SOAR Past Festivals of the Arts - Student Showcases
Festival of the Arts and Research Days - Student Showcase 2026
Apr 24 - May 1
Experience a week of creativity, performance, and collaboration as 91ÉçÇø’s
Festival of the Arts brings campus to life with concerts, exhibitions, workshops,
and showcases across every discipline in the arts. From hands-on activities and faculty
presentations to student research and performances, the Festival highlights the imagination
and innovation that define the School of the Arts.
This year, the Festival of the Arts joins forces with 91ÉçÇø Admissions and Research Days to showcase the energy and talent of our students in Art & Design, Art History, Cinema, Creative Writing, Music, and Theatre for prospective students, the campus community, and the public. For the first time, the Festival will extend off campus as well, with events at Stellar Human (April 24/25 & May 1) and Phelps Mansion (May 1).
FULL SCHEDULE CAN BE VIEWED BELOW
Main Reception: Short research presentations from School of the Arts faculty, followed by performances in jazz, opera, and musical theatre, with live screen printing, refreshments, and projections onto the Library Tower.
Thursday, April 30 | Presentations begin 5:30 p.m. in FA 258
Grand Corridor and Memorial Courtyard, Fine Arts Building
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Friday, April 24
- Art & Design BFA Exhibition "Spaces Between"
On View: April 9–April 26
7 a.m.–11 p.m. | Grand Corridor
Free admission - Music: Senior Recital - Ava Portmore, soprano
1–2:30 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Music: Collegium Musicum
4–5:30 p.m. | FA 21
Free admission - Harpur Cinema: Tomonari Nishikawa Retrospective Program I
5:30–7 p.m. | LH 6
Free for students w/ID, $4 for all others - Creative Writing: Triple Cities Magazine Reading
5:30-6:30 p.m. | John Arthur Cafe (FA 207)
Free admission - Art & Design: Interactive Media Art Installation "Rendered Realities"
6–10 p.m. | Stellar Human, 91ÉçÇø
Free admission
This exhibition was made possible with support from the 91ÉçÇø Community Engagement Faculty Teaching and Research Grant, Road Map Community Engagement Grant awarded to the School of the Arts and the Department of Art and Design - Theatre: Chess
8 p.m. | Watters Theatre
Ticketed
Saturday, April 25
- Art & Design BFA Exhibition "Spaces Between"
On View: April 9–April 26
7 a.m.–11 p.m. | Grand Corridor
Free admission - Cinema: MFA Thesis show
Screenings at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. | FASST, 53 S. McKinley Ave, Endicott
Free admission - Music: Percussion Studio Recital
1–2:30pm | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Theatre: Chess
2 p.m. & 8 p.m. | Watters Theatre
Ticketed - Music: Masters Recital - Alejandra Toledo Toral, soprano
6–7:30 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Art & Design: Interactive Media Art Installation "Rendered Realities"
6–10 p.m. | Stellar Human, 91ÉçÇø
Free admission
This exhibition was made possible with support from the 91ÉçÇø Community Engagement Faculty Teaching and Research Grant, Road Map Community Engagement Grant awarded to the School of the Arts and the Department of Art and Design
Sunday, April 26
- Art & Design BFA Exhibition "Spaces Between"
On View: April 9–April 26
7 a.m.–11 p.m. | Grand Corridor
Free admission - SOAR Festival of the Arts & Admitted Students Day
10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Arts Building, Spine, and Classroom Wing
Performances in the Arts Building, screen printing on the Spine, and hands-on arts workshops.- Opera | 10:15–10:25 a.m. | Grand Corridor
- Jazz | 10:30–10:40 a.m. | Grand Corridor
- Voice / Art Song | 10:45–10:55 a.m. | Grand Corridor
- Musical Theatre | 11:00–11:10 a.m. | Grand Corridor
- Steel Drum Band | 11 a.m. | On the spine: Pegasus plinth, outside Library Tower North
- Screen Printing at Clubs & Orgs Fair |11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | On the spine
- Music: Flute Studio Recital
1–2:30pm | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Music: Choir Concert
Harpur Chorale, Treble Chorus, and Chamber Singers
3–4:30 p.m. | Chamber Hall
Ticketed - Harpur Cinema: Tomonari Nishikawa Retrospective Program II
5:30–7 p.m. | LH 6
Free for students w/ID, $4 for all others - Music: Chamber Music Recital
7:30–9 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission
Monday, April 27
- Music: Guitar Ensemble
7:30-9 p.m. | FA 21
Free admission
Tuesday, April 28
- BUAM: Cookies & Curators
5–7 p.m. | BUAM Lower Galleries
Free admission - Creative Writing: Songwriters and Their Familiars
6:30-7:30pm | John Arthur Cafe (FA 207)
Free admission
Wednesday, April 29
- Music: Vocal Pedagogy Student Presentations
4 p.m. | FA 27
Free admission - Creative Writing Literary Magazines Launch: Eleventh Hour Literary and Harpur Palate
6:30-7:30 p.m. | WSKG, Vestal (Free Parking on site)
Free admission
Thursday, April 30
- Music: Voice Recital
1:30 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Theatre: Immersive Lighting Exhibit
3:15 p.m. | FA 143 (Lighting Lab)
Come and enjoy a tranquil, meditative immersive light & sound "underwater" experience designed and developed by BU's Lighting Students! - BUAM: Art is for Every Body!
5-6 p.m. | BUAM Lower Galleries
Free admission - SOAR Faculty Research Presentations
5:30–7 p.m. | FA 258
Short, dynamic presentations from School of the Arts faculty
Free admission- Andrea Gyenge | Assistant Professor, Cinema
- Hippocrates Cheng | Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition, Music
- Katherine M. Reinhart | Assistant Professor; Director of Undergraduate Studies, Art History
- Sarah Gerk | Associate Professor of Musicology; Director of Undergraduate Studies, Music
- David Bisaha | Associate Professor; Curator of Theatre Collection, Theatre
- Katie Kirkland | Assistant Professor, Cinema
- Paul Schleuse | Associate Professor of Musicology; Department Chair
- Eli Horwatt | Lecturer, Cinema
- SOAR Arts Reception
7–8:30 p.m. | Grand Corridor & Memorial Courtyard
Performances in jazz, opera, and musical theatre, with live screen printing and refreshments
Free admission- Jazz | 7 p.m. | Grand Corridor
- Opera | 7:30 p.m. | Grand Corridor
- Musical Theater | 8 p.m. | Grand Corridor
- Screen Printing | 7–8:30 p.m. | Grand Corridor
- Art & Design Senior Exhibition Opening
On View: April 30 - May 16
7–9 p.m. | Rosefsky Gallery (FA 259) & Grand Corridor
Free admission - Theatre: In The Works Studio Show "Wanted: Dead or Alive"
7 p.m. | Studio B (FA 196)
Free admission - Music: Masters Recital: Salome Lomidze, violin
7:30–9 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - SOAR Library Tower Video and Live Feed Projections
8:30–9 p.m. | LT (outdoor event, weather permitting)
Video and Live Feed projections on the Library Tower, organized by the Cinema Department
Free admission
Friday, May 1
- Music: Senior Honors Recital - Charlie He, composer
1–2:30 p.m.| Casadesus Recital Hall
Free admission - Music: Momenta @ the Museum
5–6:30 p.m. | BUAM Main Gallery
Free admission - Art & Design: On by a Thread (a wearable sculpture show)
6-8 p.m. | Stellar Human, 91ÉçÇø
Free admission
This runway show was made possible with support from the 91ÉçÇø Road Map Community Engagement Grant awarded to the School of the Arts - Art of Science at First Friday
6–9 p.m. | Phelps Mansion, 91ÉçÇø
The School of the Arts will join the Art of Science exhibition with Opera and Musical Theater performances, and a Cinema projection onto the window of the Phelps Mansion, as well as a stereoscopic 3D performance
Free admission- Musical Theater | 6:30-6:40 p.m.
- Cinema | 7-7:10 p.m.
- Opera | 7:30-7:40 p.m.
- Cinema | 8-8:10 p.m.
- Theatre: In The Works Studio Show "Wanted: Dead or Alive"
7 p.m. | Studio B (FA 196)
Free admission - Theatre: Chess
8 p.m. | Watters Theatre
Ticketed
RESEARCH DAYS
Friday, April 24
- Earth Day Festival
11 a.m.-3 p.m. |Peace Quad
Saturday, April 25
- NATCHANGE EcoBlitz Biodiversity Event
11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Nature Preserve and Lot M
Sunday, April 26
- Earth Fest: Live
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Recreation Park, 91ÉçÇø
Monday, April 27
- Lunch and Learn: SUNY Research Connect
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | COE-Multipurpose Room
Tuesday, April 28
- Industry Day at 91ÉçÇø
9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Innovative Technologies Complex - Community-Engaged Learning and Research Showcase
4–6 p.m. | UU-Old Union Hall - Keynote featuring astronaut Jeanette Epps
7 p.m. | Chamber Hall
Wednesday, April 29
- Innovation to Impact (i2I) Symposium
11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | ES-2008 (Innovative Technologies Complex) - Spring Design Expo
1:30-2:30 p.m. | UU-Mandela Room and Old Union Hall - Art of Science exhibition opening reception
4-5:30 p.m. | Center of Excellence Atrium
Friday, May 1
- Campus-wide Student Poster Session 1
9-10:30 a.m. | UU-Mandela Room and Old Union Hall - Campus-wide Student Poster Session 2
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | UU-Mandela Room and Old Union Hall - Campus-wide Student Poster Session 3
2-3:30 p.m. | UU-Mandela Room and Old Union Hall
Festival of the Arts 2025!
Join us for the 2nd Festival of the Arts kickoff 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May
7 in the Grand Corridor and Memorial Courtyard of the Fine Arts Building, and the
91ÉçÇø Art Museum!
We will have performances and visual art from our departments, with a wide variety of live music, free food, screen-printing, theatre, animations on buildings, and much more, all in and around the grand corridor.
Friday, May 9 we return for a long-form experience, with works from our departments throughout the arts building! A great opportunity to explore the work our students have been creating and enjoy time together in the Arts Building.
- May 7th | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Grand Corridor, Memorial Courtyard, and BU Art Museum (FA
Building), unless otherwise noted
- Main Reception
Food and refreshments will be served - ​Art & Design Senior ​Exhibition Opening | Rosefsky ​Gallery ​
- Cinema Reels on TV
Headphones provided - Cinema Senior Thesis Show | FA 258
- Design and Technical ​Theatre​ Students Showcase ​| FA 243
- Hybrid ​Art ​Workshop & Art Co-op Workshop | BU Art Museum Lobby ​
Workshop supplies provided; throw darts for free Art co-op swag (shirts, stickers, and tote bags), first-come first-serve basis - Jazz Trio
- Latin Dance Performance
- Motion Visuals on the Tower | @ Library Tower
- Musical Theatre
- Opera
- Student ​Theatre Improv Workshop
- ​T-shirt and Tote S​creenprinting
Bring your own or use ours -> ​green t-shirts will be available in limited sizes and quantities
- Main Reception
- May 9th | 3-9 p.m. | FA building & LH building
- &²Ô²ú²õ±è;​Art & Design​ Open Studios
3-9​ p.m.​ | Grand Corridor, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor​s of FA Building - Art & Design​ Senior Exhibition​
3-9​ p.m.​ ​| Rosefsky ​Gallery ​ - Poetpalooza (formerly Poet's Cafe): Poetry Reading and Short Film Screening
3-5​ p.m. |​ Casadesus Hall - Pop-ins: poems / Shakespeare monologues / haikus / contemporary monologues
3-4​ p.m.​ ​| @ other events - Steel Drum Band
4-4:30​ p.m. | moved to Grand Corridor due to rain - Design and Technical ​Theatre​ Students Showcase ​
4:30-6 p.m. | FA 143 - Cinema​ Student Film Show​ & Poetry Reading
4:30-6:30​ p.m. | LH-6 - Music, Theatre, and Creative Writing Reception (Food and refreshments will be served)
4:30-5:30 p.m. | Watters lobby - Word of Mouth Excerpts ​(Music​ &​ C​reative Writing)
5:30-6:15 p.m. | Casadesus Hall - Art & Design​ Student Award Ceremony
6​-6:30 p.m. | ​Rosefsky ​Galler - Cinema Reception (Food and refreshments will be served)
6:30 p.m. | LH B89 - Musical Theatre​ Voice ​Recital​
6-8​ p​.m​. | Studio B​ (FA 196​)
- &²Ô²ú²õ±è;​Art & Design​ Open Studios
Inaugural Student Showcase 2024!
A Three-day Festival of the Arts | 5/1 - 5/3/2024
- May 1, 2024
- Hub New Music and the 91ÉçÇø Chamber Singers
World premiere of Unasked-for Ode by graduate students Hannah Carr-Murphy (Creative Writing) and Wen Wen Van Der Wende (Music). Featuring new works by 91ÉçÇø composers (Ensemble-in-Residence, sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation)
7:30–9 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall
- Hub New Music and the 91ÉçÇø Chamber Singers
- May 2, 2024
- The New Lyric
Featuring opera arias performed by student vocalists and new songs from the collaboration between the Department of Music and Creative Writing Program
1:20–2:30 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall - BU Steel Drum Band
4:30-5:30 p.m. | The Spine, near John Arthur Cafe - BUAM Intern Showcase
5-7 p.m. | Outside of the BU Art Museum Main Gallery - Harpur Studio Jazz Band
7:30–9 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall - Film Truck - Cinema Students Showcase
7:30-9 p.m. | Parked in front of the Library Tower - Cinema Student Projections
8:30–9:30 p.m. | @ Bartle Library Tower (outdoor event weather permiting)
- The New Lyric
- May 3, 2024
- Art History Student Presentations (refreshments served)
Noon–1 p.m. | BU Art Museum: Lower Galleries, Kenneth C. Lindsay Room - Film Truck - Cinema Students Showcase
Noon–3 p.m. | Parked in front of the Library Tower - Student Film Show
3 p.m. | LH-6 - Hub New Music
Performances with students from the Department of Music (Ensemble-in-Residence, sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation)
4 p.m. | Casadesus Recital Hall - Pedal Powered Theater
A collaboration between Engineering and Theatre with Nate Wheatley and Tommy Iafrate
4–5:30 p.m. | Studio A - Music & Theatre Reception (refreshments served)
4:30-7p.m. | Watters Theater Lobby - Theater Pit Orchestra class recital
4:30-5:30 p.m. | FA 111 - BUAM Artist-in-Residence Presentations
5–5:30 p.m. | BU Art Museum: Lower Galleries, Kenneth C. Lindsay Room - Main Reception (refreshments served*)
5–7 p.m. | Memorial Courtyard & Grand Corridor
*Co-sponsored by the Advancing 91ÉçÇø Team - Hands-on Screenprinting Demo
Print some new School of the Arts Graphics created by student Ellie Borzilleri onto your own T-shirt or Hoodie
5–7 p.m. | Memorial Courtyard - Art & Design BA Exhibition
5–7 p.m. | Rosefsky Gallery - Art& Design Student Awards Ceremony
6 p.m. | Rosefsky Gallery - Art & Design Open Studios
5–7 p.m. | Throughout 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Floors of FA building - Film Truck - Cinema Students Showcase
5–7 p.m. | Parked in front of the Library Tower - Cinema Screening
5–6 p.m. | John Arthur Café - Poet’s Cafe
A Creative Writing Poetry Reading, hosted by Director of Creative Writing, Tina Chang & Professor Joe Weil
6–8 p.m. | John Arthur Café - Dance Highlights from Spring 2024
Great dance highlights of the season from both students and faculty and across genres
6 - 6:45 p.m. | Watters Theater - Musical Theatre Voice Recital
Students from the BFA in Musical Theatre will be performing their final projects
6 p.m. onwards | Studio B
- Art History Student Presentations (refreshments served)