Thirty students and nine professors from BYU and England’s Wirral Metropolitan College (WMC) gathered in Yellowstone National Park in June to collaborate across disciplines for the purpose of making art inspired by the scenery.

Contemporary Dance Theatre and Synthesis had a fantastic second week in Nauvoo. The students kicked the week off with a spirited fireside that they performed not only for missionaries serving in Nauvoo, but also several community members. Then they set off on another whirlwind week, this time traveling to Ft. Madison, Springfield, Fairfield, Carthage and Memphis for a series of fantastic performances.This week gave the student time to explore the historic sites of Nauvoo, and connect the historic legacy of the early saints. One highlight was a trip to Carthage, where the groups were able to fortify their testimonies of Joseph Smith. This held particular significance since this week commemorated the 170th anniversary of the Martyrdom.

On July 2, the BYU American Folk Dance Ensemble will leave the U.S. for 28 days to perform in Belgium, France and Switzerland.

Susan Kenney, a music education professor in the BYU School of Music, will begin new adventures and endeavors as she retires at the end of a summer.

The BYU artsPASS enables fans of music, theatre, and dance the opportunity to secure tickets in advance to any of the performances presented by the BYU School of Music, Dept. of Dance, Dept. of Theatre and Media Arts, and BRAVO!: Professional Performing Arts at BYU before tickets for individual performances are available to the general public. The artsPASS goes on sale July 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, online at www.byuarts.com, or by calling (801) 422-2981. The artsPASS gives purchasers the option of selecting five or more performances to attend during the 2014-15 season. Those who purchase the artsPASS enjoy not having to wait in line when individual tickets go on sale four weeks in advance of each event. artsPASS holders also get the best available seats and will receive all of their tickets before the season begins. Jeffrey Martin, producer of performing arts for the College of Fine Arts and Communications and presenter of the BRAVO! series, said the artsPASS is a great option not only for parents and alumni, but for current BYU students. “The arts can enrich anyone’s college experience. By attending live performances, students gain exposure to both traditional and unfamiliar art forms, expand their world view and learn about stories and ideas in a different way,” Martin said. “These experiences also give them an opportunity to enjoy things at an affordable price before going out into the world where these things are far more expensive.” To create your custom artsPASS starting July 7, click here.

Photo by Michael G. Handley. BYU Arts, the umbrella organization in the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications that produces and presents live performances, finished its 2013-2014 season on June 14 with final showings of The Selfish Giant, a play featuring extensive puppetry work, and The Elixir of Love, an Italian opera. The total number of individual music, theatre and dance performances presented during the season numbered more than 460. Each year, BYU Arts makes hundreds of performances available to BYU and local audiences. These include shows put on by students and staff, as well as visiting professionals. Jeffrey Martin, producer of the BRAVO! guest artist series, said the performances from this last season wouldn’t be possible without collaborative efforts by those on stage and behind the scenes. “Everyone works so hard. The choirs and orchestras rehearse multiple times each week, students involved in theatre, dance or opera performances rehearse all semester, but people don’t usually hear about that,” Martin said. “It really does take a lot of people and resources to put these programs together. We couldn’t do it without everybody’s support and participation.” Students performed in several notable productions, including BYU Theatre Ballet’s full-length production of Swan Lake, the Department of Theatre and Media Arts’ new staging of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the BYU Philharmonic’s concert with acclaimed guest pianist Marc-André Hamelin. In addition to the student performances, BRAVO! brought more than a dozen professional artists to campus to perform and instruct students. Audiences enjoyed shows by Broadway performer Audra McDonald, Grammy-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, and TV and filmstar John Lithgow. OFF THE MAP: BYU International Theatre Festivalalso made its debut, receiving extremely positive reviews from attendees. Martin mentioned how visiting performers prove to be invaluable in their contributions to the lives of CFAC students. “We want our students to interact with professionals who are at the highest level in their careers right now,” Martin said. “I want our students to experience them live in performance and in workshops, so they can ask questions, get to know them and be inspired to do great work themselves.” Martin shared how the arts and the gospel are intertwined with BYU’s aims and mission. “It’s the fundamental beliefs of how to create art that inspires and brings light to the world,” Martin said. “We hope that is always reflected in our performances themselves. We’re constantly looking at how we can train our students to be the very best in their disciplines, but bring the light of the gospel into their work.” As the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center celebrates its 50th anniversary next season,BYU Arts programming will help celebrate BYU accomplishments in the arts. “We’ll have special performances, exhibitions and lectures all throughout the year, focusing on the legacy of those who got us here and how we’re going to move forward in the future,” Martin said. “I think this new season will provide even more artistic development in our students than the last.”

BYU Campus Education Week presents a variety of performances on the evenings of August 19, 20, 21, 22. Performances take place in the Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC). Tickets are on sale Monday, June 23, 2014. Be entertained by LDS performing artists, see a play, or attend the concert of a captivating pianist and composer.

The Wall Street Journal

The Living Legends' two week stay in Nauvoo came to an end much too quickly! The students fell in love with the people, the historical sites, and the spirit of this remarkable city.

Contemporary Dance Theatre and Synthesis departed this morning for Nauvoo, IL.They will spend two weeks performing in Nauvoo and surrounding communities.

With more than 1,000 entries from 20 different countries, five BYU design students have defied the odds and have reached the semifinals in the 14th annual Adobe Design Achievement Awards.“The Adobe Design Achievement Awards feature work from some of the most innovative and talented students around the world. We are privileged to honor such incredible talents and to help launch their careers,” said Tacy Trowbridge, worldwide manager of Education Programs, Adobe. “Congratulations to all the students for their creative accomplishments!”

This week the BYU School of Music will perform The Elixir of Love (L’eliisr d’amore),a comedic Italian opera portraying and exploring the light-hearted side of love and romance. Lawrence Vincent, professor of voice, along with the cast of students, have been preparing for months to make the opera as powerful as possible.