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Renée Fleming joins local researchers and medical professionals to examine and discuss the effects of music and the arts on the brain and human health. World-renowned soprano Fleming is a leading advocate for the study of the powerful connections between the arts and health. Her anthology, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, is now available from Viking/Penguin.

How can someone with Alzheimer’s be unable to recognize their own spouse, but perfectly recall songs from decades before? Why can some patients with Parkinson’s disease, unable to rise from a chair or walk through a doorway, accomplish these tasks or even dance, to the sound of a musical beat? In addition to using music to better understand the complex functioning of the brain, researchers have found arts therapies to be effective tools in addressing the effects of an ever-widening array of conditions, not only Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, but also cardiac failure, stroke, PTSD, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injuries.

Especially compelling is the fact that music, dance, and art therapies are cost-effective, non-pharmaceutical, and non-invasive. Many can be administered in group settings, offering benefits for emotional well-being, and through tele-health, increasing accessibility. With an aging population, the potential implications of this work are immense. And the impact of arts on the developing brains of children shows effects reaching beyond scholastic aptitude to creativity and success throughout life.
New initiatives are launching rapidly, backed by the National Institutes of Health (the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world) as well as major hospitals, universities, and interdisciplinary institutions.

Location: Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall

Cost: $50.00

Renée Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time. Honored with five Grammy® awards and the US National Medal of Arts, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Super Bowl. A 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, she is also a Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health for the World Health Organization. Her anthology, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, was published in by Viking/Penguin in April. A prominent advocate for research at the intersection of arts, health, and neuroscience, as Artistic Advisor to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Renée launched the first ongoing collaboration between America’s national cultural center and the National Institutes of Health. Other awards include the 2023 Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum, the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal, the Order of Merit from Germany, and honorary doctorates from 10 major universities.

Cost: $75.00 - $150.00

Experience the timeless tale of courage and imagination in 'Man of La Mancha,' the beloved opera adaptation of Cervantes' classic novel, 'Don Quixote.' Follow the noble Don Quixote on his quest to defend chivalry and love against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition. With stirring music and unforgettable characters, this enduring masterpiece transports audiences to a world where dreams defy reality.

Location: Branscomb Memorial Auditorium

Cost: $40-75 per person

Director of Jazz Studies, Dr. Jeffrey Benatar, leads from the piano a local group of Jazz greats to highlight the music of composer, bandleader, and pianist Herbie Hancock. 

Location: Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall

Cost: Free Admission, no ticket required.

In honor of Black History Month, The »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Jazz Program will feature classic compositions by the greatest Black Jazz composers. The concert will highlight all of »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË’s Jazz ensembles. 

Location: Branscomb Memorial Auditorium

Cost: Free for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Faculty, Staff, and Students. General Admission tickets: $5 child/$10 adult.

There's magic to do when a prince learns the true meaning of glory, love, and war in Stephen Schwartz's iconic and unforgettable musical masterpiece. Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, this updated circus-inspired version of Pippin continues to captivate and appeal to the young at heart throughout the world. 

Location: Buckner Theater

Cost: Free for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Faculty, Staff, and Students. General Admission tickets: $10 child/$20 adult.

The »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Studio Orchestra highlights the talents of the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Orchestra and the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Jazz Ensemble. Selections will combine the worlds of Jazz and Classical Music and will feature world-premiere arrangements or compositions specifically created for this large ensemble. 

Location: Branscomb Memorial Auditorium

Cost: Free for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Faculty, Staff, and Students. General Admission tickets: $5 child/$10 adult.

Focusing on lifting up the efforts of women in the field of composition, we will be presenting an evening of music that highlights the beauty and strength of the female perspective. With representation across time periods, continents, and styles, tonight’s concert celebrates the brilliance of women composers in choral music. 

Location: Branscomb Memorial Auditorium

Cost: Free for »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Faculty, Staff, and Students. General Admission tickets: $5 child/$10 adult.

Join »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË faculty member and low brass performer Andrew Sallee for “Prismatic,” a recital exploring themes of color and light in musical repertoire, including original works for the euphonium and tuba, as well as transcriptions by Sallee himself from other mediums. Works by Johannes Brahms, Hidenori Arai, and Kevin Day will be included, among others. We look forward to sharing an evening of colorful music with you!

Location: Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall

Cost: Free Admission, no ticket required.

Join us for Welcome Home, a concert featuring timeless classics and captivating performances. Enjoy the exhilarating 'Overture to Zampa' and Mozart's 'Sinfonia Concertante,' with special guests as they return to their hometown of Lakeland—Carolyn Wann Bailey, Principal 2nd Violin, Nashville Symphony and Julius Wirth, Principal Viola, National Philharmonic. Then, immerse yourself in Tchaikovsky's emotional 'Symphony no. 4.' Plus, don't miss selections from our talented Beth Mason Young Artist Award recipients. Welcome home to an unforgettable evening of music!   

Location: Branscomb Memorial Auditorium

Cost: $29-$49 per person