UNCSA is launching “Premier Stage at UNCSA,” a new weekly series on PBS NC beginning Thursday, Dec. 7. The series will give viewers an exclusive look at
the stunning performances by UNCSA students and faculty and go behind the scenes to
learn about their creative process.
The premiere episode, “‘Symphonie Fantastique’ with Guillermo Figueroa,” features
the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra performing Berlioz’s masterpiece conducted by Figueroa,
and subsequent episodes include work across several conservatories at UNCSA including
opera, dance, solo and chamber music works, and more. Viewers can experience the power
of a symphony orchestra, an opera set in outer space, groundbreaking dance choreography,
and the stirring sounds of solo piano and woodwinds.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the incredible talent of our students and faculty
at UNCSA to even more people throughout North Carolina and beyond with ‘Premier Stage’
on PBS NC,” said Chancellor Brian Cole. “The series offers an enriching visual narrative that transcends the stage and extends
an open invitation for audiences to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of our
artistic community. It not only showcases the remarkable performances by our gifted
students and esteemed faculty but also peels back the layers to reveal the intricate
creative processes that breathe life into each production.”
“As North Carolina’s public broadcasting network, we are committed to celebrating
the arts within our local communities and bringing live performances to our audience
across the state,” said James Mieczkowski, development producer at PBS North Carolina. “‘Premier Stage at UNCSA’ is a powerful
showcase of artistic expression and appreciation across multiple disciplines and we
are thrilled to bring these performances to the screen.”
Viewers will be able to watch the first and subsequent episodes weekly on PBS NC on Thursdays, starting Dec. 7, at 10 p.m. then again Friday mornings at 4 a.m. Episodes
will also be available weekly on the North Carolina Channel on Mondays, starting Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. and Tuesdays at 1 and 9 a.m. The show will
be available to stream via the PBS app the day of their episode premiere starting at 6 a.m.
“Premier Stage at UNCSA” will include:
“‘Symphonie Fantastique’ with Guillermo Figueroa” / Photo: Wayne Reich
- Episode One, “‘Symphonie Fantastique’ with Guillermo Figueroa,” airs on Dec. 7 and features acclaimed conductor Guillermo Figueroa as he leads the
UNCSA Symphony Orchestra in a complete performance of Hector Berlioz’s masterpiece,
“Symphonie Fantastique,” which tells a musical story of an unrequited love affair
and features giant bells loaned to UNCSA by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Fletcher Opera’s “Orlando Paladino” / Photo: Allison Lee Isley
- Episode Two, “Opera in Space,” airs on Dec. 14 and features the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at UNCSA performing Joseph Haydn’s opera “Orlando Paladino” with a twist, setting
the story of love and madness in outer space and featuring a visit to the Gates of
Hell, as imagined and brought to life by students in the School of Design and Production. Viewers will enjoy stunning voices and innovative design while gaining insight into
the process of performing, directing and adapting a historically significant work.
UNCSA’s “The Next Stop Is…” by choreographer Tom Gold / Photo: Peter Mueller
- Episode Three, “Today’s Voices in Dance,” airs on Dec. 21 and features UNCSA dancers performing contemporary and ballet works
including “The Next Stop Is…” by choreographer Tom Gold and “Shostakovich Suite” by
School of Dance Dean Endalyn T. Outlaw. The episode takes viewers behind the scenes of the rehearsal process for these works,
while exploring how today’s dancers and choreographers are evolving the art form.
“Travelogue” by Merce Cunningham / Photo: Peter Mueller
- Episode Four, “Dancing Through Time,” airs on Dec. 28 and explores the connection between past and present in contemporary dance with Merce
Cunningham’s “Travelogue,” which was last performed in 1979 before its performances at UNCSA in April 2023, presented in collaboration with the Merce Cunningham Trust and in
agreement with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and John Cage Trust. The piece is
reconstructed by UNCSA with the original choreography and featuring music by John
Cage and design by Robert Rauschenberg. “Travelogue” is juxtaposed with the premiere
of School of Dance Associate Dean Brenda Daniels’ “The Bloom of Youth.”
Still from “The Art of Piano”
- Episode Five, “The Art of Piano,” airs on Jan. 4, 2024, and follows three piano students and faculty member Dmitri Vorobiev as they dive into learning and rehearsing works that challenge and move them. Audiences
will get an inside look at their performances achieved through the mentorship unique
to conservatory training.
Still from “Women Writing for Woodwinds”
- Episode Six, “Women Writing for Woodwinds,” airs Jan. 11, 2024. UNCSA woodwind faculty members spotlight the work of female composers
through compelling performances and commentary. This episode features impactful pieces
for woodwind chamber groups by Isabella Leonarda, Valerie Coleman and Alyssa Morris.
The series was executive produced by Claire Machamer and produced by School of Filmmaking alumni Connor Ryan and Adam Witmer, who also served as the director of photography. Interim Vice Chancellor for Strategic
Communications Katherine Johnson, the director of media relations and communications at UNCSA, was the associate producer.
Post-production services were provided by HansenHouse Media, a post-production company
founded by Filmmaking alumnus Jack Hansen.
About PBS North Carolina
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public
media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience
on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment
and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social
and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina
Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational
events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North
Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To
learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About UNCSA
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is a top-ranked performing
arts conservatory and America’s first state-supported arts school. The nation’s only
public university of five arts conservatories on one campus, UNCSA trains emerging
artists for careers in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, and music
at the undergraduate, graduate and high school levels, with free high school tuition
for in-state residents. UNCSA provides industry-leading training in an inclusive environment
where students are encouraged to leverage the arts as a mechanism for change. Interdisciplinary
opportunities arising from the unique arts ecosystem on campus at UNCSA prepare artists
to enter an evolving arts industry. Established by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963,
the School of the Arts opened in Winston-Salem (“The City of Arts and Innovation”)
in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina System when it was formed
in 1972. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu.
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