Art Beat - Wucf

Thomas Potter teaches voice at UCF, and spent many years performing in opera houses across Europe. In this segment, he talks about his career. Potter and his wife, soprano Kimberly Randall, will be soloists in this Sunday's Lutheran Cantata Choir concert at St. Lukes Church in Oviedo. He will also perform in Wagner's Das Rheingold for Indianapolis Opera this May. Another major event opening this weeekend is the 18th Annual Florida Film Festival. It features 160 films from over 30 countries; click here to see reviews by Orlando Sentinel film critic, Roger Moore.

Lisa Mills, a professor of film at UCF, has several documentaries to her credit, including a short film that won the Cultural Achievement Category at last month's MoFilm Festival in Barcelona, Spain.

Young musicians are invited to try their hand at composing by entering the 2009 Young Composers Challenge. A free workshop on Saturday, April 4 gives tips to new and experienced composers. Registration is limited so sign up soon.

We talk to Tamas Kocsis, the concertmaster of the Orlando Philharmonic, who will be the soloist Saturday night in the Brahms Violin Concerto. Also, another quick look at the UCF Orlando Jazz Festival which runs Friday & Saturday night.

It's Today - An Evening of Jerry Herman opens March 20 & runs for 3 days at UCF Theatre, presented by the graduate students in the MFA program in Musical Theatre. It was written, directed and choreographed by Earl Weaver. For tickets call 407-823-1500.

Mark Snyder is a multi-media electronic composer who combines ambient music and computer technology with videos. He'll perform at the UCF Music Rehearsal Hall on Tuesday, March 17 at 8pm.

The final installment of our series looks at jazz legend Lou Donaldson and organist Akiko Tsuruga, who will perform Saturday night at the UCF Orlando Jazz Festival. Don't forget the clinics and talks by the jazz greats.

Our next installment on the UCF Orlando Jazz Festival looks at Friday's headliner, Kevin Mahogony. Also, The Orlando Chorale is in concert Saturday night at 1st United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando - the program features a premiere by Christopher Marshall, UCF's music department's Composer-in-Residence, and faculty member George Wereumchuk as soloist.

All this week we have previews of the 2nd Annual UCF Orlando Jazz Festival. Headliners include jazz vocalist Kevin Mahagony and jazz legend Lou Donaldson. This year you can purchase tickets online.

Part 3 of a series on the UCF Center for Emerging Media features a conversation with Jose Fernandez, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. We also talk about his appointment to a White House Commission looking at the feasibility of creating the National Museum of the American Latino.

Part 2 of a series on the UCF Center for Emerging Media looks at FIEA - the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, a graduate program in video game design. Executive Director Ben Noel talks about how the Center benefits Orlando.

Last fall, the University of Central Florida changed the name of its downtwon facility to the Center for Emerging Media. Provost and UCF Executive Vice President Terry Hickey talks about the plans for the center which houses programs that combine technology and the humanities. The center is at the heart of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's vision of a Creative Village that would be built on the site of the current Amway arena. For arts events, see Red Chair Project

Page 15 is a literary arts program that helps Orlando school children with reading and creative writing. The non-profit is always in need of volunteers and donations, especiallyof school supplies. Today's Calendar Events - UCF Guitar Series and UCF Wind Ensemble. For others see Red Chair Project.com

Professor Moshe Pelli talks about his latest book, The Shadow of Death - Letters in Flames. Pelli is the Director of UCF's Judaic Studies Program.Today's Calendar Events - see Red Chair Project

Orlando Opera presents La Cenerentola, Rossini's opera based on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. Stage director Garnett Bruce has updated the setting to 1930's Hollywood. This production features Leah Wool, who will be featured in the Met's Opera News Magazine next month - Click Here to get a sneak peek of that article.

Enter Colored Hats is a UCF Library exhibit on the history of African Americans in Sanford. On Feb. 18 & 19, two films will be shown as part of the exhibit - Zora: Jump at the Sun and Goldsboro: An American Story, produced by UCF students led by Tony Major, director of UCF's Zora Neale Hurston Institute for Documentary Studies and author/poet Valada Flewellyn. See the films tonight at 7pm or Thursday at 1:30, 3pm, 4:30 and 6pm; all screenings are free and at the Library; parking Thursday night available in lot B3.Today's Calendar Events - Mount Dora Music Festival

UCF Conservatory Theatre presents An Evening of Theatre by Christopher Durang - 3 one-act plays that poke fun at theatre. The show is directed by Lani Harris; performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through March 1; call the Box Office at 407-823-1500.Today's Calendar Events: UCF Music Department ConcertsFor others, see Red Chair Project.com

The UCF Symphony and Wind Ensemble welcomed Guy Woolfenden to Orlando this week. They will perform his music Friday night at 8pm at the Visual Arts Bldg; Saturday at 7pm at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo (preceded by a conversation with the composer at 6pm) and at the Hawthorne Clubhouse in Leesburg. All concerts are free. Today's Calendar Events: OlaFestPianist Yekwon Sunwoo at St. Margaret Mary in Winter Park

TypeBound is an exhibit at the UCF Art Gallery, featuring books as sculpture and typewriter poems. Co-curator Craig Saper gives us a tour.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World just opened at the History Center. The Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit features archival material and his beloved muppets. The exhibit is open free of charge Feb. 9, 10 and 14 from 10am-5pm as part of ArtsFest.Today's Calendar Events: MicheLee Puppets at ArtsFestA Chorus LineMichael Andrew at SCCDr. Steve Reich