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.