The early 2000s were all about big dreams, bold moves and unforgettable stories. BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications was right there, living its own blockbuster moment — where “High School Musical” energy meets “The Prestige” level of artistry. With world-premiere operas, museum exhibitions and student achievements, this era was nothing short of cinematic. Students, faculty and alumni were living Mariah Carrey’s “We Belong Together.”
Brimhall Building Becomes Home to the School of Communications | 2005
The Brimhall Building became home to the School of Communications in 2005. The building was built in 1918 and had two stories added in 1935. The name honors former BYU President George H. Brimhall. The first floor houses four student labs including the AdLab, Newsline, The Daily Universe and the PR Intelligence Lab. The second and third floors house classrooms, collaborative learning spaces and faculty offices.
"The Book of Gold" Opera Premieres at BYU's de Jong Concert Hall | 2005
The BYU School of Music presented the world premiere of the opera “The Book of Gold” by Murray Boren based on a libretto by Glen Nelson. The performance celebrated the bicentennial celebration of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Shows ran in November 2005 in the de Jong Concert Hall. The opera portrayed the prophet Joseph Smith’s refinement process by bringing to life the adventures of early saints and the miracles surrounding the publication of “The Book of Mormon.” The BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kory Katseanes, provided the music for the opera.
BYU Ballroom Dance Company Wins National Championships for 23rd Consecutive Year | 2005
The BYU Ballroom Dance Company won the National Standard Ballroom Formation and Latin Formation Championships for the 23rd consecutive year. This elite national competition is held at the Embassy Championships in Irvine, California and attracts couples from all over the world. In addition to winning at the national competition in California, the BYU Ballroom Dance Company won the British Championships. Since 2005, BYU Ballroom has won the British Championships over 25 times.
BYU Dancers’ Company, the University’s Premier Modern Dance Ensemble, Celebrates 30 Years | 2005
The BYU Dancers’ Company, the university’s premier modern dance ensemble, celebrated 30 years with a concert honoring past and present favorite works in January 2005. “Dance in Concert” was held in the Pardoe Drama Theatre of the Harris Fine Arts Center. "We are excited to celebrate three decades of dance and we'll be presenting favorites performed in the '70s, '80s and '90s," said artistic director Rebecca Wright Phillips. The company’s goal is to share light and beauty physically, artistically and spiritually through their dancing.
“Beholding Salvation: Images of Christ” Exhibition Opens at the Museum of Art | 2006
The exhibition titled "Beholding Salvation: Images of Christ" opened November 16, 2006 and was on display through June 16, 2007 at the BYU Museum of Art. The exhibition showcased over 170 artistic representations of the Savior and His mission. It highlighted personal relationships others had with the Savior from a variety of shifting political, religious and cultural perspectives. Images of Christ have dominated the subject matter of Western art for more than 1,700 years, and the exhibition showcased the diverse themes and events for artistic expression.
BYU International Folk Dance 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Celebration | 2006
The BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble celebrated fifty years of folk dancing with the 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Celebration in July 2006. The celebration included reunion parties, a family picnic, workshops, a formal banquet that brought folk dance alumni from all over the world to Provo for the celebration and a concert at the de Jong Cultural Hall. The concert highlighted the then-current folk dance team which had recently returned from a tour of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Quebec. In addition to displaying choreography from the Baltic States, the folk dancers also performed dances representing India, Romania, Hungary and Ireland.
BYU Student Advertising Team Wins International Best Communications Campaign | 2007
Three BYU advertising majors were awarded “Best Communication Campaign” by the CEO of the world’s 4th-largest advertising and communications company in the annual Brandstorm marketing competition in Paris. Jamie Bond, Zack Tolbert and Stanton Jones from the BYU AdLab, along with AdLab faculty advisor Jeff Sheets, represented the United States after defeating over 200 teams from the top advertising programs in the nation in the national Brandstorm competition in New York earlier in the year. Then, the team competed against the top advertising students from 35 countries and won. The BYU team attributed their success to creativity, hard work and their experiences learning in the student-run ad agency at BYU. “One of the group’s biggest strengths was their creativity,” said Jeff Sheets. “They took an unconventional approach to every phase of the competition and it really paid off.”
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Performed by BYU Students at Pardoe Theatre | 2007
BYU theatre students performed “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in May 2007 in the Pardoe Theatre. This family musical, based on the comic strip by Charles Schulz and written by Clark Gesner, features the familiar Peanuts faces of Linus, Snoopy and, of course, Charlie Brown. Throughout it all, Charlie Brown struggles to understand what makes someone a “good man,” until Lucy uncharacteristically tells him that’s exactly what he is. Charlie Brown was played by BYU student Tyler Wright, Sally was played by Megan Moffat, Lucy by Makenna Garner, Linus by Brandon Roach, Schroeder by Kevin Jordan and Snoopy by Hank Florence.
BYU Homecoming Spectacular "Go the Distance" Features Seven of the University’s Foremost Performing Groups | 2008
The October 2008 BYU Homecoming Spectacular “Go the Distance” featured seven of the university’s foremost performing groups including guest violin virtuoso, Jenny Oaks Baker. Synthesis, Men’s Chorus, Living Legends, the International Folk Dance Ensemble, Dancers’ Company, Young Ambassadors and Cougarettes filled the Marriott Center stage for an energetic evening of music, dance and song. “This is the one night of the year on campus when audiences get to see the best of the university performing groups,” said Janielle Christensen, artistic director. “They come together on one stage to do their very best numbers.”
BYU Wind Symphony Director Retires After 43 Years | 2008
In April, the BYU Wind Symphony bid farewell to director David P. Blackinton after his 43-year-long career. The symphony performed Blackinton’s favorite pieces from his BYU career including the Overture to "Colas Breugnon" by Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky, “Liebestod” by Richard Wagner and the Symphony in B flat by Paul Hindemith. During his time as conductor at BYU, Blackinton has conducted the Wind Symphony in Taiwan, China, Philippines, England, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Finland, the Baltic States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and across the United States. He plays the trumpet for the BYU Faculty Brass Quintet, has recorded with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and even performed in the Sydney Opera House.
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