A fabulous evening

Wright State University music, musical theatre and visual arts programs joined together for Wright State Arts Live! A Celebration of Fine and Performing Arts on Sept. 16, at the Levitt Pavilion Dayton.

The free concert featured a sampling of Wright State’s fine and performing arts while promoting the 2021–22 music, theatre and visual arts season offered in the Creative Arts Center.

“Our objective was to expose the city of Dayton, the downtown core, Raider Country to what we do outside of town at Wright State,” said Dan Zehringer, D.M.A., chair of the School of Music.

The concert presented a unique opportunity for the School of Music, the Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures, and the Department of Art and Art History to perform on the same stage.

“Having a giant audience in front of us was so nice,” said Michaela Copeland, a junior majoring in music education and a member of the Wright State Jazz Band.

The concert included performances by the Men’s Chorus and Fight Club, under the direction of James Tipps, Ph.D., professor of music; the Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Jerry Noble, director of percussion; and the Jazz Band and Faculty Quartet, conducted by David Diamond, D.M.A., adjunct instructor in trumpet.

Music theatre students presented selections from “Mamma Mia!,” which will be performed Oct. 29–Nov. 14 in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center.

The performances were accompanied by an on-stage slideshow of works by students and faculty in the Department of Art and Art History.

The College of Liberal Arts hopes the Sept. 16 concert is the beginning of a new tradition every fall at the Levitt Pavilion. “We plan to make this event a tradition,” said Zehringer.

Wright State Arts Live was sponsored by ArtsGala, which takes place April 9, 2022, in the Creative Arts Center.