Arts

Hands of a musician playing on a double bass closeup in black and white tones.

Doctoral Student’s Love for Music Inspires Research

August 8, 2023 — Mike Cleary left a pre-med program of study for one that lights his soul on fire. In his first year of study in the University of Northern Colorado’s Doctor of Arts in Music Conducting, three research areas have piqued his interest: a WWII-era musical composition, the double bass and loss.

instructor standing in circle of students in a large room conducting acting class

Expanded Curriculum Makes a Pitch for more Students to Explore Innovative Art

July 13, 2023 — Beginning fall 2023, all UNC students will have more unique and diverse opportunities to pursue music and art during their college careers. In the process of revamping the College of Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) curriculum, Dean Cristina Goletti, MFA, is creating a cultural and creative hub to support the development of future artists, scholars and educators.

The band The Burroughs playing at the Concert Under the Starts on summer 2022

Local Band Kicks Off Their 10th Anniversary with Performance at UNC

July 12, 2023 — The Burroughs kick off their 10th anniversary at Concerts Under the Stars–También en español

Socrates Garcia conducting at the National Theatre

PHOTOS: Musical Trip to the Dominican Republic

June 26, 2023 — Students and faculty from the School of Music visited the Dominican Republic to run workshops, round tables, masterclasses and educational concerts.

Teacher standing with music book open in front of young school-age children singing

Social Emotional Learning Drives Doctoral Student’s Research in the Arts

June 21, 2023 — Angie Keedy believes the arts, and their exploration of inner lives, are natural convergence points for Social Emotional Learning (SEL). As she pursues her Doctor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Music Education, the University of Northern Colorado student is also researching SEL.

actors smiling and dancing on stage in 1950s attire in the musical All Shook Up

Exploring the Dreamers, Magic Makers and the Legacies They Leave Through Theater

June 2, 2023 — Little Theatre of the Rockies (LTR) boasts three theater productions that explore the themes of hope, discovery and overcoming obstacles in its nine-week run as it enters its 89th summer season.

UNC Choirs to Perform Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall

April 20, 2023 — UNC Choirs will travel to New York City for a residency at Carnegie Hall where they will rehearse for a collaborative culminating performance of Carl Orff's iconic work Carmina Burana on May 14. A pre-performance is scheduled with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra on April 29 at the Union Colony Civic Center.

From UNC's Jazz Fest to International Stages

April 18, 2023 — University of Northern Colorado alumnus Julian Cary '19 never imagined that his pursuit of a career in music would lead him to the other side of the world. Now a successful musician in Bangkok, Thailand and an instructor of jazz voice at Silpakorn University, Cary’s journey began in Denver.

Students in the production of Cinderella raising their hands after a huddle

The Show Behind the Show, What it Takes for Theatre Design and Technology Students to Create a Musical Production

March 23, 2023 — In UNC’s latest production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, 60 students were involved in the creation of the show, half of which were tasked with behind-the-scenes duties. Take a look at four specific roles seniors took on that helped make Cinderella’s glass slipper fit night after night a possibility.

Alumni Brenda Vargas sitting on a ladder with a paintbrush in front of her mural

UNC alumna to unveil “Centro de Educación Aztlán” at Michener Library

February 9, 2023 — Alumna and mural artist Brenda Vargas ’22 is unveiling a meaningful mural to help strengthen the academic identity of UNC’s Hispanic population. –También en español.

Theatre students performing on stage at UNC

Summit Brings Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Focus to the Arts

February 1, 2023 — UNC's College of Performing and Visual Arts is hosting its second annual Arts Equity Summit on Friday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at UNC’s Campus Commons. The event is part of the college’s continued commitment to support the university’s strategic priority of empowering inclusivity.

Dr. Park teaching digital art in front of a computer with students

Infusing Empathy into Art and Design

December 1, 2022 — Changing the world by using empathy to solve the concrete needs of users is what moves the design and teaching approach of our new faculty member for the School of Art and Design, Hye Jeong Park, Ph.D.

New Associate Director of Bands Shares His Love for Music

November 22, 2022 — Since he was very young, Daniel Farr, DMA, has had a love for music. He found the University of Northern Colorado the best place to share that love while combining two of his passions: conducting bands and teaching.

Experiences Help Define Path for Latina Artist 

October 24, 2022 — ForFlor Leos, the opportunity to see the work of another artist was transformational. A senior majoring in Ceramics and minoring in Mexican American Studies,*Leos says that when Chicano muralist Leo Tanguma came to UNC her junior year, it shaped her path and her view of her own art.

Adding Color to the Greeley Stampede

June 14, 2022 — The Greeley Stampede, which started in 1922, has always brought color and energy to the local community, so it’s fitting that as it celebrates 100 years, it does so with even more color greeting spectators. And two UNC alumni were chosen to paint the new murals.

Little Altars, Big Impact

March 11, 2022 — The legacy of artist, activist and UNC alumna Lydia Ruyle‘72 is being celebrated during Women’s History Month through an exhibition featuring her lively banners of divine goddesses from around the world inside Campus Commons.

Resilience Showcased in Student Art Exhibition Reflecting Back on the Pandemic

February 28, 2022 — A group of UNC students reviewed their COVID-19 experience and showcased it through art creating pieces for University Libraries' Reflecting Back, Looking Forward student exhibition.

Fire training at Galeton Fire and Protection District

Bows and Blazes, UNC Music Students Tune Up Their Community as Volunteer Firefighters

November 30, 2021 — Two UNC students pick up their violin bows and practice fast passages and rhythms whenever they can. But playing an instrument isn’t the only intense activity taking up their spare time. Alongside playing beautiful, eloquent and moving music, Taber Land and Katherine Muser also help battle raging fires that span hundreds of acres at a time.

Galen Darrough conducting at the Colorado State Capitol

Alumni Join UNC Combined Chorus at GPO

November 8, 2021 — Most years, the UNC Combined Chorus gives UNC choral students an opportunity to perform at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO). That tradition has been on hold due to the pandemic, but this year it’s coming back with a heartfelt flourish.

Two altars UNC students made that are displayed at History Colorado in Denver

UNC Students Honor Mexican, and Chicano Studies Program Tradition Through Creating a New One

November 2, 2021 — El Día de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated annually on Nov. 1-2. The festivity showcases the love and respect for deceased loved ones. Every year, families and communities gather to remember their relatives through building altares or ofrendas.

Alumni-led Production of Rent Gives Current Students A Taste of Broadway

October 21, 2021 — In the early 2000s, two eager University of Northern Colorado Theatre Arts majors had their eyes set on New York’s biggest stage. Taking dance course after dance course and performing in multiple student productions, Jason Veasey and Aléna Watters achieved that dream, using the skills they perfected on campus and eventually showcasing them on Broadway.

A Look Back at UNC's Latinx Heritage Month Celebrations

October 7, 2021 — Latinx art, culture, language, and history took center stage fostering discussions and conversations around Latinx heritage during UNC’s Latinx Heritage Month.

UNC is an All-Steinway School piano graphic

UNC Designated as All-Steinway School Thanks to Donor Funds

March 29, 2021 — The University of Northern Colorado College of Performing and Visual Arts received a total of 96 new Steinway & Sons pianos, with most of them arriving in December of 2018, sealing the School of Music’s All-Steinway School status.

UNC Names New Performing and Visual Arts Dean

March 8, 2021 — UNC announced that Cristina Goletti will become the next dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts.

Music Student Places First in Arranging and Composing Competition

November 5, 2020 — Zach Rich, a Jazz Studies doctoral student at UNC, won first place in the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers’ Bill Conti Big Band Arranging and Composing Competition for his composition of “We Love You Madly” (dedicated to Duke Ellington).

Students showing up some sketches on a Zoom meeting

How an Art and Design Class Adapted to the New, Online Environment

May 15, 2020 — Anna Ursyn, Ph.D., a professor of Digital Media and head of the Digital Media Area at UNC, shares her and her students’ experiences in adapting to the new, online learning environment as well as to life during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Professor Helped Students with No-Contact Drop-Off of Supplies, Virtual Learning

April 22, 2020 — As courses transition to alternate delivery for the remainder of the semester, UNC Professor Anne Toewe discovered new ways to teach courses and prepare students for online learning.

UNC faculty member recording his online classes

Keeping Your Voice Healthy in a Video-Call Age

April 9, 2020 — In response to the new virtual environment, UNC assistant professor of Acting and Performance, Rebecca Rich, offers a set of tips aimed at keeping your voice in top shape.

UNC band competing at Jack Rubin jazz competition in New York

“We Love You Madly”: UNC Jazz Lab I Competes in New York

February 12, 2020 — Lab I, UNC’s premier jazz ensemble, was one of 10 collegiate jazz programs in the nation invited by Wynton Marsalis to the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship.

Music Student Selected to Perform in Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo

December 10, 2019 — Domi Edson, a first-year graduate student from UNC’s School of Music, has been selected to perform as one of five members in the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo at the Jazz Education Network’s Annual Conference.

Educational Theatre Association Recognizes UNC Professor with Founders’ Award

September 23, 2019 — UNC Professor Mary Schuttler has received the Educational Theatre Association’s Founders’ Award which is presented to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the growth and development of theatre education, research, and practice.

UNC Grads Contribute to Growing Greeley Creative Economy

September 9, 2019 — There’s no question that the creative economy in Colorado is booming. You don’t have to go far to find concerts, art exhibits, plays or other performances nearly any night of the week. Thanks in large part to an active base of UNC students and graduates, Greeley is no exception.

Uniquely Yucca: New Art Exhibit Offers One of A Kind Experience

September 6, 2019 — For the next six months visitors to the Campus Commons Gallery will have a unique opportunity to travel back in time through a gallery restoration of a 1950's era soda fountain. Learn more about the programs that will take place in this distinctive space and ways you can get involved.

Travel Back in Time to the Atomic Badlands of the American West

September 5, 2019 — Founded at the turn of the 20th century, the mysterious “Yucca Fountain” filled a void in the Nevada desert for travelers looking to beat the heat. Two Boston-based artists took the initiative to restore it in UNC’s Campus Commons Gallery.

UNC Music Education Student Wins Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award

March 8, 2019 — UNC third-year music education student Jacie Matzke was awarded the $4,000 Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award from the Presser Foundation. Watch an interview with her as she discusses the award, the UNC School of Music and plays her clarinet.

View of the performance hall still under construction

Erin Hanke Brings Energy, Inclusivity to Campus Common’s Performance Hall

January 31, 2019 — The new, 600-seat performance hall in UNC’s Campus Commons building is planning to host exciting, affordable and diverse performances for the campus and surrounding communities.That’s the goal of the hall’s new Managing Director, Erin Hanke, D.M.A.

Todd Swingle playing the bowling ball with his electronic music on video.

UNC Student Creates Music with Electronics and a Bowling Ball

June 7, 2018 — UNC student Todd Swingle is an expert at playing a number of instruments including the piano, bass, percussion and more "non-traditional instruments," such as a bowling ball ... yes, a bowling ball.

john tonai photo of his father at Amache

Photographing World War II Japanese-American Camps

June 4, 2018 — John Tonai '90 discusses the Granada Relocation Camp, also known as Amache, where thousands of Japanese-Americans were incarcerated from 1942-45, including members of his family.

UNC’s 36th Annual Arts Gala Puts Students Center Stage

January 5, 2018 — UNC’s College of Performing and Visual Arts is hosting the 36th annual Gala on Saturday, February 10th at the Union Colony Civic Center. Themed “A Celebration of Student Artists,” the event is a showcase of diverse talent from each of the College’s three Schools: the School of Art and Design, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre Arts and Dance.

Public Health Meets Public Art

July 14, 2017 — Colorado School of Public Health alumna Rachel Freeman, MPH ’14, is making her mark in public health. She is part of a team, which includes alumni artist Armando Silva BA '10, has recently transformed the exterior wall of a vacant building in northern Colorado into a colorful statement of health advocacy.

UNC Alumna Cast in Third Broadway Show

June 20, 2017 — Aisha Jackson, a 2013 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado's Musical Theatre program, has been named to the cast of the Broadway production of Frozen

Arts

Doctoral Student’s Love for Music Inspires Research

Expanded Curriculum Makes a Pitch for more Students to Explore Innovative Art

Local Band Kicks Off Their 10th Anniversary with Performance at UNC

PHOTOS: Musical Trip to the Dominican Republic

Social Emotional Learning Drives Doctoral Student’s Research in the Arts

Exploring the Dreamers, Magic Makers and the Legacies They Leave Through Theater

UNC Choirs to Perform Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall

From UNC's Jazz Fest to International Stages

The Show Behind the Show, What it Takes for Theatre Design and Technology Students to Create a Musical Production

UNC alumna to unveil “Centro de Educación Aztlán” at Michener Library

Summit Brings Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Focus to the Arts

Infusing Empathy into Art and Design

New Associate Director of Bands Shares His Love for Music

Experiences Help Define Path for Latina Artist

Adding Color to the Greeley Stampede

Little Altars, Big Impact

Resilience Showcased in Student Art Exhibition Reflecting Back on the Pandemic

Bows and Blazes, UNC Music Students Tune Up Their Community as Volunteer Firefighters

Alumni Join UNC Combined Chorus at GPO

UNC Students Honor Mexican, and Chicano Studies Program Tradition Through Creating a New One

Alumni-led Production of Rent Gives Current Students A Taste of Broadway

A Look Back at UNC's Latinx Heritage Month Celebrations

UNC Designated as All-Steinway School Thanks to Donor Funds

UNC Names New Performing and Visual Arts Dean

Music Student Places First in Arranging and Composing Competition

How an Art and Design Class Adapted to the New, Online Environment

Professor Helped Students with No-Contact Drop-Off of Supplies, Virtual Learning

Keeping Your Voice Healthy in a Video-Call Age

“We Love You Madly”: UNC Jazz Lab I Competes in New York

Music Student Selected to Perform in Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo

Educational Theatre Association Recognizes UNC Professor with Founders’ Award

UNC Grads Contribute to Growing Greeley Creative Economy

Uniquely Yucca: New Art Exhibit Offers One of A Kind Experience

Travel Back in Time to the Atomic Badlands of the American West

UNC Music Education Student Wins Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award

Erin Hanke Brings Energy, Inclusivity to Campus Common’s Performance Hall

UNC Student Creates Music with Electronics and a Bowling Ball

Photographing World War II Japanese-American Camps

UNC’s 36th Annual Arts Gala Puts Students Center Stage

Public Health Meets Public Art

UNC Alumna Cast in Third Broadway Show

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Experiences Help Define Path for Latina Artist 