University of South Florida

College of The Arts

University of South Florida

College Events

Find inspiration and let your imagination wander by attending concerts, performances, exhibitions, lectures, masterclasses, and festivals presented to the public by the USF College of The Arts.

While most College of The Arts (CoTA) Events are being offered free of charge, we have a few events this season that are Collaborative Events that may have additional ticket/parking costs associated and may be outside of our usual venues. 

Visit the online Arts Box Office for parking information and guest services for events on USF Tampa Campus and please reach out to the off campus venue if the event is elsewhere.

Upcoming CoTA Events

Tickets are FREE and will be available at the door for College of The Arts: Music, Theatre, and Dance events on a first-come, first-served basis. The lobby will open 1 hour prior to the event, and the doors will open approximately 30 minutes before the performance. Please arrive ahead of time to ensure your ticket as seating is limited.

Asterisk* denotes free ticketed events 

October

Choir performing

Diaspora Voices: “Cuba y Brazil” Latin Jazz & Heritage Concert*
October 3rd at 7:30pm
USF Concert Hall

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Blue Mood and guest artists present an evening of jazz and jazz-influenced music from South America and the Caribbean. Join us for music from Antonio Carlos Jobim, Celia Cruz and more!

Native America in Translation Image

Native America: In Translation Online Conversation
October 4th at 6pm
Zoom - Registration Required

In this online conversation Native America: In Translation Curator Wendy Red Star and artists Marianne Nicolson and Koyoltzintli discuss concepts and approaches to Indigenous visual sovereignty in reclaiming cultural identity. Moderated by USF Curator of Public Art and Social Practice Sarah Howard. Free event, advance registration required. Register now!

For questions or more information please email caminfo@usf.edu or call (813) 974-4133. This event is free and open to the public.

Student playing a trombone

USF Jazz Ensemble 1 & 2*
October 4th at 7:30pm
USF Concert Hall

This concert features both of the large jazz ensembles that form the core of USF’s Jazz Studies Program. The repertoire for this combined concert will include classic big band music from Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie, Thad Jones, as well as contemporary jazz composers like Maria Schneider, Chuck Owen, and Ross Strauser.

Jazz Ensemble 1: under the direction of Tom Brantley & Jazz Ensemble 2: under the direction of Ross Strauser

Superflex over a blue background

Superflex: This is the Tip of the Iceberg
October 6th-November 22nd M-F 8am-6pm with an Opening Reception and Artist Talk on October 6th from 6-9pm Harbor Hall Gallery, USF St. Petersburg 1000 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 - Gallery entrance on South end of building

GENERATOR’s inaugural exhibition SUPERFLEX: This Is The Tip Of The Iceberg explores a world where human life depends on coexistence with other species. Emerging from SUPERFLEX’s in-depth research into the deep sea, biodiversity, and the climate, the installation immerses viewers in two parallel and interconnected realms--a terrestrial space unsettled by rising water and a submerged space in the ocean’s depths--to signify the impacts and consequences of climate change, especially relevant to Florida and its coastal communities, and prompting the imagination of a future in which all lifeforms coexist as ecological equals. 

SUPERFLEX founder Bjørn Christiansen will provide an artist talk on October 6th at 6pm, followed by a reception.

Cello players performing in orchestra

USF Symphony Orchestra*
October 8th at 2pm
USF Concert Hall

The University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra and conductor William Wiedrich open their 2023-24 season with a bedazzling concert of favorites! The "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" of John Adams and Respighi's "The Pines of Rome" bookend this exciting program. The world renowned artistry of Violinist Carolyn Stuart and Pianist Svetozar Ivanov will be spotlighted, as they perform the captivating Concerto Grosso #6 of Alfred Schnittke.

CMW Gallery Exhibition

Appealing Family Values
October 9-19th from 11am-3pm M-Th with a reception on Friday,
Oct 13th from
6-8pm
Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery

Appealing Family Values is an exhibition by graduate students Olin Fritz, Andrew King, Michael Lonchar and KJ Skidmore. The exhibition will be a multi-sensory, all encompassing cacophony of artwork challenging the idea of a traditional gallery space and how far the artists can push the boundaries to create a new environment. 

Dr. Dituri diving

Lecture by Dr. Joseph Dituri
October 11th at 6 pm 
Harbor Hall Auditorium,
USF St. Petersburg campus

USF Associate Professor Dr. Joseph Dituri, a.k.a. Dr. Deep Sea, who recently set a new world record by living underwater for 100 days, will speak about his unique research and experience submerged in a pressurized environment.

Generator over a blue gradient.

Second Saturday art walk at Superflex
October 14th from 5-9pm
Harbor Hall Gallery, USF St. Petersburg 1000 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 - Gallery entrance on South end of building

GENERATOR’s inaugural exhibition SUPERFLEX: This Is The Tip Of The Iceberg explores a world where human life depends on coexistence with other species. Emerging from SUPERFLEX’s in-depth research into the deep sea, biodiversity, and the climate, the installation immerses viewers in two parallel and interconnected realms–a terrestrial space unsettled by rising water and a submerged space in the ocean’s depths–to signify the impacts and consequences of climate change, especially relevant to Florida and its coastal communities, and prompting the imagination of a future in which all lifeforms coexist as ecological equals.

Steinway piano series artist Sun-A Park

Steinway Piano Series: Sun-A Park*
October 15th at 4pm
Barness Recital Hall

Korean-American pianist Sun-A Park presents a program celebrating 150th anniversary of Rachmaninoff's birth, along with favorite masterpieces for the keyboard.

Performer playing trumpet

USF Jazztet*
October 18th at 7:30pm
Barness Recital Hall

The USF Jazztet is the premier small group in the USF Jazz Studies program. This group will be performing classic jazz small group repertoire – from early Jazz to contemporary selections.  

Black and white portrait of a man sitting

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Guadalupe Maravilla
October 19th at 7pm
Fine Arts Hall 101

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Guadalupe Maravilla will give a lecture about their work. 

Fall Dance image of dancer

Fall Dance Concert*
October 26-28th at 7:30pm and October 29th at 3pm
Theatre 1

DanceUSF is excited to showcase our students’ talent and skill in this Fall Dance Concert. Investigating themes that include reality versus dreams, DanceUSF faculty choreographers - Andee Scott, Andrew Carroll, John Parks, Sadie Lehmker, and Michael Foley - will present newly devised works performed by USF dance students in this fall production.

Piano up close

USF Faculty/Guest Recital: Arencibia-Rodriguez, The Duet*
October 28th at 7:30pm
Barness Recital Hall

A unique musical journey with Arencibia-Rodriguez, The Duet; featuring pianist and USF faculty Pablo Arencibia and bassist Mauricio J. Rodriguez. Showcasing a blend of classical, contemporary Jazz, Latin American rhythms, and their innovative approach to composition and arrangement, including a glimpse of the Lecuona Reimagined project, as they redefine the boundaries of piano and double bass artistry. Sponsored by ResearchOne.

Steinway Piano Series Artist Tian Tian

Steinway Piano Series: Tian Tian*
October 29th at 4pm
Barness Recital Hall

Acclaimed Chinese-American pianist Tian Tian, a prize winner from numerous International piano competitions, will present a program of piano favorites featuring Ravel's La Valse and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Sonata.

CMW Exhibition

Ella Baila Sola/Desiring Production
October 30th-November 9th from 11am-3pm M-Th with a reception on Friday, Nov 3rd from 6-8pm
Carolyn M. Wilson Gallery

Ella Baila Sola feautures work by graduate students Adrian Gomez and Emily Martinez, the work is inspired by the bustling energy of Mexican bailes and themes used in the regional music played at these events. These bailes take place in both established nightclubs and DIY venues. The work draws from the traditional attire and aesthetic choices that are used in the assembly of these built environments. The artists will explore the importance of the adornment of the body, space, and physical expressions of the dance.

Desiring Production: A Quest for a Non-fascist Life includes work by Ainaz Alipour, Tina Afdarg, Amber Bernard, Jocelyn Chase and Kristen Roles. The artwork is a response to the text Anti-Oedipus, by Deleuze and Guatarri.  

November

Green geometric statue

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Carl D'Alvia
November 2nd at 7pm
Fine Arts Hall 101

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Carl D'Alvia will give a lecture on his work. 

Steinway piano series artist Tetiana Shafran

Steinway Piano Series: Tetiana Shafran*
November 5th at 4pm
Barness Recital Hall

Acclaimed Ukrainian pianist Tetiana Shafran, prize winner from more of 25 International piano competition, presents a program featuring works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt.

Close up of piano

OLD MUSIC: piano music of Bach, Berio, Juri Seo, & Erickson*
November 6th at 7:30pm
USF Concert Hall

OLD MUSIC: piano music of Bach, Berio, Juri Seo, and Kurt Erickson. Featuring solo piano music and dance collaboration with Tampa City Ballet.

Interior architecture

Architecture Lecture Series: Nader Tehrani
November 7th at 6pm 
USF Concert Hall

For his contributions to architecture as an art, Nader Tehrani is the recipient of The American Academy of Arts and Letters’ 2020 Arnold Brunner Memorial Prize. Tehrani was also named to the 2022 National Design Awards Design Visionary by Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian Design Museum.  Tehrani’s work has received many prestigious awards including an unprecedented eighteen Progressive Design Awards. The works of Tehrani has been widely exhibited including at MoMA, LA MOCA, and ICA Boston.  His work is also part of the permanent collection of the Canadian Center for Architecture and the Nasher Sculpture Center. Tehrani is the former Dean of Cooper Union’s School of Architecture where he served from 2015 to 2022 and the former Head of the Department of Architecture at MIT where he served from 2010-2014. Tehrani has taught at Harvard, RISD, Georgia Teach, and the University of Toronto. He also served as the Architect in Residence at the American Academy in Rome.

Jazz musicians performing

USF Jazz Ensemble 2*
November 7th at 7:30pm
Barness Recital Hall

Jazz Ensemble II is composed of a variety of students from different programs on campus. This group focuses on performing everything from classic Ellington and Basie charts to modern repertoire from composers such as Maria Schneider and Chuck Owen. 

Superflex over a blue gradient.

Second Saturday art walk at Superflex
November 11th from 5-9pm
Harbor Hall Gallery, USF St. Petersburg 1000 3rd St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 - Gallery entrance on South end of building

GENERATOR’s inaugural exhibition SUPERFLEX: This Is The Tip Of The Iceberg explores a world where human life depends on coexistence with other species. Emerging from SUPERFLEX’s in-depth research into the deep sea, biodiversity, and the climate, the installation immerses viewers in two parallel and interconnected realms–a terrestrial space unsettled by rising water and a submerged space in the ocean’s depths–to signify the impacts and consequences of climate change, especially relevant to Florida and its coastal communities, and prompting the imagination of a future in which all lifeforms coexist as ecological equals.

Wind musicians performing

USF Wind Ensemble*
November 12th at 2pm
USF Concert Hall

The USF Wind Ensemble cordially invites you to our final concert of the fall semester on November 12 at 2:00 pm in the beautiful USF Concert Hall. Enigmatically titled "It’s Dark Outside", this concert features works that explore the shadowy side of nature. Selections include the criminally underperformed "Cave" by Russel Peck, John Mackey’s stunning "Wine-Dark Sea", and John Heed’s "In Storm and Sunshine." The first portion of the program will be performed by the terrific Plant City High School Wind Ensemble, led by Dr. Joshua Blair. 

Amy Sillman portrait

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Amy Sillman on November 16th at 7pm in Fine Arts Hall 101

Kennedy Family Visiting Artist Amy Sillman will give a lecture on her work.

Life is a Dream promotional poster of lighthouse

Life is a Dream*
November 16-18th at 7:30pm and November 19th at 3pm
Theatre 2

An eclipse. A mother's death. A terrifying prophecy: the newborn Prince will be a tyrant that kills his own father. The king hides his son away in a prison to prevent the oracle's promise. But in doing so, is he actually the cause of the prince's tyrannical nature? One of the greatest works from the Spanish Golden Age in a new staging by professor Dora Arreola asks if it is nature or nurture that make us 
who we are. 

A USF Theatre Production
Written by Calderon de la Barca 
English version by Roy Campbell 
Directed by Dora Arreola  

close up instrument

USF Faculty/Guest Recital:
Scott Kluksdahl and Hedi Salanki*

November 17th at 7:30pm
Barness Recital Hall

Scott Kluksdahl teams up with the renowned harpsichordist Hedi Salanki. Together they will explore masterworks of baroque composers.

Orchestra performing

USF Symphony Orchestra*
November 19th at 2pm
USF Concert Hall

The University of South Florida Symphony Orchestra brings a divergent and exciting program to the stage with a kaleidoscope of wonderful music to please everyone! The captivating rhythms of Moncayo's "Huapongo" open the program, followed by Riccardo Molla's elegant Concerto for Trombone and Tuba, featuring guest artists Tom Brantley and Joseph Alvarez. Jennifer Higdon's emotionally-charged "blue cathedral" and the iconic and lofty Symphony No. 5 of Jean Sibelius close
this exciting afternoon of music-making!

Bands performing

USF Concert & Symphonic Bands*
November 21st at 7:30pm
USF Concert Hall

The Symphonic Band and Concert Band will bring the semester to a close with an exciting and eclectic performance on November 21. You are cordially invited to join us at the School of Music Concert Hall.

BFA Dance image of dancer

Resonance - Fall 2023 BFA Dance Senior Showcase*
November 27th at 7:30pm
Theatre 1

Join half of the BFA in Dance Seniors as they share their Fall senior projects. Each work represents the students’ choreographic vision. Join us to see the stunning, inventive work that these emerging dance artists have created. And come back on Tuesday for the second showcase (Reverberation) featuring additional new works by the rest of the Dance BFA senior class!

BFA Dance image of dancer

Reverberation - Fall 2023 BFA Dance Senior Showcase*
November 28th at 7:30pm
Theatre 1

 
Join half of the BFA in Dance Seniors as they share their Fall senior projects. Each work represents the students’ choreographic vision. Join us to see the stunning, inventive work that these emerging dance artists have created. And make sure to attend the first showcase (Resonance) on Monday night that features additional new works by the rest of the Dance BFA senior class!

Choir performing

Joy! Songs of Love & Light*
November 28th at 7:30pm
USF Concert Hall

Our annual holiday concert celebrates all the best things about this time of year. Featuring choirs and vocal ensembles throughout the USF Sings network with special guests to be announced. Featuring the University Singers under the direction of Latoya McCormick-Hutchinson and USF’s Celebration Singers and combined choirs under the direction of Allyssa Jones.

Native America: In Translation

ART Thursday, Student-Led Exhibition Tours
November 30th at 6 & 7pm
USF Contemporary Art Museum

Join us for two student-led tours of the exhibition Native America: In Translation at 6pm and 7pm. The tours are free and open to the public.

Upcoming Collaborative Events

Community events may have additional ticket/parking costs associated. Some of these events may be off campus so please be sure to reach out to the venue in which the event is being held if you have any questions.

USD Wind Ensemble

USF Wind Ensemble & Seminole High School Wind Ensemble Combined Concert
October 12th at 7pm 
Seminole High School Auditorium

The USF Wind Ensemble is taking the show on the road and will play a joint concert with the Seminole HS Wind Ensemble in the SHS Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct 12 at 7:00 pm. The USF Wind Ensemble's portion of the concert is titled "The Winds of Fall" and will include Steven Bryant's "Whirlwind", Lindsay Bronnenkan's "Tarrot" and Jess Turner's "Black Bolt". The Seminole HS Wind Ensemble is under the direction of USF alumni, Gerard Madrinan.

Jazz musician playing trombone

USF Jazz Ensemble 1 with Guest Artist Rex Richardson
November 8th at 7:30pm
Pasco-Hernando State College Performing Arts Center

This concert features Jazz Ensemble 1 with Guest Artist Rex Richardson, recording artist and noted performer, in concert with thus stellar 17 piece ensemble. Rex Richardson teaches trumpet at Virginia Commonwealth University and travels all over the world as a Yamaha performing artist. Richardson’s influences include Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw,  and the program will include many arrangements that feature his virtuoso approach to jazz trumpet. Richardson has recorded over a dozen jazz CDs as a soloist and with various ensembles.

Jazz band performing

Guitarist Dave Stryker with the USF Jazz Faculty Ensemble
November 16th at 8pm
New Tampa Performing Arts Center

Dave Stryker brings his auspicious guitar skills to the New Tampa Performing Arts Center as part of the USF New Tampa Jazz Series.  
 
A prolific recording artist, Dave Stryker has more than 30 cd’s as a leader, with his latest release being, "As We Are." His musical collaborators have included Jack McDuff and Kevin Mahogany, as well as a decade with Stanley Turrentine, and the band he co-leads with saxophonist Steve Slagle. Gary Giddins in the Village Voice called him "one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” 

Stryker will be joined by USF Jazz Faculty, including saxophonist Jack Wilkins; bassist Mark Neuenschwander; pianist Pablo Arencibia and drummer Dave Rudolph.

Ongoing Events

Native American person speaking into cell phone

Native America: In Translation
August 25th-December 1st
USF Contemporary Art Museum

Native America: In Translation features diverse work by nine photographers and lens-based artists who probe the histories of colonialism, and photography’s complex and often fraught role in constructing representation of Native cultures, to offer new perspectives on Indigenous identity and heritage, reimagining what it means to be a citizen in North America today. Native America: In Translation is curated by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Star and expands on her work as guest editor of the Fall 2020 issue of Aperture magazine. The exhibition is organized by Aperture and is made possible, in part, with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

If you'd like to support the College of The Arts, please visit: giving.usf.edu/where/usf/arts