- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Holzer Awarded Honorific Title of University Professor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:05:26 +0000

Dr. Linda Holzer, a professor of music at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock since 1995, has been promoted to university professor, an honorific title for outstanding professors. Holzer is only the second ��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor who has received the title of university professor. She joins Dr. David Briscoe, university professor of sociology, who was the first ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member to earn this honorific promotion in 2021. This is a special honor conferred only upon active faculty in recognition of an extended period of exemplary service in a spirit of collegiality to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as well as a combination of service in their profession and to the public through their professional activities. “As I’m celebrating the end of my 28th year on faculty at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I’m very moved to receive this honor,” Holzer said. “I feel fortunate to have a job where my focus is on musical meaning and creativity.” In order to achieve the distinction, faculty members must have been a full professor for 10 years and have gained wide recognition at the national or international level for their sustained excellence in service, teaching, research, or creative activity relevant to their respective disciplines and academic roles. Holzer has become well known for her advocacy on behalf of Arkansas composers Florence Price and William Grant Still. Price was the subject of Holzer’s dissertation at Florida State University. In 2018, Holzer’s work helped Price to be honored with the Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow Award. This year Holzer honored Price’s memory in a celebration at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center on April 9, which was declared Florence Price Day. She has also been a featured speaker on the Clinton School of Public Service Speaker Series in November 2019, lecturing about Price and Still in advance of historic concerts by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. On stage, highlights from her concert performances include an October 2021 concert at the Clinton Presidential Library, performing Price’s Piano Quintet in A Minor with members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra on the prestigious River Rhapsodies Series, and performing as a soloist abroad in Austria and Slovenia under the auspices of the State Department in May 2018, giving recitals of music by American women composers.

Dr. Linda Holzer attends the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame celebration in 2018.��

While she specializes in piano performance, Holzer is grateful to have had the opportunity to teach a broad variety of classes over the years. One of her more unique classes is Exercises in Creative Thinking, an interdisciplinary learning experience for students from all majors. “We explore creative thinking skills and techniques that anyone can acquire to add more creativity, innovation, and resourcefulness to their life and work,” Holzer said. “I enjoy that course especially because many students may not self-identify as creative. This class is designed to awaken creative skills in anyone. By the end of the semester, it’s not unusual for students to have pleasantly surprised themselves by what they can do.” She has served the university in a variety of roles, including as team leader for Teaching with Technology in the former College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS), and most recently as secretary for the college assembly for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. Holzer’s next performance will be a Sept. 23 recital at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. This will include selections by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov and Syrian American composer Kareem Roustom as well as the Arkansas premiere of Gwyneth Walker’s piece “Riddle Variation.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Jazz Ensemble to host spring concert April 18

John Hill — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:38:17 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Jazz Ensemble will hold its spring jazz vocalist feature concert April 18. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. The Jazz Ensemble, led by Dr. Michael Underwood, a principal trombonist with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, will perform four songs featuring students from the vocal department. The concert will include Hannah Blacklaw singing “Witchcraft” by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh; Brent Foster singing “The Look of Love” by Burt Bacharach; Mya Little singing “Things Are Looking Up” by George Gershwin; and Kyndal Collins singing “Come Rain or Come Shine” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. “We will also feature Charles Mingus’s ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,’ and end the concert with the Tower of Power classic, ‘Soul Vaccination,’ an apt song title for our times!” Underwood said. For more information, please contact the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Music at 501-569-3294.

Holzer to Discuss Arkansas Roots of Famous Composer Florence Price

John Hill — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 13:20:26 +0000

Linda Holzer, a professor of music at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will be featured in a panel at an upcoming conference celebrating the life of famed pioneering Arkansas composer Florence Price. The International Florence Price Festival, also known as , is a festival of music dedicated to Price’s legacy. The University of Maryland at College Park is hosting the virtual conference Aug. 20-23. Price is a Little Rock native who became the first African-American woman composer to have a symphonic composition performed by a major American orchestra, and was one of the first African-American classical composers to gain international attention. After her first symphony received its world premiere by the Chicago Symphony, she was commissioned by Britain’s famed Sir John Barbirolli for an orchestral work.�� Holzer will serve as moderator for the Aug. 22 panel discussion, “Roots and Wings: The Role of Florence Price’s Arkansas Heritage.” The panelists will discuss the nurturing inspirational forces in Little Rock that shaped Florence Price’s childhood education, and laid the groundwork for her successes in Boston and Chicago, becoming the foundation for her professional career. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to tell the story of how the culture, values, and vision of the African American community in Little Rock were a grand force that propelled its children forward, and equipped Florence Price for later successes,” Holzer explained. “The dynamic environment, at the turn of the 20th century this city was known as the ‘Negro Paradise,’ offering experiences during her childhood that developed her confidence and shined a light on possibilities for her future. I’m honored to be joined by insightful colleagues for the panel discussion.” The panelists include Dr. Sybil Hampton, retired president of Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Stephen Hayes of Philander Smith College, Dr. Earnest Lamb of Minnesota State University at Moorhead, and Benji de la Piedra, director of the Herbert Denton Community History Project for the Central Arkansas Library System.�� A child prodigy in piano, Price later attended the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston. Following graduation, she worked as a music teacher in Arkansas for four years and then worked as the chair of the music department at Atlanta’s Clark University, a historically black university. After returning to Little Rock in 1912, Price was active as a teacher, organist, composer, and founder of the Little Rock Club of Musicians. “At the time of her death in 1953, she had composed more than 300 works,” Holzer said. “Her art songs were performed by Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, and others, and eventually Price was commissioned by the British conductor Sir John Barbirolli, who premiered her Suite for Strings in Manchester, United Kingdom. A tireless achiever, Price composed a wealth of beautiful solo piano music, chamber music, symphonic works, and splendid art songs.” The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will honor Price with performances this season, beginning with the first River Rhapsodies chamber music concert on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Clinton Presidential Library. The concert will include a performance of Price’s Piano Quintet in A minor featuring Holzer, who wrote a about the event. Holzer will be joined by Sandra McDonald, violin, Leanne Day-Simpson, violin, Katherine Reynolds, viola, and Rafael León, cello.�� Holzer completed her dissertation on the solo piano music of Florence Price, and in recent years that she has brought that research full circle through many talks and recitals on Price’s life, history, and music.�� She published an article, “This Is What Diversity Sounds Like,” in a 2018 issue of “Clavier Companion.”�� Price applied for and was denied entry to the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association sometime between 1917 and 1927 because of her race. Holzer was instrumental in making sure Price was recognized by the Music Teachers National Association in 2018 as a Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow. In the upper photo, Dr. Linda Holzer, middle, is joined by Sandra McDonald, Leanne Day-Simpson, Rafael León, and Katherine Reynolds. They will perform Price’s Piano Quintet in A minor on Oct. 12.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock concert to honor Arkansas musical legends

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 13:29:32 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a special concert Sunday, Oct. 20, to honor two famous Arkansas musicians: Florence Price and William Grant Still. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Fine Arts Building.�� Dr. Linda Holzer, coordinator of classical piano studies at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will serve as featured pianist. An active soloist and chamber musician, Holzer has performed in concert in 30 states and abroad in Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, and mainland China.�� Holzer will be joined by four members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, including Sandra McDonald and Leanne Day-Simpson, violin; Katherine Reynolds, viola; and Rafael León, cello.�� The program celebrates the lives and legacy of distinguished composers Price and�� Still, who grew up together in Little Rock, and went on to achieve international reputations for their artistry.�� The concert features the tender harmonies of “Summerland,” and the piano suite “In the Land ‘o Cotton,” as well as the dramatically powerful “Fantasie Negre.” The program will also include a preview of Price’s masterful Piano Quintet in A Minor.�� Price is a Little Rock native who became the first African-American woman composer to have a symphonic composition performed by a major American orchestra and one of the first African-American classical composers to gain international attention.�� Still, born in Mississippi, moved in infancy to Little Rock with his mother after his father’s tragic death from typhoid. He graduated as valedictorian of M.W. Gibbs High School in 1911. During his successful musical career, Still earned two Guggenheim Fellowships and honorary doctorates from Oberlin College and Pepperdine University.�� The concert will introduce listeners to the composers in preparation for historic concerts by the , when, for the first time, symphonic works by Price and Still will be featured on a Masterworks concert.�� For more information, contact Linda Holzer at 501-569-8436 or lrholzer@ualr.edu.

Free, discounted tickets available to Elgar’s Enigma

Janea Snyder — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 12:43:39 +0000

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will perform “” with guest conductor Sara Ioannides on Nov. 10-11 at Robinson Center, and University of Arkansas Little Rock students and employees can get discounted tickets. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, in partnership with the, provides a free ticket to all ��Vlog��ý Little Rock freshmen students to any 2018–2019 regular ASO season concert. The partnership is part of both the university’s and orchestra’s mission to educate, enrich, inspire, and advance the state of Arkansas. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock sophomores, juniors, seniors, faculty and staff can purchase ASO ticket for $10 each. The discount applies to all Masterworks, Pops Live!, River Rhapsodies, and Intimate Neighborhood Concerts events. Showtimes for Elgar’s Enigma are as follows:

Saturday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11, at 3 p.m.

Ioannides, now in her fifth season as music director of Symphony Tacoma, has gained recognition as one of the most engaging and respected conductors of her generation. She was music director with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra from 2005-17 and the El Paso Symphony between 2005-11. For more information about the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra call 501-666-1761 or visit ASO

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra partner to introduce a new generation of students to the arts

Janea Snyder — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:29:47 +0000

The University of Arkansas Little Rock, in partnership with the will provide a free ticket to all ��Vlog��ý Little Rock freshmen students to any 2018–2019 regular ASO season concert. The partnership is part of both the university’s and orchestra’s mission to educate, enrich, inspire and advance the state of Arkansas. “It is truly an honor to partner with the University of Arkansas Little Rock to introduce a new generation of students and future leaders to the arts in our great state,” said Arkansas Symphony Orchestra CEO Christina Littlejohn. “We look forward to sharing the power of music with these new ��Vlog��ý Little Rock freshmen as well as our entire community.” As part of the partnership, all ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to purchase any regular ASO season ticket by phone or online at a significantly discounted rate of $10 per ticket. This applies to all Masterworks, Pops Live!, River Rhapsodies and Intimate Neighborhood Concerts events. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson praised the ASO for its generous investment in university students. “Little Rock is a cultural hub with abundant arts offerings that enrich the lives of our students,” he said. “This partnership with ASO creates access and opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff to enjoy the universal beauty and the transformative power of music. We are fortunate that the Arkansas Symphony, a regional treasure, is located in our hometown.” The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann, performs more than 60 concerts each season, including Masterworks and Pops Concerts. Scheduled concerts for the 2018–2019 season include the featuring David Fung, composed by the legendary John Williams, with guest conductor Sara Ioannides and featuring ASO Concertmaster Kiril Laskarov. In March, ASO hosts the , celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ album. As the concert sponsor, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ASO will provide one free ticket to all students, faculty and staff to that performance. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty and staff can learn more about the partnership and how to For more information about the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra call 501-666-1761 or visit ASO��

Joyner family gift creates new ��Vlog��ý Little Rock scholarship

Janea Snyder — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 20:27:43 +0000

A new scholarship at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will soon be available to students who demonstrate volunteerism as well as financial need. University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumni Jeanne and Harold Joyner Jr. have given the university $100,000 to endow the scholarship that will be awarded beginning in Fall 2019. “The university is made stronger because of supportive alumni like Harold and Jeanne,” said Andrea Angel, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. “This gift will be transformative for today’s students and for future generations.” The Joyner Family Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated volunteer and community service. Special preference will be given to applicants who have been involved in the , where Harold Joyner has been a volunteer coach. The Joyners focus their personal philanthropy on education and young people, believing that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” “We are thankful for the opportunities we have had over the years and never want to miss an opportunity to pay it forward,” Jeanne Joyner said. “We are excited to be part of the great things happening at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and we’re proud to offer the Joyner Family Endowed Scholarship each year to a deserving student attending ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” The Joyners are alumni of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business, where they met. They both earned Bachelor of Business Administration degrees – Harold ��(‘81) in management and Jeanne (‘84) in marketing. Harold has owned and operated Fence World, Inc. in Little Rock for 40 years. He has served on the boards of ACCESS Schools, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation Fund Board, and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas. He has been a volunteer coach for more than 25 years at the Boys & Girls Club and the RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Innercity) Baseball League at the historic Lamar Porter Baseball Field. Jeanne Joyner has been a dedicated community volunteer for more than 25 years and has served on the boards of Episcopal Collegiate School, the Junior League of Little Rock, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Arts Center Fine Arts Club, and on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock “ALL IN” Campaign Steering Committee. She has been involved in and supported numerous other community organizations over the years. The couple has two adults sons. Jason Joyner and his wife, Liza, live in Richmond, Virginia, while Jonathan Joyner and his wife, Lauren, live in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of The Joyner Family. From left:��Harold and Jeanne Joyner, Jason and Liza Joyner, and Lauren and Jonathan Joyner.

Chamber Music Concert to feature music of Mozart and Fauré

Janea Snyder — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 18:57:01 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Music Department will host a faculty and guest chamber music concert on Thursday, Feb. 15, featuring the music of Mozart and Fauré. The concert will be 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building. The program includes Sonata in A major for Piano and Violin, K. 526, by W.A. Mozart, and Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15, by Gabriel Fauré. Musicians include the following:

Meredith Hicks, violin, with Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Quapaw String Quartet, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty
Tze-Ying Wu, viola, who plays with Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and is director of the Sturgis Academy
Ethan Young, cello, with Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Rockefeller String Quartet
Jaeyeon Park, piano, associate professor of piano at Chosun University in South Korea

Admission is free. For more information, call (501) 569-3294 or visit the webpage.

Free tickets available for ‘Music City Hit-Makers’ concert

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 18:27:38 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to bring incredible musical enrichment opportunities to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock is the presenting sponsor of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s “Music City Hit-Makers” concert, which will be held Feb. 10-11 at the Robinson Performance Hall in downtown Little Rock. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty, and staff can attend the “Music City Hit-Makers” concert for free. The concert brings together three of Nashville’s elite singer/songwriters – Chris DeStefano, Marcus Hummon, and Rivers Rutherford – to perform alongside the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and to share the stories behind some of the biggest hits they’ve written for performers like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, and Lady Antebellum. Reserve your tickets by calling the box office, 501-666-1761 ext. 100 or by reserving and using the code “TROJAN” to reserve your ticket. Guest tickets for this concert will be $10. The Saturday, Feb. 10, performance starts at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday, Feb. 11, performance is at 3 p.m. In addition to the “Music City Hit-Makers” concert, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and employees can purchase Masterworks and Pops Concert tickets and guest tickets for the rest of the season for the discounted rate of $10 by using the code “TROJAN.” Children under 18 can attend all of the Sunday concerts free of charge. This concert is part of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s partnership with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. With this partnership, ASO and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock hope to give members of the community a chance to connect, enrich, inspire, and advance Arkansas through the power of music. About Arkansas Symphony Orchestra The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 51st season in 2017-2018, under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann. ASO is the resident orchestra of Robinson Center Music Hall, to which the ASO returned in November of 2016 after a two-year renovation of the historic structure. ASO performs more than 60 concerts each year for more than 165,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, ACXIOM Pops LIVE! Series, River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series, and Intimate Neighborhood Concerts. It also performs numerous concerts around the state, in addition to serving central Arkansas through numerous community outreach programs and bringing live symphonic music education to over 26,000 school children and over 200 schools. For more information about the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, visit. ��

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, employees get discounted Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tickets

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:36:19 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is partnering with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to bring musical enrichment opportunities to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock will sponsor Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s “Music City Hit-Makers” concert, which will be held Feb. 10-11, 2018, at the Robinson Center. The event will feature singer/songwriters Chris DeStefano, Marcus Hummon, and Rivers Rutherford. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, faculty, and staff can attend the “Music City Hit-Makers” concert for free. They can attend all other Arkansas Symphony Orchestra concerts for the discounted rate of $10. The concert brings together three of Nashville’s elite songwriters to perform alongside the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and to share the stories behind some of the biggest hits they’ve written for performers like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, and Lady Antebellum. “This partnership is a great opportunity for ASO to connect with the vibrant community of Little Rock in an exciting way,” said Becky Flynn, director of development for Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. “I am thrilled that the university has committed to helping ASO remain so accessible for its students, faculty and staff, and I look forward to seeing many of them at concerts this season.” This latest partnership continues Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s tradition of promoting musical enrichment programs through partnerships with community and educational institutions. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra have a long history of collaborative efforts undertaken to enhance the artistic life of our university and our community,” said Dr. Jeremy Lane, chair of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Music. “The ASO is a wonderful symphony, and this agreement will help make that connection even stronger.” Beginning Sept. 5, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees and students could�� or call the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra box office at 501.666.1761, ext. 100, using the code “Trojan.” For the “Music City Hit-Makers” concert, employees and students can reserve a free ticket by calling the box office or by visiting the box office on the days of the concerts, Feb. 10-11. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees and students can also purchase tickets for guests at a discounted price of $10 per ticket. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said he is honored to partner with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock is committed to creating access and opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff to enjoy the universal beauty and the transformative power of music,” Rogerson said. “Our firm commitment to music as one of the seven great liberal arts is wonderfully demonstrated in our support for ASO, and in encouraging the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community to explore this regional treasure.” “As we re-imagine what we offer as a relevant, 21st century, urban and metropolitan university, we reaffirm the value of the arts to educate, and to open hearts and minds,” Rogerson said. About Arkansas Symphony Orchestra The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 51st season in 2017-2018, under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann. ASO is the resident orchestra of Robinson Center Music Hall, to which the ASO returned in November of 2016 after a two-year renovation of the historic structure. ASO performs more than 60 concerts each year for more than 165,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, ACXIOM Pops LIVE! Series, River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series, and Intimate Neighborhood Concerts. It also performs numerous concerts around the state, in addition to serving central Arkansas through numerous community outreach programs and bringing live symphonic music education to over 26,000 school children and over 200 schools. For more information about the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, call 501-666-1761 or visit . ��

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Holzer Awarded Honorific Title of University Professor at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Jazz Ensemble to host spring concert April 18