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Ave Maria University Reaches Out to Community Through Annual Festival of the Arts
March 16, 2007
NAPLES, Fla. - March 2007 - Beginning on March 23 and continuing through March 25, Ave Maria University (AMU) will hold its second annual Festival of the Arts with a series of events that feature local, national and international artists in the fields of dance, music, drama and painting.
Last year the festival raised more than $25,000 for the university's various art programs. Dance classes and dance facilities for AMU students, a student trip to France to study Gregorian chant with the monks of Solesmes, and improved equipment and costumes for student dramatic productions are just a few of the projects that have received funding from last year's festival.
"We have some very special events this year, and we're hoping for a great turnout," said Moira Fennessey, a member of the Friends of the Arts committee, which sponsors the annual festival weekend. "The hope is that we will be able to continue supporting the arts programs that are already underway at Ave Maria, and help them grow as the university grows."
During this year's three-day festival, student artists from Ave Maria, as well as local Naples artists will demonstrate various aspects of artistic expression. A performance of the classic musical My Fair Lady-directed, produced and performed entirely by AMU students-will kick off the weekend's festivities Friday, March 23.
"Rehearsals are going really well-the great combination of musical and acting talents will hopefully result in an excellent production that will inspire other musicals in the future," said AMU junior Catherine Bauer, director of My Fair Lady. According to Bauer, students have been rehearsing five days a week in anticipation of the Festival of the Arts-three days for practicing lines and blocking, and two for choreography and vocals.
Saturday afternoon, March 24, local ballet dancer Avila Stahlman will be on-hand as will a children's ballet troupe. In addition, Ave Maria students will also perform a variety of dance styles, including Irish step and musical theater.
The dance performances will be followed by a gala dinner and silent auction Saturday evening, to take place at the Naples Beach Hotel. The auction, intended to highlight the visual arts, will be emceed by WINK News Radio host Mandy Connell and will feature art work, jewelry and fine china, as well as other elegant pieces.
Among the top items available at the silent auction will be several pieces of jewelry that once belonged to Louis B. Mayer, of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer fame, including an elaborate ring made from the legendary Hollywood producer's diamond-and-ruby cufflinks. Also up for auction is one-year's "ownership" of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Vas de Roses"; the winner will have his or her name displayed under the prized painting at AMU's campus for one year.
The weekend's concluding event will be Masters in Music, a series of musical performances held Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m. World-renowned Russian pianist Ilya Itin will return to the Festival of the Arts for the second year, and the afternoon will also feature the Ave Maria University Chamber Choir and clarinet and violin soloists. The winners of the second annual Ave Maria University Young Artist Vocal Competition will also join the performance; the competition, sponsored by the Friends of the Arts, awards a scholarship to two local high school students every year.
Two box tickets to the Naples Philharmonic's upcoming production of Verdi's Rigoletto will be raffled off during the musical event Sunday afternoon; raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each or six for $5.
As AMU grows in the size and strength of its academic, spiritual and extracurricular programs, the organizers of the Festival of the Arts are working to ensure that artistic development and achievement continue to be important parts of the university's campus life and culture. The organizers' hope is that the weekend's events will contribute to a university-wide appreciation of the arts, as well as make possible the pursuit of future artistic endeavors.
"The ultimate goal is to have an arts center at the permanent campus," Fennessey explained. "But even before that's possible, we're hoping to help Ave Maria students grow in their knowledge of the arts and reach out to and participate in the local art community."
For a full schedule of events for the 2007 Festival of the Arts weekend and for registration information, please call (239) 280-2580. Additional information about the festival can be found at http://www.naples.avemaria.edu/Friendsofthearts/index.asp.