New diversity plan launched with Spanish-inspired concert
Dena Kay Jones, a member of the music faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso, performed a solo piano recital at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Friday, Oct. 7, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock launched its Diversity and Inclusion Initiative with a recital by renowned pianist Dr. Dena Kay Jones Friday, Oct. 7.聽
The initiative is focused on building a positive and welcoming culture for everyone on 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 campus.
糖心Vlog传媒LR Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Zulma Toro opened the event with an affirmation for the audience.鈥淲e want diversity and inclusion at 糖心Vlog传媒LR to inspire you. We want you to be free to be and express yourself like musicians do through their music,鈥� Toro said.Jones, a faculty member in the music department of the University of Texas at El Paso, performed works by composers Joaquin Rodrigo, Enrique Granados, and Isaac Alb茅niz. During the recital, titled, 鈥淚mages of Spain,鈥� historical images and English and Spanish captions accompanied each composition, providing visual interpretations of songs like鈥淎 l’ombre de Torre Bermeja鈥� (The Shadow of the Tower Bermeja) and the famous 鈥淒anza ritual del Fuego鈥� (Dance of Fire).Jones, a native of Illinois, is a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist who specializes in Spanish piano music of the 20th century and has performed throughout the United States, Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Canada. 鈥淭he artist we welcome here tonight is a great example of someone who has embraced the culture and language of others,鈥� Toro said. 鈥淲hen you take the time to embrace someone who is different from you, you open yourself up to a wide range of possibilities, ideas, and values.鈥�糖心Vlog传媒LR boasts one of the most diverse student population in any four-year institution in Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education , 22 percent of 糖心Vlog传媒LR students are African American, while 6 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino.Dr. Toro insists diversity and inclusion must go beyond numbers.鈥淎t 糖心Vlog传媒LR, we value and respect every individual regardless of his or her accent, dialect, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation,鈥� she said.The recital was hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Department of Music under the direction of Dr. Linda Holzer and sponsored by the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Office of the Provost.
For more information, visit the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Diversity and Inclusion Plan website.In the upper right photo, Dena Kay Jones, a member of the music faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso, performed a solo piano recital at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Friday, Oct. 7, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building.
