Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Art Beat, by Texas Tech College of Visual & Performing Arts

Eric Allen is our guest this week letting us know all the ins and outs of IGNITE! As the Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands, Eric is the director for the School of Music's annual IGNITE! concert, which is an unforgettable fast-paced concert experience, giving the audience a rare chance to hear all of the school's many ensembles in one place. 

Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance Melissa Brading takes us through the ins and out of Fall Dance Festival, which takes place November 12-16 in the Black Box Theatre. Brading also lets us in on her trip to CENART in Mexico, where she spent three days with students who don't verbally speak her language, but through the shared practice of dance, physically understood each other.

As TCVPA’s partnership with CENART in Mexico City continues, the School of Music’s Jazz Ensembles are heading to Mexico for a jazz concert and workshops led by both Texas Tech students and faculty. Stephen Jones, Director of Jazz Studies at Texas Tech, is here to share more about the endeavor, including how you can catch a preview of their upcoming international concert on November 12.

To be, or not to be, Bill Gelber is here to talk about the last play he'll be directing before welcoming in retirement next spring. Hamlet will take the stage Oct 30-Nov 9 and you'll get all the details in this episode, plus learn a few things you might now know about the Shakespearean tragedy.

Joe Arredondo, Landmark Arts Director for the School of Art at Texas Tech tells us about the current exhibits this semester at each of their galleries, including those you can visit during the First Friday Art Trails. You'll also hear about the exciting partnership with CENART in Mexico City that will be hosting one of our exhibits starting in November 2025.

The 3D Annex on the Texas Tech campus comes to life as Von Venhuizen, associate professor of ceramics,  gives us some insight into the 26,000 sq ft space that houses Jewelry, Ceramics, and Sculpture concentrations through the School of Art. 

Who is Lizzie Borden? Find out the juicy details from this week's guest, Lydia Wagner! Assistant Professor of Practice for Musical Theatre & Performance at Texas Tech, Lydia is the director of the upcoming School of Theatre & Dance production, Lizzie.

Meet Kevin Wass, professor of tuba and euphonium, at the Texas Tech School of Music. Hear about the annual tuba-euphonium concert called Octubafest and Lubbock's very own Raider Polka band!

Special guest Dr. Ron Hendrick, Provost of Texas Tech University, joins us on The Art Beat to talk about his personal experiences with music, art, and theatre, as well as how the arts fit into an R1 university. From scholarship and creative activity to being active in the local community, learn about how the arts are present for all of it.  

Texas Tech School of Theatre & Dance Professor, Mallory Prucha, talks about the art of disaster, that is, Disaster Day. Mallory brings aspects of theatre and art into live action disaster reenactments, benefiting not only college theatre students, but the likes of healthcare professionals, first responders, and more

Dr. Elizabeth Chappell from the Texas Tech School of Music introduces us to the long-standing String Project. Founded in 2001, the Texas Tech String Project provides low cost beginning string instruction to children and adults in the Lubbock area, along with intensive, guided teaching experience to undergraduate and graduate music students who plan to make string education a part of their career.

Meet the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts new director for the School of Art, Monika Meler. She comes with a wealth of arts related knowledge and is ready to make great things happen here in the Lubbock arts community and beyond.

Talking with TCVPA's Director of Grants and Innovation, Geneva Aragon-Allen. She gets into the nitty gritty of all things grants; helping the college's faculty to do all the things needed to get funding, recognition, and exposure

Alumni for the Talkington College of Visual & Performance Arts is growing tremendously, and Kristi Mangiapane is leading the way to keeping alumni engaged and informed. As lead administrator for outreach and academic awards, alumni relations is just one of Kristi's many job duties, but it's also close to her heart.   Listen in to learn about how the college is bringing their alumni together and in touch with current students.

Get all the Goin' Band from Raiderland details from Kelly Gordon, who is the chair of the Goin' Band Centennial celebration! You won't want to miss Goin' Band Alumni Day this year as almost 1500 band members take center field during halftime on August 30th. They've come a long way since their 21 band member start 1925 but they are still goin' places!

TCVPA's Student Success Specialist, Jessica Murph, speaks with us this week about her role in supporting students' success both in and out of the classroom. Complementary to the academic advisors, Jessica is ready to listen and help work through all the stresses of college life, helping connect students in need to the right resources available to them through Texas Tech University.

Associate Dean for Faculty, Research, Creativity, & Outreach, Dr. Ivy Walz, focuses mainly on what falls into the outreach portion of her title as the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts works to grow their outreach within the community and beyond every year. From singing opera to middle school students, introducing theatre to retirement homes, bringing art festivals to local neighborhoods, and getting college students involved in camps, outreach is integrated into all areas of TCVPA.

Dr. Christopher J. Smith tells us all about the Vernacular Music Center at Texas Tech University, which he founded back in 2020. The VMC engages with folk and traditional music and dance from around the world, with a dedication to the study of the "vernacular" processes by which music and dance can be taught and passed on as a community-building activity.

The dance program at Texas Tech provides its students with a rigorous yet accessible curriculum, opportunities for engagement, and a supportive, student-centered learning environment. Head of Dance, Kyla Olson shares how the dance program prepares students to become independent creative artists by taking risks, expanding skills, and thinking critically through an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach.

The UIL Theatre & Technical Camp takes place July 9-20 and this year will be one of the biggest ever. Karen Ray, Texas Tech's UIL Theatre Specialist, runs the camp and comes with a plethora of knowledge, bringing top High School theatre directors from across Texas to give campers the best possible experience.  

Diving deeper into the 91st annual Texas Tech University School of Music Band and Orchestra Camp, Professor Annie Chalex-Boyle and camp manager Hannah Porter, talk about the orchestra side of things, fun activities, and concerts the public can attend on July 4th and 5th.

Learn all about Band and Orchestra Camp with David Biel! This year’s camp runs June 29th through July 5th, with registration closing June 16th, so get signed up today!! High School and Middle School age students are welcome and can either stay off campus or in the Texas Tech dorms. This exciting camp is equal parts music and fun!

 

Join Melinda Corwin and Brenna Price as we discuss TCVPA's collaboration with the TTUHSC's Stroke & Aphasia Recovery (STAR) Summer Arts Program. The STAR Program strives to maximize communication abilities and life participation for persons and their families who are affected by aphasia and other communication challenges. The Summer Arts Program takes place within the Texas Tech Theatre & Dance building over a two-week period.

Tom and Amy Laney join host Peter Martens to discuss the upcoming season of Moonlight Musicals. Both graduates of Texas Tech's College of Visual & Performing Arts, Tom and Amy met through Moonlight Musicals and had careers that kept leading them back to the amphitheater. They credit Texas Tech and their summer activities to getting them where they are today, embarking on Moonlight Musicals 20th anniversary season! 

Rob Rodgers, long time contributor to the Texas Tech All-State Choir Camp joins Peter Martens to bring you all the ins and outs of this five-day camp, which focuses on preparing students for both the TMEA Small School and Large School All-State Choir auditions. The camp includes exciting evening activities and concludes with a final concert on Saturday, June 14th, for family members and the local community!

Professor Dane Webster, along with two Texas Tech University School of Art students, Piper Weekly and Alex Morales, discuss the School of Art Pre-College Immersion Program, which offers high school students an immersive college experience in the fine arts. During this weeklong program, students will experience firsthand what it means to be a Red Raider studying the Fine Arts. Various Fine Art workshops will offer students opportunities to learn new artmaking techniques through multiple mediums taught by talented TTU artists.

Peter Martens talks with School of Theatre & Dance Director Mark Charney about two established summer programs, the WildWind Performance Lab and the Marfa Intensive. WildWind immerses students in a non-traditional and process-oriented developmental laboratory, experimenting with all facets of the theatrical process, while concentrating on networking, play development, and contemporary design and performance methodologies. Marfa Intensives take students and guest artists to Marfa, Texas for an unforgettable 10-day devised theatre intensive, immersing themselves in the community while engaging with the world-renowned art installations to create a performance inspired by their experience.