Lee Commander, director of Leon High School’s Marching Redcoats, was named the 2023 Arts Advocate Award winner by Florida State University’s Opening Nights program. The award, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, recognizes Commander’s efforts to provide arts education opportunities for students. At Commander’s request, nearly 500 Leon High School students in theater, guitar, band, dance […]

On April 18th, visual artist Dean Mitchell visited FSU’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship to put on an interactive lecture for the students. In addition to undergraduate-level students, over 40 middle and high school art students joined via Zoom. Mitchell began the lecture by going over his previous art shows and work, sharing his experiences […]

Jesmyn Ward is an acclaimed novelist and professor of English at Tulane University. Notable works of hers include Salvage the Bones, The Fire This Time (ed.), and Sing, Unburied, Sing. Her works center on Black communities and their struggles surrounding poverty racism addiction and incarceration. She is the first African American woman to be awarded […]

On Friday, March 8th students at the FSU School of Theatre were given the opportunity to observe and participate in a masterclass taught by Mandy Patinkin. Mandy Patinkin’s illustrious career precedes him. He is an American actor and singer known for his roles in theater, the concert stage, film, television, and as a recording artist. […]

On Thursday, March 21st, Damn Tall Buildings performed at James S. Rickards High School for more than 300 high school students, hosted by Opening Nights in Class. With a name that turns heads, Damn Tall Buildings is an eclectic, three-piece bluegrass group with members Max Capistran (guitarist/lead vocalist), Sasha Dubyk (bassist/lead vocalist), and Avery Ballotta […]