PBS NC to air “Premier Stage at UNCSA”
Dear UNCSA Community,
I am very pleased to announce the launch of “Premier Stage at UNCSA,” a new six-episode weekly series airing on PBS NC beginning Thursday, Dec. 7. The series will offer viewers an exclusive look at stunning
performances by talented UNCSA students and esteemed faculty behind the scenes to
explore their creative processes.
We are immensely grateful to the A.J. Fletcher Foundation for the generous grant that made the production of “Premier Stage at UNCSA” possible.
In addition to bringing UNCSA to people throughout North Carolina and beyond, 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 remarkable performances but also unveils
the intricate creative processes that breathe life into each production.
The premiere episode, “‘Symphonie Fantastique’ with Guillermo Figueroa,” features
the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra performing Hector Berlioz’s masterpiece, conducted by
Figueroa. Subsequent episodes include:
- Episode Two, “Opera in Space,” airs on Dec. 14 and features the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute performing Joseph Haydn’s opera “Orlando Paladino,” with a set by students in the School of Design and Production.
- 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.
- Episode Four, “Dancing Through Time,” airs on Dec. 28 and features contemporary dance icon Merce Cunningham's “Travelogue,” which was last performed in 1979 before its performances at UNCSA in April 2023, juxtaposed with the premiere of Associate Dean Brenda Daniels’ “The Bloom of Youth.”
- Episode Five, “The Art of Piano,” airs on Jan. 4, 2024, and follows three School of Music piano students and faculty member Dmitri Vorobiev as they dive into learning and rehearsing works that challenge and move them.
- Episode Six, “Women Writing for Woodwinds,” airs Jan. 11, 2024, and leverages UNCSA woodwind faculty members to spotlight the work of female composers Isabella Leonarda, Valerie Coleman and Alyssa Morris through compelling performances and commentary.
You can watch the episodes weekly on PBS NC on Thursdays, beginning Dec. 7, at 10 p.m. and again on Friday mornings at 4 a.m.
Episodes will also be available weekly on the North Carolina Channel on Mondays, beginning Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. and Tuesdays at 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. The series
will also be available for streaming on demand via the PBS app with each episode available starting at 6 a.m. on the day of its premiere.
James Mieczkowski, development producer at PBS North Carolina, said: “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. ‘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.”
I am grateful to PBS NC for their partnership in bringing this series to air, and
to the deans, faculty, staff and students who took so much time out of their busy
schedules to help in the development of this series, as well as to the Strategic Communications
team and particularly Adam Witmer, a UNCSA School of Filmmaking alumnus who served
as producer and director of photography, for their contributions to this significant
undertaking.
I hope you enjoy the series, and make sure to tell your family, friends and neighbors
about it!
Sincerely,
Brian Cole
Chancellor
Nov. 30, 2023