Opening Nights at Florida State University hosted Leon County middle school students for a Sons of Mystro performance on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 am in FSU’s Opperman Music Hall. Students from Griffin Middle School, Fairview Middle School and Fort Braden School as well as Arts magnet students from Augusta Raa Middle School had the […]

This Opening Nights in Class educational video features musician Royce Lovett conversing with three students about challenges they face in life and how books can inspire discussion, unique ideas and help create new music. Recorded at WFSU in Tallahassee, Florida, this video spotlights Royce’s talent and passion for music, reading and inspiring future generations of […]

Opening Nights at Florida State University has selected Sally Ash, a visual arts teacher at Woodville School, as its 2021 Arts Advocate Award recipient. This award recognizes a professional educator who demonstrates exemplary work with the arts by leveraging local arts resources. “Ms. Ash is most deserving of the 2021 Arts Advocate Award,” said Michael […]

Michael Rosato, the 2021 LeMoyne Arts Chain of Parks artist and muralist, met with FSU students from the College of Entrepreneurship in downtown Tallahassee for a lecture on the entrepreneurial side of being an artist. During this lecture and discussion, Rosato hosted a creative conversation that explores the modern artist’s journey through an ever-evolving industry. […]

100 members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend were able to attend the Florida State University PRISM concert for free due to a grant from the Walmart Foundation. PRISM is part of FSU’s Opening Nights series and features students from FSU’s College of Music and their Chamber Winds, Symphonic Band, jazz […]

A global pandemic has not hampered Opening Nights at Florida State University’s ability to provide students impactful educational programs. The university-based performing arts presenter adjusted by offering its Opening Nights in Class programming virtually rather than in person. “The pandemic has required us to make adjustments to our in-class educational offerings,” said Michael Blachly, Opening […]

Sir James Galway hosted a master class for the College of Music’s Wind Seminar students as part of the Louis Ireland Humphrey Excellence Fund. Sir Galway was bold and direct in his feedback while keeping the lesson both light-hearted and fun. He was blown away by the talent that the students possessed, commenting that it […]

Larry Mitchell joined Opening Nights and Arts4All Florida in collaboration with Florida State University’s Autism Institute, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of Choice and Leon County Schools to present The Larry Mitchell Interchange: Music for All. Mitchell led a musical workshop for students that comprised an inclusive learning body of students of all […]

Students from Florida State University Schools joined Black Violin during their soundcheck where the famous Florida duo talked to students about the importance of thinking outside the box and breaking stereotypes. Later that evening, the students joined Black Violin on stage and performed with them during the encore. Black Violin and FSUS students on stage […]

Florida State University Opera students participated in an audition-style master class focused on singing technique with Executive Director of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, David Wannen, and Claire Leyden, who plays Mabel in the players’ production of The Pirates of Penzance. FSU Opera Students pose with Davis and Claire