The Pursuit of the Extraordinary

Professor Christopher Dobrian’s legacy in music and innovation at UC Irvine "My interest in programming was not just about creating new sounds but exploring the process of composing itself,” Dobrian shared. “Pursuing artificial creative intelligence assumes we understand real intelligence....

A Life of Song

Exploring Professor Darryl Taylor's Influence on African American Music: A Q&A session In July, Professor Darryl Taylor from the Department of Music at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts will receive an honor from the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. (NANM). Commemorating its...

UCI Arts names 2024 Lauds and Laurels recipient

UC Irvine Alumni Association to Honor Darcy Prevost M.F.A. ’09 with Distinguished Alumni Award Recognizing Darcy Prevost’s, M.F.A. ’09, exceptional contributions to the field of set and production design for theatre, film and television, the UC Irvine Alumni Association names Prevost the 2024...

Joel Veenstra to be the next Chair in Drama

Cultivating inclusivity, sustainability and well-being in theatre education The UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts (CTSA) has named Professor of Teaching Joel Veenstra as the next chair of the Department of Drama. He currently serves as the department’s vice chair of production and co-...

Marching to New Heights

UCI alumna Jenn Colella M.F.A. ’02 earns Drama League nomination for Suffs By Chiara Guastella Jenn Colella (M.F.A./Acting ’02), is captivating audiences in the Broadway hit Suffs. The Tony-nominated musical, produced by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, brings to life the inspiring...

The Sound of Success

A sound design company founded by UCI alumni is making waves in themed entertainment By Christine Byrd Even if you’ve never heard of Ears Up Sound Design, their work is heard by millions around the globe — from the music that sets the tone at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to the soundscape of...

Embracing Artistic Risks

Mike Davis, who runs the West Hollywood art gallery of Hauser & Wirth, says UCI connections are critical to his success By Greg Hardesty Mike Davis considers himself a risk taker. “And I owe that to my father,” says Davis, a studio art major (B.A. ’08) and now a senior director at the...

In Memoriam of Classical Guitarist Alexander Dunn

Alexander Dunn Internationally regarded guitarist and educator Alexander Dunn Ph.D., passed away on May 8, 2024. Dunn was a valued member of the UC Irvine Department of Music, an instructor of guitar and led the guitar ensemble since 2021.  “I knew Alex not only as a skilled musician but...

The Creative Engine Behind E-SONIC

UC Irvine engineering and music students invent instruments in a competition that merges arts and technology The Creophone, Wube Tubes, and Saxatars were just a few of the extraordinary creations showcased by Samueli School of Engineering students who tackled a unique challenge: invent a new...

Empowering Educational Excellence

Farmers & Merchants Bank Foundation Supports Claire Trevor School of the Arts with a $10,000 Grant The University of California, Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts (CTSA) is pleased to announce a generous $10,000 grant from the Farmers & Merchants Bank Foundation (FBMF). This...

Behind the Curtain: The Making of UCI's The Prom

An inside look at the collaboration, creativity and themes of love and acceptance in the drama department’s closing show Co-directed by Don Hill and Daniel Keeling, The Prom addresses LGBTQ+ themes and societal issues, highlighting the importance of love and acceptance amidst challenges. Through...

UC Irvine Faculty Collaborate for Innovative Interdisciplinary Event: “Club Lab Freestyle: Molecules in Motion”

This feature has been edited for current information as of May 16, 2024. Have you ever seen chemists moving like chemical reactions?                           ...

That’s Show Biz

Don Hill makes his final curtain call after 20 years with CTSA By Christine Byrd Theater is a risky business. No one knows that better than veteran stage manager and producer Don Hill, who left the Nebraska cornfields to ultimately work with legends like Carol Burnett and Patti Lupone....

The Gothic Imagination

Exploring Dr. Joe Davies’s new book and masterclass on Franz Schubert On Friday, April 12, 2024, the Department of Music hosted a masterclass and launch of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow Dr. Joe Davies’s book, The Gothic Imagination in the Music of Franz Schubert. The book offers a major...

CTSA Awards the 2023-24 Research & Innovation Grants

The Research and Innovation Advisory Committee (RI Committee), composed of esteemed faculty members representing each department within the Claire Trevor School of the Arts (CTSA), rigorously evaluated an influx of 33 research proposals requesting a total of $152,000 for the 2023-2024 academic...

Arts Advocates: Reza Jahangiri

RISK TAKER Q&A with Reza Jahangiri Reza Jahangiri ’00 is the founder of American Advisors Group, a pioneer in the reverse mortgage industry. A lifelong music lover, he serves on the Dean’s Arts Board in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts as well as the board of the Pacific Symphony. He...

Professor Kevin Appel Named Fellow in Inaugural Clyfford Still Museum Institute Program

Honoring a Legacy of Innovation in Painting and Architecture The Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine is pleased to share that Professor Kevin Appel, chair of the Department of Art and executive director of University Art Galleries, has been selected as a fellow in the inaugural cohort...

The Page is a Stage

Alumna Julia Cost publishes an illustrated children’s book that drew upon her UCI dance education Julia Cost (M.F.A. in Dance, '11) said there are parallels between her UCI studies and the picture book she just published, The Girl and the Boat. “The book is wordless,” said Cost, raised and...