSHIP SERIES

Formerly the “Thursday Scholarship Series,” these special concerts continue the tradition of “Music Appreciation Programs” started by Hugh Hodgson in the 1930s. In addition to a performance by each of our premier ensembles, the Hodgson Scholarship Series (HSS) includes specialty concerts each season. Below are the three Hodgson Scholarship Series performance dates, with additional details on the ensemble page indicated. Turn to page 17 for the exciting details on our unique HSS performances, including our Annual Holiday Concert, the Mozart Requiem, and so much more. The Hodgson Scholarship Series performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

HSS ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE DATES

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SEPTEMBER 9 at 7:30 p.m. (details on page 20)

WIND ENSEMBLE

OCTOBER 22 at 7:30 p.m. (details on page 21)

HODGSON SINGERS

MARCH 18 at 7:30 p.m. (details on page 22)

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at music.uga.edu

MUSIC

HODGSON SCHOLARSHIP SERIES

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES

The Hodgson Scholarship Series performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA WITH FIVE PIANOS

SEPTEMBER 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Hear pianistic fireworks featuring our piano area faculty and students. With five pianos on stage as well as multiple performers sharing the same piano, you are in for a treat! We also give a special welcome to our newest piano faculty, Scott Cuellar and Emely Phelps.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT

NOVEMBER 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m.

This Athens tradition is the best way to start the holiday season! Before tuning into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, join us for a cornucopia of seasonal joy through music presented by a wide variety of our student and faculty ensembles.

CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS

with the UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JANUARY 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The soloists performing in this concert are selected after advancing through a rigorous competition process judged by faculty within the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. These winners are selected near the end of the fall semester and are announced in December.

WIND SYMPHONY PRESENTS “LET’S DANCE!”

FEBRUARY 16 at 7:30 p.m.

This is a collaborative concert with the UGA Department of Dance. Each work performed by the Wind Symphony, conducted by Jack A. Eaddy Jr., will feature a corresponding ensemble from the Department of Dance, creating a fully integrated performance experience.

CONTEMPORARY CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

APRIL 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Directed by composition faculty Peter Van Zandt Lane, the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble will offer various perspectives on contemporary song, blending vocal and instrumental performance with works created by living composers.

MOZART REQUIEM COMBINED CONCERT

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | HODGSON SINGERS

GEORGIA CHORAL UNION | GEORGIA TREBLE CHOIR | UGA GLEE CLUB

APRIL 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Mozart began composing the Requiem in D Minor, K. 626, in Vienna in 1791 but left the work unfinished when he died that December. Completed by his contemporaries, the piece is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of the Western cultural tradition. More than 300 student performers will take part in this concert.

Order tickets using the form in this brochure or at music.uga.edu

MUSIC

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FACULTY CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Faculty Chamber Ensemble performances are in Ramsey Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

GEORGIA BRASS QUINTET

SEPTEMBER 14 at 7:30 p.m.

BRANDON CRASWELL, trumpet | GILBERT VILLAGRANA, trumpet

JOSHUA BYNUM, trombone | JAMES NAIGUS, horn

MATTHEW SHIPES, tuba

The Georgia Brass Quintet is presenting an All-American program of classicaland jazz-inspired compositions comprised of original works and transcriptions. Dedicated to performance, outreach, and the promotion of chamber music, the quintet regularly appears on campus and throughout the region.

MENDELSSOHN & BRAHMS

OCTOBER 12 at 7:30 p.m.

JAMES KIM, cello | EMELY PHELPS, piano | ALAN WOO, piano

LEVON AMBARTSUMIAN, violin | SHAKHIDA AZIMKHODJAEVA, viola

This exquisite evening of classical music begins with Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in B-Flat Major with James Kim and Emely Phelps. Then, enjoy the Brahms Horn Trio op. 40 arranged for violin, viola, and piano with Levon Ambartsumian, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, and Alan Woo.

EWAZEN TRIO AND JAZZ ENSEMBLE

FEBRUARY 1 at 7:30 p.m.

SHAKHIDA AZIMKHODJAEVA, violin | BRANDON CRASWELL, trumpet

DAMON DENTON, piano | DAVE D’ANGELO, saxophone

This exciting and eclectic evening of contemporary music begins with Eric Ewazen’s Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano with Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, Brandon Craswell, and Damon Denton. Following the trio, Dave D’Angelo and faculty colleagues will present an energetic jazz set not to be missed.

VOCAL GEMS AND HIDDEN TREASURES

MARCH 22 at 7:30 p.m.

PRESENTED BY THE UGA VOICE FACULTY

The voice faculty will perform a collection of vocal works that reflect the variety of their pedagogical interests. This will be a multi-genre program, including not only classical vocal works, but also musical theater and popular pieces.

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at music.uga.edu

UGA faculty James Kim, cello, joins the UGA Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Cedel for their opening performance Sept. 4, 2025.

Photo by Shaun Baer

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTED BY MARK CEDEL

The University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra (UGASO) is one of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s premier performing ensembles, showcasing some of the university’s finest players performing traditional orchestral repertoire in a series of dynamic concerts. Symphony Orchestra performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

Fall 2026

SEPTEMBER 9 at 7:30 p.m.

JOHANNES BRAHMS - Symphony No. 1

PLUS: WAGNER | BOULANGER

An evening of masterworks...Wagner’s overture the opera Rienzi and French impressionist Lili Boulanger. Brahms’ first symphony is sometimes called “Beethoven’s 10th.”

OCTOBER 1 at 7:30 p.m.

AARON COPLAND - Lincoln Portrait featuring Mark Mobley, narrator

PLUS: BERNSTEIN | GERSHWIN

Celebrating America250, this evening includes Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, which is based on the always timely words of Abraham Lincoln and features Mark Mobley as narrator.

OCTOBER 28 at 7:30 p.m.

FRANZ SCHUBERT - Symphony No. 3

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No. 5

A night of symphonic contrasts. Both Schubert and Tchaikovsky have their own unique expressive voice. Both works have memorable melodies and exciting virtuosity.

Spring 2027

FEBRUARY 25 at 7:30 p.m.

ANTON BRUCKNER - Symphony No. 7

As unique as any other composer, Bruckner’s concept of orchestral colors and sound is reminiscent of the mighty pipe organ, Bruckner’s primary instrument. Melodically rich, it is a masterpiece of orchestration.

APRIL 6 at 7:30 p.m.

GUSTAV MAHLER - Symphony No. 4 featuring Anne Slovin, soprano

Mahler, perhaps the greatest symphonist of all time, charms the listener with his “smallest” symphony. The text presents a child’s vision of heaven.

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at music.uga.edu

WIND ENSEMBLE

CONDUCTED BY NICHOLAS ENRICO WILLIAMS

The UGA Wind Ensemble has earned an international reputation for its artistry, precision, sensitivity, and musicianship. Employing flexible scoring, the Wind Ensemble performs chamber works as well as large-scale compositions, fresh ink and classics, and music from around the world. Wind Ensemble performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

Fall 2026

SEPTEMBER 17 at 7:30 p.m.

PAUL HINDEMITH

Der Schwandreher (The Swan Turner) featuring Maggie Snyder, viola

This concerto for viola is sometimes referred to as the Concerto from Old Folk Songs. Programmatically, the piece follows a wandering medieval minstrel performing and embellishing these folk tunes.

OCTOBER 22 at 7:30 p.m.

HODGSON SCHOLARSHIP SERIES Celebrating America’s Composers

This concert joins the celebrations of America250 with works from composers including: John Williams, John Philip Sousa, William Grant Still, Michele Fernández, and Adam Schoenberg.

Spring 2027

MARCH 3 at 7:30 p.m.

DAVID MASLANKA A Child’s Garden of Dreams

This dark and introspective full-scale symphony is inspired by the dreams of an eight-year-old child as told in Carl Jung’s “Man and His Symbols.” The live performance will be accompanied by a recently completed film which includes pastel drawings by the composer.

APRIL 13 at 7:30 p.m.

JOSEPH SCHWANTNER

…and the mountains rising nowhere

One of the most unique pieces in the wind band repertoire, featuring powerful brass moments, amplified piano, and percussionists who are responsible for more than 40 instruments. This monumental work is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

HODGSON SINGERS

CONDUCTED BY DANIEL BARA

The international award-winning Hodgson Singers is UGA’s premier choral ensemble comprised of many of the university’s most talented and dedicated singers. The Hodgson Singers primarily includes advanced undergraduate and graduate student singers. Hodgson Singers performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

Fall 2026 MARCH 18 at 7:30 p.m. Spring 2027

OCTOBER 9 at 7:30 p.m.

UGA OPERA THEATRE

DIRECTOR OF OPERA DANIEL ELLIS MUSIC DIRECTOR ANDREW VOELKER

The UGA Opera Theatre prepares fully staged operas, semi-staged concerts, galas, and scenes programs that provide graduate and undergraduate singers extensive opportunities to explore a broad range of inherited operatic repertoire and new works to best prepare them for the variety of opportunities that await them as professional singers.

Fall 2026

EVENING OF OPERA SCENES

NOVEMBER 6 at 7:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 8 at 3 p.m.

Hodgson Concert Hall

UGA Performing Arts Center | 230 River Rd., Athens, GA

Experience opera at its most intimate. Stripped of massive sets, opera reveals its core: stories of the human condition. This piano-led evening showcases a dynamic mix of our brightest rising talents and seasoned voices, combining raw vocal power with intense dramatic realism.

Spring 2027

THE ANONYMOUS LOVER

FEBRUARY 12 at 7:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 14 at 3 p.m.

Fine Arts Theatre | 255 Baldwin St., Athens, GA by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Secret letters. Hidden hearts. The ultimate Valentine’s romcom. Léontine has sworn off romance, but an anonymous suitor is winning her heart. The twist? He’s her best friend! With lighthearted 18th-century melodies, Joseph Bologne’s Classical-era comedy of errors celebrates the joy of love. Rights pending

The cast of Ring of Polykrates performs the opera’s climactic moment on Nov. 7, 2026.

Photo by Shaun Baer

ARCO Chamber Orchestra performs a special concert with Levon Ambartsumian conducting.

ARCO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

DIRECTED BY LEVON AMBARTSUMIAN

The ARCO Chamber Orchestra was originally founded in Russia in 1989 at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory by Levon Ambartsumian. When Ambartsumian joined UGA faculty in 1995, he remained the artistic director and conductor of the orchestra, moving its home base to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, where the ensemble has now become a talented international blend of musicians. ARCO Chamber Orchestra performances are in Hodgson Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA.

Fall 2026

NOVEMBER 11 at 7:30

PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY - Serenade for Strings

GRIEG - Holberg Suite

EDWARD ELGAR - Serenade for Strings

Three of the most popular and beloved works for String Orchestra.

Spring 2027

MARCH 31 at 7:30 p.m.

VIOLIN CONCERTI BY VIVALDI AND BACH

This stunning collection of concerti by Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach features UGA violin students as soloists.

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at music.uga.edu

JAY IVEY | baritone

SEPTEMBER 1 at 7:30 p.m.

A versatile baritone, he brings to his teaching and performing the same quality that has defined his career: a commitment to storytelling that is immediate, stylistically informed, and deeply connected to text. With Andrew Voelker, piano.

JOSH BYNUM | trombone

OCTOBER 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Hailed for his “inspiring energy, clear musical conviction, and warm lyrical tone” (ITA Journal), Josh Bynum is acting section trombonist with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and is Artist Faculty for the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.

MICHAEL HEALD | violin

NOVEMBER 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Michael was a member of the English String Orchestra and the American Sinfonietta, as well as concertmaster of the Lansing and Jackson Symphony Orchestras in Michigan. With special guest Timothy Lovelace, piano.

TRINITY VÉLEZ-JUSTO | composition

JANUARY 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Dancz Center for New Music, School of Music Bldg. 250 River Rd., Athens, GA

Trinity Vélez-Justo is assistant professor of music and film and media scoring certificate director. Trinity is a multi-hyphenate creative who engages with music, sound design, tactile arts, and visual media.

BRANDON QUARLES | saxophone

FEBRUARY 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Brandon Quarles is an award-winning saxophonist known for innovative collaborations and genre-spanning performances that bridge classical, contemporary, and popular traditions.

MAGGIE SNYDER | viola

MARCH 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Violist Maggie Snyder is Professor of Viola and Principal Violist of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, with whom she records for Naxos. Snyder is also one of the Artist-Faculty of the Brevard Music Festival.

FACULTY ARTIST SERIES

You are invited to join these six highlighted faculty for an evening of music followed by a meet-and-greet reception catered by local Athens restaurants. There, you can meet the faculty, discuss their playing and teaching, and be introduced to some of their students as well. The Faculty Artist Series performances are free, with no tickets required. However, RSVPs are encouraged. RSVP by scanning the QR code below or visiting music.uga.edu.

Faculty Artist Series performances are in Ramsey Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Rd., Athens, GA unless indicated.

FREE BAND CONCERTS

CHAMBER WINDS

NOVEMBER 10 | JANUARY 26

Ramsey Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

CONCERT BAND & UNIVERSITY BAND

MARCH 24

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

SYMPHONIC BAND

SEPTEMBER 23 * | NOVEMBER 2 *

FEBRUARY 10 | APRIL 7 *

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

WIND SYMPHONY

SEPTEMBER 23 * | NOVEMBER 2 * APRIL 7 *

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

FREE CHOIR CONCERTS

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHORAL ENSEMBLE

DECEMBER 1 | APRIL 26

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

CHORAL PROJECT

SEPTEMBER 4

Schütz Musikalische Exequin

Ramsey Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 27

Schütz Musikalische Exequin

Cathedral of St. Philip at 3:15 p.m.

2744 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA

JANUARY 22

Ramsey Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

GEORGIA CHORAL UNION

OCTOBER 18

First Baptist Church Athens at 4 p.m. 355 Pulaski St., Athens, GA

FEBRUARY 23 *

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

GEORGIA TREBLE CHOIR

OCTOBER 6 | FEBRUARY 23 *

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

MUSIC

26 | 27

REPERTORY SINGERS

SEPTEMBER 23 | OCTOBER 21 | DECEMBER 1

FEBRUARY 12 | MARCH 24 | APRIL 26

Ramsey Concert Hall at 3:30 p.m.

UGA GLEE CLUB

OCTOBER 6 * | FEBRUARY 23 *

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

FREE ORCHESTRA CONCERTS

PHILHARMONIA

OCTOBER 15 | FEBRUARY 12 | APRIL 23

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

* - shared concert

No tickets are required for free concerts or events.

All events are at the UGA Performing Arts Center 230 River Rd., Athens, GA unless otherwise indicated.

FREE ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES

AFRICAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE

To be announced.

BRITISH BRASS BAND

OCTOBER 21 | APRIL 19

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

CHINESE MUSIC ENSEMBLE

NOVEMBER 13 | APRIL 9

Hodgson Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

JAZZ ENSEMBLES I & II

OCTOBER 14 | APRIL12

Ramsey Concert Hall at 5:30 p.m.

LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE

NOVEMBER 4

Ramsey Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

SOUL MUSIC ENSEMBLE

To be announced.

Visit music.uga.edu for updates to this schedule, studio and instrument-specific events and ensembles, and all up-to-date performance information.

Exploring dynamic connection

As I reflect on the past year in the Department of Theatre and Film, I am proud of the many ways our students, faculty, alumni, and community partners demonstrated the power of creative collaboration. Through performances, original research, guest artist engagements, interdisciplinary projects, and national recognition, we created opportunities for students to engage deeply with their craft while preparing for meaningful careers across the performing arts, film, and entertainment industries.

This past year, students learned directly from working professionals, collaborated across disciplines, and earned recognition for their achievements in performance, design, stage management, playwriting, and scholarship. Faculty members contributed to the field through leadership, research, and creative activity, reinforcing our department’s commitment to excellence both on campus and beyond. Together, these accomplishments reflect a vibrant learning environment where curiosity, innovation, and artistic rigor thrive.

That momentum carries us into an exciting 2026–2027 season. Audiences can look forward to a dynamic lineup that spans contemporary drama, classic musical theatre, adventurous storytelling, and timeless comedy. From our collaboration with Aurora Theatre on Constellations to productions of Guys and Dolls, Men on Boats, and The Importance of Being Earnest, the coming year promises opportunities for discovery, connection, and extraordinary artistic experiences. We look forward to welcoming audiences for another remarkable season.

Julie Ray Department Head

UGA

Department of Theatre and Film

CONSTELLATIONS

BY NICK PAYNE

DIRECTED BY KATIE CHAMBERS, AURORA THEATRE

THEATRE

SEPTEMBER 24-25, SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2 at 7:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 27 & OCTOBER 4 at 2 p.m.

Nick Payne’s Constellations is an emotionally charged exploration of love, choice, and the infinite paths our lives might take. Through a series of shifting realities, a chance encounter between two people unfolds in countless possibilities — each version revealing new moments of connection, heartbreak, humor, and hope. Featuring alternating casts that create an ever-changing landscape.

GUYS & DOLLS

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY FRANK

LOESSER |

BOOK BY

JO SWERLING & ABE BURROWS

Order tickets using the form in the center of this brochure or at ugatheatre.com

DIRECTED BY GEORGE CONTINI

NOVEMBER 6-7, 12-13 at 7:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 8 & NOVEMBER 15 at 2 p.m.

Guys & Dolls is a dazzling celebration of Broadway at its most iconic — a bold, joyful musical spectacle filled with high-stakes gamblers, glamorous nightlife, and unforgettable romance. Set against the vibrant backdrop of mid-century New York City, the story follows a colorful cast of hustlers, showgirls, and missionaries as luck and love collide in unexpected ways.

MEN ON BOATS

BY JACLYN BACKHAUS

DIRECTED BY RAIFE BAKER

FEBRUARY 18-20, 25-27 at 7:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 21 & 28 at 2 p.m.

Men on Boats is a witty, fast-moving adventure that reexamines the 1869 expedition down the Colorado River with humor, swagger, and a fresh perspective. As a determined band of explorers ventures into the uncharted American West, egos flare, plans unravel, and the myth of the fearless frontier “man” cracks open in surprising ways, celebrating and satirizing the legends in American history.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

BY OSCAR WILDE BASED ON A STORY AND CHARACTERS OF DAMON RUNYON

DIRECTED BY DANIEL ELLIS

APRIL 9-10, 15-17 at 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 11 & 18 at 2 p.m.

The play, celebrated for its wit and repartee, parodies contemporary dramatic norms, gently satirizes late Victorian manners, and introduces – in addition to the two pairs of young lovers – the formidable Lady Bracknell, the fussy governess Miss Prism and the benign and scholarly Canon Chasuble. Contemporary reviews in Britain and overseas praised the play’s humor.

UGA Department of Theatre and Film performances take place at the UGA Fine Arts Building, 255 Baldwin St., Athens, GA.

BY CALISTA JOHNSON I’M HERE

WINNER OF THE 2026 NEW GEORGIA AWARD

MARCH 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. MARCH 21 at 2 p.m.

Calista Johnson’s I’m Here is a haunting new play about memory, trauma, and the fragile bonds that shape us. After giving birth under mysterious circumstances, nineteen-year-old Evelyn finds herself unable to move — and unable to find her missing child. As fragments of her past begin to surface, Evelyn is forced to confront the relationships and experiences that brought her to this moment, from a fractured home life to a formative teenage romance. Blending psychological mystery with intimate human drama, I’m Here explores the cyclical nature of trauma and asks what it truly means to be there for someone else when it matters most.

The New Georgia Group Award, an alumni-supported fund within the Department of Theatre and Film, annually champions an original student work by offering a dedicated workshop production slot in UGA Theatre’s season.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

SUPPORT THE FRANKLIN FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS

As a patron of the Franklin Fine and Performing Arts, you have enjoyed compelling works presented by UGA students throughout the academic year. Whether you are marveling at a work of art during an exhibition opening in the Dodd Galleries or Athenaeum, experiencing the mastery of dance technique by one of our many Department of Dance Double Dawg students, basking in the powerful sound of over 300 student musicians in our end of the year concert, or laughing with friends at one of our captivating theatre performances, you know how hard our students and their faculty mentors work.

Supporting the Franklin Fine and Performing Arts is your opportunity to shape the next generation of actors, artists, dancers, musicians, scholars, and creators who will inspire and connect communities for years to come. You can be the difference for the arts at UGA by supporting our programming in several ways.

Sponsor or underwrite an exhibition, lecture, or performance...

...contribute to venue rentals, set construction, exhibition installation, instrument maintenance and repair, and innovative new equipment purchases.

Support students directly through scholarship giving...

...create assistantships for graduate students, expand access through scholarships, or support books, food and housing costs to ensure students can focus on their education without financial strain.

Enhance experiential learning...

...enable students to learn outside the classroom with real-world clients in Athens or in study abroad experiences in Savannah, New York, Cortona, and more. Support one of our unit funds, ranging from funds to meet our most pressing needs to funds for specific transformational experiences. Don’t see the fund you want? Work with us to create it!

INSPIRE TOMORROW’S TALENT TODAY

Lamar Dodd School of Art gail.uga.edu/art

To learn more about supporting the Lamar Dodd School of Art, please contact: Grace Mercer: 706-542-5191 | grace.mercer@uga.edu

To learn more about supporting the Department of Dance please contact: Shirley Allen: 706-542-3581 | shallen@uga.edu

To learn more about supporting the Department of Theatre and Film, please contact: Shirley Allen: 706-542-3581 | shallen@uga.edu Support Hugh Hodgson School of

Above: Student technicians work on constructing the set for Sense and Sensibility

To learn more about supporting the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, please contact: Levi Dean: 706-542-4232 | levi.dean@uga.edu

Opposite: A student paints a set piece for Sense and Sensibility.

These behind-the-scenes moments from April 2026 capture the beautiful confluence of the fine and performing arts—where varied creative disciplines unite to bring a single vision to life on stage.

SPECIAL TICKET PACKAGES AND WAYS TO SAVE

Everyone in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is thrilled to welcome you to our complete season of fine and performing arts events. We want to make everything as available to you as possible so you can experience all the fantastic work our students and faculty have to offer. One way to do this is to select one of our ticket package options. See it all and save!

Opposite: The Middle East Music Ensemble performs their spring concert April 21, 2026.

You can find these packages when purchasing online — details on the next page. Instructions for selecting these packages when ordering by mail can be found on the form within this brochure. If you prefer to order in person or by phone, the box office staff can assist you at 706-542-4400.

“Pick Five”and save 20%

Create a savings package that includes dance, music, and theatre with our revised “Pick Five” and save 20% on five performances. There is no limit to the number of “Pick Five” packages you can purchase.

“Pick Three Arts Samplers” save 25%

Schedules can be overwhelming, so we’ve created three “Arts Samplers” to help you save during the busy seasons. Select one or all of them for an exciting experience.

Spotlight Sampler Valentine Sampler Spring Sampler

UGA Symphony Orchestra Oct. 28

Student Choreography Concert Nov. 11-13

Guys & Dolls Nov. 6-15

Ballroom Magic Feb. 11-13

Opera: Anonymous Lover Feb. 12 & 14

Men 0n Boats Feb. 18-28

UGA Dance Company Spring Concert Apr. 8-10

The Importance of Being Earnest Apr. 9-18

UGA Wind Ensemble Apr. 16

Hodgson Scholarship Series (Music Only) - Save 17.5%

Formerly the Thursday Scholarship Series, this discount applies to nine premier concerts of this year. These concerts are listed on pages 15-17.

Complete Season - Save 25%

Buy a complete season of dance, music, or theatre and save 25%. These are only available for purchase online or through the box office.

HOW TO ORDER TICKETS

All tickets for the Franklin Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) ticketed performances are sold and managed by the UGA Performing Arts Center (PAC) Box Office, located at 230 River Rd., Athens, GA, 30602-7280.

Ticket fees

A $3 service fee will be applied at the end of your ticket purchase. You will also see it noted in the instructions for each purchase method. This is a flat rate applied to every transaction, whether it’s a single ticket purchase or a full season pass. If you haven’t already, take a look at some of our ticket packages and save!

Order tickets in-person or by phone

For in-person ticket purchases, or to order tickets over the phone, please visit or call the PAC during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The PAC box office phone number is 706-542-4400. Tickets will also be available for purchase an hour before performances. There is a $3 service fee for phone and in-person orders.

Ordering tickets online

Buying your tickets online is the most convenient way to order everything from individual tickets to complete season packages. Visit ugapac.evenue.net/list/ALL and then select the appropriate tab. Example: the Complete Season for the Department of Dance will be available under the Department of Dance tab. Additional programming details can be found on the individual arts units’ websites: dance.uga.edu | music.uga.edu | ugatheatre.com. Also visit art.uga.edu for free programming. There is a $3 service fee for online orders.

Ordering tickets by mail

If ordering by mail, you can remove and complete one of the two forms from the center of this brochure and mail it to the UGA Performing Arts Center, 230 River Road, Athens, GA, 30602-7280. You will use the form for the ticket package that suits your needs best. You can learn more about each of those on the previous page. There is a $3 service fee already indicated on the order form.

General admission

With the exception of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music Annual Holiday Concert and their Combined Concert in April, all of our performances are general admission seating. This means you may sit wherever you would like in the spaces that are open. However, you may be asked by house management to adjust your seats slightly to make sure everyone with a ticket can find a seat comfortably.

Canceled or postponed performances and ticket refunds

Occasionally, events are canceled or postponed due to weather conditions or situations affecting the faculty, students, or audience. When this occurs, FPA units make every effort to ensure you have received notice of a cancellation or postponement through email, phone call, and notice on our websites. If an event is canceled, we will communicate all options, including credits and exchanges, that can be used throughout the current season or a prompt refund of the ticket price, if applicable. Fees are non-refundable. If the event was moved or rescheduled, the tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. Contact us for specific instructions.

VENUES AND PARKING DETAILS

Above: MFA students and faculty celebrate at the 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition opening reception on April 11, 2026 at the Athenaeum.

Opposite: Dance students performing in guest artist Maleek Washington’s piece “Floù” in the UGADC Spring Concert April 9, 2026.

Photos by Jason Thrasher

Athenaeum - 287 West Broad Street

Located in downtown Athens within walking distance of UGA’s North Campus and accessible through University and city transportation, the Athenaeum offers free parking directly behind the gallery in lot W-15. Pull into the driveway off of Broad Street and take your first left into the parking lot.

Hours: Wed.-Sat. Noon-6 p.m. Every third Thursday has extended hours from noon to 9 p.m. Closed on home football game days, major holidays, and outside UGA fall and spring semesters.

UGA Dance Theatre - 263 West Green Street

The Dance Theatre is located in the Dance Building on Green Street off of Sanford Drive. Free parking is available in lots adjacent to the UGA Department of Dance after 5:00 p.m., or at the South Campus Parking Deck next to the Georgia Center for Continuing Education for a fee.

UGA Fine Arts Building - 255 Baldwin Street

Located at the corner of Baldwin and Lumpkin just north of the Tate Student Center, the UGA Fine Arts Building is home to the UGA Fine Arts Theatre, Cellar Theatre, and Arena Theatre. There is a charge for parking at the Tate Center Parking Deck and the Hull Street Deck Monday through Friday until 10 p.m.

UGA East Campus Arts Quad

Performing Arts Center - 230 River Road

Lamar Dodd School of Art - 270 River Road

Hugh Hodgson School of Music - 250 River Road

Known as the University of Georgia East Campus Arts Quad, this section of campus includes the UGA Performing Arts Center (PAC) with both the Hodgson Concert Hall and Ramsey Concert Hall; the Lamar Dodd School of Art with the Dodd Galleries and the C-U-B-E Gallery; and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music with both the Edge Recital Hall and the Dancz Center for New Music. We are also neighbors of the Georgia Museum of Art. Free parking is available in the E11 surface lot around the PAC and the HHSOM after 4 p.m. There is a charge for parking in the PAC multi-level parking deck behind the PAC Monday through Friday until 10 p.m.

Dodd Galleries Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed weekends and university holidays.

C-U-B-E Gallery Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Fri.-Sun. and university holidays.

For questions about campus parking, call UGA Parking Services at 706-542-7275 or visit the website at tps.uga.edu.

Large Groups

Save 10% on tickets to most performances when purchasing 10 or more tickets to a single event in one transaction. Some restrictions apply. Contact the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Box Office for details.

Will Call

Tickets purchased in advance and left for collection at “will call” will be available for pick up at the PAC box office during regular business hours or beginning one hour prior to the start of the performance.

Seating

Most of our performances are general admission, meaning you can sit wherever you are most comfortable. The exceptions are: The School of Music Holiday Concert and the April UGASO and Combined Choirs Concert. The best seats available will be assigned to each patron as advance ticket orders are received. Otherwise, specific seats can be selected online or by calling the box office.

Electronic Devices

Please silence all mobile phones and noise-making devices. Texting during performances is prohibited.

Late Seating

Late seating is subject to the discretion of the house manager.

Photography and Recording

Unless otherwise noted, photography, video, and/or audio recording of any kind are strictly prohibited during all performances.

Use of Likeness

Patrons may be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded by Franklin College of Arts and Sciences or PAC staff for archival, promotional, and/or other purposes. By choosing to enter any of our event venues and spaces, you hereby consent to such photography, filming, and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in connection with this venue. You understand all photography, filming, and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by you by entering this area. If you do not agree to this, please contact the house or gallery manager.

Children

Children ages six and older are welcome to attend all performances, unless indicated for specific events. Children under the age of six and babies are welcome; however house management reserves the right to request a parent step out of the theatre should a child become disruptive. Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise personal judgment when determining if programs are appropriate for their children. Please contact the School of Music at (706) 542-3737 or UGA Theatre at 706-542-4247 with questions.

Accessibility

Venues are accessible to people using wheelchairs or with restricted mobility. Please contact the box office to make special arrangements if you require special assistance. At the PAC only, parking spaces designated for handicap use are located near the entrance to the PAC lobby.

Large-Print Programs

Large-print programs are available by calling the School of Music office at 706-542-4752 for music and dance, or UGA Theatre at 706542-4247 for theatre, at least 72-hours in advance of a performance.

Digital Programs: BYO Tablet

As part of a green initiative to limit the number of printed paper programs, we welcome patrons to engage with our digital programs on Issuu, an app that makes viewing online programs easier and more convenient. A QR code will be provided at the venue.

Assisted Listening Devices

Hearing augmentation headsets are available in the Performing Arts Center and may be checked out with a photo ID at the coat check desk in the lobby.

Food and Drinks

Concessions may be available for purchase in the Performing Arts Center lobby for ticketed events. Food and drinks are prohibited inside the performance venues. This includes bottled water. Please do not unwrap lozenges during performances.

The image below is a portion of a work that was created by UGA scientific illustration faculty Amanda Mankowski, depicting Babs McDonald painting Neuron for Samir. Babs, a project consultant, used a variety of creative methods for her rehabilitation after a stroke. She dedicated the painting to her neurologist, who encouraged her to use painting for her arm and hand recovery.

Big questions require multidisciplinary answers: Visual art stimulates research in the sciences

by Francis Oliver with excerpts by Joy Pope

Artists are famed for their resourcefulness; they champion imagination above limitation. This tendency translates into modeling alternative and often intriguing ways of conducting research across areas of study. From prototyping cellular structures with paper sculpture to visually investigating climate futures in Iceland, University of Georgia faculty and students in the Lamar Dodd School of Art are leading multidisciplinary research efforts.

First-year scientific illustration major Olivia Lee was one of 30 students across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil awarded the 2026 Barrow Neurological Institute Summer Undergraduate Internship in Arizona, where she spent 10 weeks “contributing to research that is shaping the future of brain and spine care.”

Similarly, Joseph Peragine, School of Art director and professor of drawing and painting, is part of a collaborative team that is linking art and neuroscience with funding from UGA. This project, titled “Targeting Creativity Brain Network ...to Improve Rehabilitative Outcomes in Diverse Neurological Populations,” also includes Ellyn Evans, associate professor of music therapy, and Rebecca Atkins, professor of music education, both from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Peragine demonstrates how art is both healing and revealing by developing creative exercises that stimulate neural pathways to support recovery.

Collaborative research efforts of this kind are born through intentional dialogue. Franklin College of Arts and Sciences held its first Faculty Research Mixer of 2026 at local Athens coffee house Hendershot’s. Organized by Marni Shindelman, professor of photography and expanded media, under the theme “Making Research Visible: Artists in the Lab,” six faculty members from across the college explained how their work connects arts and sciences. Julie Spivey, a professor of graphic design, for instance, discussed information visualization — a design practice that visualizes complex scientific concepts in a way that non-scientists can readily understand.

Ash Eliza Smith, assistant professor of photography and expanded media, discussed a current project that explores how forests around Atlanta are sensed and understood by both living and digital systems. Mark Callahan, artistic director of the UGA Arts Collaborative, closed the energetic research mixer with the assertion: “Ask a big enough question and you will need more than one discipline to answer it.” Callahan argued that arts training methods can play a bigger role in STEM research by innovating how problems are framed not just solved.

These snapshots exemplify evolving and promising projects at UGA that center art as an equal partner and vital resource in advancing scientific research.

Dancing toward well-being: Department of Dance’s new PE classes get students moving in fresh ways

by Joy Pope

Creative Movement for Wellbeing is one of the new courses shaking up the usual lineup of physical education options at the University of Georgia. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Department of Dance collaborated with the Department of Kinesiology to launch six new physical education-basic (PEDB) courses that invite students into a new space. Instead of treadmills or traditional PE drills, participants explore improvisation and expressive activities designed to support both physical and mental health.

It turns out the Department of Dance might be onto something. Researchers have been taking a closer look at dance as a form of exercise, and the results are striking. A February 2024 study in Sports Medicine compared dance with more conventional workouts such as walking, weight training, and martial arts. The study included participants ages 7-85, spanning healthy individuals and those managing chronic conditions. Across the board, dance held its own and, in some cases, outperformed the alternatives showing that structured dance can serve as an evidence-based substitute for people who prefer it over traditional exercise. That validation gives new weight to courses like Creative Movement for Wellbeing, which blend physical activity with creativity, social connection, and stress relief.

“Dance is uniquely suited to provide optimal benefits,” says Rebecca Gose, associate professor of dance and head of the Department of Dance. “It combines physical activity and expressivity with social and emotional engagement and can serve as an alternative or supplement to more sports-focused physical activity. And although competition can be fun, in our dance classes there are no winners or losers.”

For UGA students, these courses offer a refreshing way to meet the one-credit PE requirement while discovering a form of movement that feels energizing rather than routine. Whether someone is looking to boost their fitness, unwind from academic pressures, or simply try something new, one of these classes might be the most joyful prescription for better health.

Image: Student and guest musicians perform a new composition that integrates traditional instruments with modern technology during the UGA New Music Festival on Feb. 13, 2026.

Photo by Easel Images

Healthcare and new technology create new paths for careers in music

by Shaun Baer

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music prepares students to thrive in today’s workforce, in part, by expanding the definition of what it means to work in the field of music. By partnering with campus departments and local organizations, School of Music faculty pair theory with hands-on experiential learning.

The music therapy program supplements the core music requirements with courses in psychopathology, anatomy and physiology, and educational psychology, as well as specific music therapy courses. Six semesters of required practicum coursework engage students with community partners throughout Athens.

This year, the Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center became the newest such partner, offering music therapy through their adult oncology unit. “Partnering with the University of Georgia allows us to integrate evidence-based music therapy into our care,” said Jeremiah Bame, chief nursing officer at Piedmont Athens Regional, “creating moments of peace and connection for patients and families.”

Music technology partnerships also expand opportunity for music students. Emily Koh, associate professor of music composition, collaborated with student and faculty colleagues from the College of Engineering to create ModμMIDI, a modular MIDI device. The device received a judges’ commendation from the 2025 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. Koh also led the inaugural UGA New Music Festival in February 2026, presenting several innovative works harnessing new music technology, many of which were composed by current students or recent alumni.

Peter Van Zandt Lane, professor of music composition, has developed several partnerships throughout Franklin and UGA. A collaboration with the School of Computing has led to an exciting installation in the Dancz Center for New Music August 13-14, 2026. This 28-hour immersive installation reimagines Erik Satie’s Vexations (1893) and previews a program of student-created augmented reality music projects on November 16. Visitors will enter the space wearing AR goggles and explore an interactive multimedia environment that transforms Satie’s piano work into an immersive experience.

Lane is one of the School of Music faculty partnering with Michael Marshall, professor of photography in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, sculptor Maria Artemis, and faculty from the Department of Marine Science, to create an original sound and sculpture installation called Tidal Flow which will be on view in the Dodd Galleries in spring of 2027. (See page 7 for details)

As School of Music faculty build these exciting partnerships on and off campus, the students continue to expand their ideas of what a career in music can mean.

Connecting Performance, Scholarship, and Industry

by Clay Chastain

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre and Film continued to expand opportunities for creative research, multidisciplinary collaboration, and professional engagement throughout the past academic year, reflecting the department’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for work across the performing arts and entertainment industries.

Students participated in workshops, residencies, and conversations with nationally recognized artists and alumni working in film, theatre, television, and media. Screenwriter David McKenna visited campus to discuss storytelling and career development in the film industry, while alumni shared professional experiences spanning Broadway performance, voice acting, production, and entertainment marketing. The department also celebrated alumnus Jake Berne’s Broadway debut in Archduke, highlighting the continued success of graduates working at the highest levels of the profession.

Faculty and student accomplishments further underscored the department’s national presence and academic excellence. David Saltz was elected president of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, and Professor John Patrick Bray published “Jack Gelber: Consider This” through Routledge. Undergraduate playwright Wyn Alyse Thomas received the University of Georgia Presidential Award of Excellence in recognition of her achievements as a student artist and creator of the original musical First Semester Students also earned honors in performance, design, dramaturgy, stage management, and playwriting at the Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

The department also continued fostering collaboration across disciplines at the University of Georgia. A longstanding partnership with lecturers Laurie Achin and Debra Teesdale of the Mary Frances Early College of Education brought American Sign Language interpretation into theatre productions through the work of student interpreters representing a broad range of academic majors, including theatre, advertising, geology, sociology, English, and women’s and gender studies. The collaboration provided students with opportunities to engage in live performance environments while contributing to a broader culture of artistic collaboration across campus.

Multidisciplinary work also shaped projects such as The Malady Mystery, which combined theatre and science to explore medical humanities through performance and storytelling. Additional workshops with Shakespeare scholar Laura Cole and playwright Sandy Rustin connected students with contemporary artistic practice and professional mentorship opportunities.

Together, these accomplishments reflect a department that continues to emphasize collaboration, innovation, and experiential learning while preparing students to contribute to the evolving landscape of theatre, film, and related creative industries.

Image: Three students providing ASL interpretation for Sense and Sensibility on April 17, 2026.

LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART

Community Art School

CommunityArtSchool@uga.edu art.uga.edu/uga-community-art-school

UGA Summer Art Camp

REGISTRATION BEGINS JANUARY 2027 SummerArtCamp@uga.edu | art.uga.edu

DEPARTMENT OF DANCE

NEW Summer Dance Intensive

Overnight Summer Camp

REGISTRATION BEGINS JANUARY 2027 dance.uga.edu

HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Community Music School

706-542-2894 | ugacms@uga.edu music.uga.edu/cms

UGA Summer Music Camp

REGISTRATION BEGINS JANUARY 2027

706-542-2061 | smcamp@uga.edu | music.uga.edu

YEAR OF THE ARTS University of Georgia

250 River Road Athens, Georgia 30602

To learn more about the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Graduate and Undergraduate degrees and admissions, visit franklin.uga.edu