Soon after the development of the first computers, engineers and programmers began tinkering with them to create games. Turning a calculating machine into a device for fun pushed the capabilities of the new technology, stimulated creative thinking and inspired interest from the public.

From their origins in the 1950s and 1960s, video games have come a long way. They’re now an industry that generates more than $180 billion annually around the world. Faculty at Florida State University are innovating in this rapidly evolving field, studying how games can reduce mental health stigma, improve language learning, train child welfare professionals and create new opportunities for science communication.

Games and human behavior

At the College of Communication and Information (CCI), researchers are investigating the cultural impacts of video games and how they can affect perceptions of mental illness. In 2025, Professor Nicholas Sellers authored a book chapter titled “GAMES FOR GOOD: Exploring the Potential for Traditional Video Game Narratives to Reduce Mental Health Stigma.”

The chapter is based on a study published in Frontiers, conducted by Sellers and Associate Professor Arienne Ferchaud. The study examined whether playing or watching a video game character experiencing mental illness affected participants’ attitudes toward mental health.

Researchers found that players who directly engaged with the game felt more connected to the character and demonstrated lower levels of stigma, which may help remove impediments to treatment.

“One of the main barriers to seeking treatment is the stigma around mental health. If we can find ways to destigmatize mental illness, we can remove that barrier and encourage treatment when necessary,” Ferchaud said. “Video games are an effective medium for representation because of their interactivity, allowing players to ‘practice’ interactions in a way that is not possible in non-interactive media.”

Other CCI researchers are also exploring applications of video games in the classroom. In a multi-institutional research study published in ACM Journals, Professor Sana Tibi co-led research examining whether collaborative video games can help English as a Second Language (ESL) students develop language skills. The study paired native English speakers and ESL students in a game that required communication and cooperation to complete tasks.

Other research is examining games as a communication medium that intrinsically involves decision making from the audience. Gabrielle Lamura, a doctoral student at FSU, explored horror and morality in video games in her paper, “Moral Dilemmas: Horror Video Games Narrative Mechanics,” which she presented at a 2025 National Communication Association conference.

Some of her other projects are examining how environmental factors and game mechanics influence player behavior and a review of morality and moral decision making in games.

At the FSU College of Music, Assistant Professor Julianne Grasso researches music in multimedia, especially video games, examining how musical themes associated with characters and places develop during a game’s narrative.

“Video game music is interesting for the ways that it seems to function as background and yet has such an effect on us,” Grasso said. “It’s similar to film music in that it can affect how we perceive the emotions and meanings of the scenes we are watching, but video game music goes one step further in influencing ultimately how players interact with virtual environments.”

As technology developed, game designers gained a greater ability to add richness and interactivity to in-game sounds and music, changing how users perceived their experience. Early adaptive audio has evolved so musical directors in modern games have a wide number of parameters they can adjust to fit their creative goals.

“In a film, we might get tense, dissonant music to accompany a suspenseful scene and help the audience feel what characters feel. In a game, that same kind of music might be used as a signal for the player to watch out for danger and to act accordingly,” she said.

From screen to reality: Practical applications of video game technology

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) collaborated with different contractors to launch two new virtual reality (VR) tools that help social workers train for a critical job in low-stakes virtual environments.

“We are working to create real-world practice opportunities for both current child welfare professionals and students preparing to enter the field,” said FICW Associate Director of Professional Development Kristina Finch. “Through our immersive VR platforms, including the Accenture Avenues headset experiences and our AI-powered virtual home environment being developed with MeetKai, participants can build and strengthen the skills needed to effectively engage with children and families while promoting safety and well-being.”

These interactive simulations provide controlled environments where College of Social Work students can develop skills before practicing in real-world settings. These AI-powered tools allow students to practice observing environmental factors in a virtual setting, helping students connect classroom instruction with real-world practice.

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Florida State University’s College of Music 2026-27 University Musical Associates (UMA) Concert Season will feature more than 30 performances that showcase the breadth of the college’s nationally recognized programs in orchestral, choral, band, opera and jazz music.

The season, which runs from September through May, includes major ensemble performances, guest artists, opera productions and collaborations with Opening Nights. Audiences can experience everything from Bach’s Mass in B Minor and music by John Williams to jazz celebrations, new musical theater works and performances by internationally acclaimed artists.

The University Musical Associates play a vital role in supporting the College of Music through concert attendance, advocacy and philanthropy. Their support helps sustain world-class music education and performance opportunities for students while bringing a diverse range of concerts and guest artists to the university and community.

“This season highlights the extraordinary talent and creativity of our students and faculty while creating opportunities for audiences to experience a wide range of musical traditions and artistic voices,” said Greg Jones, associate dean of the College of Music. “From beloved masterworks to new and innovative performances, these concerts reflect the excellence that defines the College of Music.”

Among the season’s highlights is FSU Opera’s production of Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men (Oct. 30 and Nov. 1). The performance marks the centennial of Floyd’s birth and places FSU Opera alongside Houston Grand Opera, Kansas City Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera as the only collegiate member of a consortium producing the work.

Other featured performances include the Housewright Virtuoso Series presentation A Vocal Mosaic (Sept. 10), a celebration of jazz, Broadway, art song and opera; the University Wind Orchestra’s performance of music by John Williams (Sept. 25); and a presentation of Bach’s Mass in B Minor by the University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir (April 10).

Jazz audiences can look forward to Celebrating Women in Jazz (March 9), featuring acclaimed saxophonist Tia Fuller with Jazz Ensemble I, while flutist Jasmine Choi, former principal flutist of the Vienna Symphony, will perform as part of the Housewright Virtuoso Series.

The season also includes Preview@FSU: Strange Tails (Jan. 29-30), offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at a new musical in development; the newly dedicated Jim Croft PRISM Concert (Dec. 1-4); and Seasonal Celebration (Dec. 6), featuring the university’s choral ensembles.

The College of Music will continue its partnership with Opening Nights, bringing internationally recognized performers to Tallahassee. Collaborative performances this season include The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band (Oct. 11), Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Jan. 28) and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Feb. 25).

Tickets for College of Music performances go on sale June 23 through the FSU Fine Arts Ticket Office. Tickets for Opening Nights collaborative events must be purchased separately through the Opening Nights box office.

UMA members enjoy special access, reserved seating and other benefits throughout the season while helping support the College of Music’s educational and performance mission.

For more information about tickets or UMA membership, visit tickets.music.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-6500. The complete season schedule and more details about the performers are available here.

2026-27 season at a glance

Sept. 10 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: A Vocal Mosaic | Opperman Music Hall

Sept. 18 — University Symphony Orchestra: Celebration! | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Sept. 25 — Wind Orchestra: Music of John Williams | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Oct. 2 — Landscapes of Sound: Chamber Music from Latin America | Opperman Music Hall

Oct. 8 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Members of the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra | Opperman Music Hall

Oct. 10 — University Symphony Orchestra: Sounds of Courage | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Oct. 11 — The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band* | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Oct. 12 — Honors Jazz Combo with John Allred, trombone | Opperman Music Hall

Oct. 23 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Musicological Brainfood | Dohnányi Recital Hall

Oct. 29 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: FSU Choirs with André van der Merwe | Trinity United Methodist Church

Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 — Fall Opera: Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Nov. 4 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: ModernMedieval Voices: The Living Word | Opperman Music Hall

Nov. 5-6 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Kristan Toczko, harp/electronic music | Location TBD

Nov. 8 — University Singers: Hear My Cry | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Nov. 17 — Wind Ensemble: Time and the Winds | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Dec. 1-4 — Jim Croft PRISM Concert | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Dec. 6 — Seasonal Celebration | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Jan. 22 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Beethoven: A Life in One Evening | Opperman Music Hall

Jan. 27 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Triple Cortado Trio | Opperman Music Hall

Jan. 28 — Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis* | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Jan. 29-30 — Preview@FSU: Strange Tails | Conradi Studio Theatre

Feb. 20 — University Symphony Orchestra: The Beethoven Effect | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Feb. 25 — Audra McDonald: Audra Goes Hollywood* | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

March 9 — Jazz Ensemble I: A Celebration of Women in Jazz | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 2 and 4 — Spring Opera: Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica | Opperman Music Hall

April 3 — University Singers and Levana: Cor Amoris, Cor Unum | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 7 — University Philharmonia: Fireworks! | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 10 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Jasmine Choi, flute | Opperman Music Hall

April 10 — University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir: Bach’s Mass in B Minor | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 13 — University Wind Orchestra | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 17 — Rainbow Concert / 40th Mas N Steel | Opperman Music Hall

April 21 — Wind Ensemble: A Symphony of Symphonies | Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

April 21-24 — Housewright Virtuoso Series: Bryan Powell, Music Education | Location TBD

May 28-29 — Summer Opera: Britten’s The Turn of the Screw | Opperman Music Hall

*Presented in collaboration with Opening Nights. Support for these performances is provided by City Bank (“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band); Ken Kato and Nan Nagy (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis); and Les and Ruth Akers in partnership with The Louise Ireland Humphrey Fund (Audra McDonald).

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Long before Florida State University became known for its research enterprise and nationally ranked academic programs, the arts were helping shape the life of the university.

Music, theater and visual arts were among the earliest academic offerings at the institution that would become FSU, predating many of the STEM and professional programs taught at the university today.

Over the decades, those programs have grown into nationally recognized schools in music, film, theater, dance and design while bringing world-class artists, exhibitions and performances to campus.

Today, as Florida State celebrates its 175th anniversary, the arts remain central to the university’s identity by enriching campus life, connecting the university with the community and preparing generations of artists, performers and creators.

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Florida State University alumna Christiani Pitts has earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her performance in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). 

Nominations for the 79th Annual Tony Awards were announced Tuesday. Winners will be announced June 7 at Radio City Music Hall during a ceremony broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. 

The nomination drew praise from faculty in Florida State University’s School of Theatre, where Pitts developed the foundation for a career that has taken her from campus productions to leading roles on Broadway.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination,” said Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre. “As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.” 

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate alumna Christiani Pitts’ Tony nomination. As a student, she was a force in our program — leading with heart, a fierce work ethic and a collaborative spirit. None of us are surprised to see her carrying that same generosity, passion and commitment to the craft to Broadway.

— Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre

The evening before learning of her nomination, Pitts was in New York supporting the next generation of Florida State performers at the university’s Senior Showcase.

Held at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, the annual event gives graduating music theatre students from the College of Music and School of Theatre the opportunity to perform for agents, casting directors and other industry professionals. For Pitts, who once stood in their place, the evening underscored the connection between FSU’s training programs and the professional stage. 

Pitts, who earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from the FSU School of Theatre in 2015, is among nominees that include Sara Chase (Schmigadoon!), Stephanie Hsu (The Rocky Horror Show), Caissie Levy (Ragtime) and Marla Mindelle (Titanique). 

Her nomination marks a significant milestone in a career spanning stage, television and film. Pitts made her Broadway debut in A Bronx Tale: The Musical, later stepping into a leading role in the production, before starring as Ann Darrow in Broadway’s King Kong. Prior to her Broadway success, she built her foundation at FSU, appearing in productions including Cabaret (Fraulein Sally Bowles), Company (Marta) and Ragtime. 

“What continues to inspire us most,” Brock said, “is not only her talent, but the environment she cultivates around her — one grounded in collaboration, integrity and a sincere dedication to uplifting the communities she engages with. Christiani exemplifies the highest ideals of an FSU Theatre graduate. We are delighted to see her receiving the recognition she has long earned and eager to watch the impact she will continue to make across the industry.” 

In addition to her stage work, Pitts has appeared in television series including Power Book III: Raising Kanan, The Good Fight and Blue Bloods. She also starred in the Netflix film Resort to Love, produced by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. 

Pitts is the daughter of Byron Pitts, anchor of ABC’s Nightline, and began her theatre career in Atlanta and New Jersey before moving to New York City after graduating from FSU. 

Her nomination adds to a distinguished legacy of FSU alumni recognized on Broadway. Notable music theatre graduates include Montego Glover (‘96), a Tony nominee for Memphis, and producer Darren Bagert (‘92), a five-time Tony Award winner whose career has spanned more than three decades. 

Pitts’ nomination highlights both her emergence as a major talent on the stage and Florida State University’s longstanding success in preparing artists for careers across Broadway, television and film.

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As a universal language, music often has the power to connect people across borders. Recent Florida State University graduate Amelia Rivers is advancing that idea in Rionegro, Colombia, where she’s using education and the arts to build intercultural community as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. 

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s premier international exchange initiative designed to foster mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and people around the world. Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients are selected each year for their academic or professional excellence and demonstrated leadership potential in their fields, with the program operating in over 160 countries. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award places recipients directly in classrooms abroad to assist local English teachers and facilitate intercultural exchange. 

“Fulbright is an opportunity giver,” she said. “Now that Fulbright has happened, the doors have opened.” 

Rivers, who earned a master’s degree in musicology from the College of Music in 2025, has been teaching English at the Universidad Católica de Oriente (UCO) since the summer through the ETA. For her, Fulbright offers more than the chance to teach abroad —it’s also an extension of lifelong commitments to global learning and citizenship through music. 

“I love meeting new people, knowing their stories and sharing my story,” she said. “The ETA is all about that exchange.” 

As the daughter of a pilot, Rivers grew up traveling to places like China, Egypt, New Zealand and Peru with her family — an experience she refers to affectionately as “cultural whiplash.” She taught her brother how to count on the Great Wall of China and learned how to play guitar from local kids in the Andes Mountains, experiences she said primed her for a future full of global endeavors. 

“I was able to have those conversations about cultural exchange at a very young age,” she said. “It really encouraged me to become a cultural ambassador for the United States.” 

Back in the U.S., Rivers joined a traveling choir, the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, in middle and high school, blending her love of seeing the world with her passion for music. She once performed in a choir for Pope Francis in Vatican City, an experience that she says was her “window to the world.” 

“Choir has always been a source of community building for me,” she said. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in music arts and English from Mercer University, Rivers decided to blend these interests further and pursue a master’s degree in musicology from FSU’s College of Music. 

At FSU, Rivers engaged with other cultures through one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive World Music Ensemble programs, where she learned and performed Andean, Brazilian and Balinese Gamelan music traditions. Her master’s thesis focused on the political significance of “joropo,” a folkloric dance genre native to the llaneros of Colombia and Venezuela. 

“I wanted to learn more about the music in the world,” she said.  

This research brought her to Bogotá, Colombia, for the first time in 2023, where she visited music libraries, interviewed joropo artists and attended the “Joropo en el Parque” (Joropo in the Park) music festival.

“I fell in love with the culture of hospitality in the community,” she said. 

Rivers had heard of Fulbright through her grandfather. He studied French medieval literature in Germany in 1962 through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, an experience that she said changed his career. 

“I’ve always felt that my grandfather and I had a kindred mind,” she said. 

As a Fulbright ETA, Rivers is responsible for hosting presentations and activities, facilitating interactions between students and helping hone their grammar skills. Tailoring her methods toward music, Rivers also plays the piano and sings in a rock band with her students, helping them learn English through songs by bands like Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

“We’re playing mostly American rock music because they want to practice their English, and I’m their English teacher,” she said. “There’s a big rock scene in Colombia.”  

At the other end of the exchange, Rivers is learning more about local music from the Colombian community and her peers. She’s joined two choirs during her experience — “Coro Polifónico” (polyphonic choir) at the Universidad Católica de Oriente and a professional women’s choir called “Polimnia.” Through Coro Polifónico, she’s performed at UCO’s cultural festivals and Christmas concert series and has toured across Medellín and Bogotá with Polimnia.  

“I’m trying to soak up as much as I can,” she said. “It’s been easy to plug into the local music culture because of the knowledge FSU gave me.” 

To bridge the arts with impact, Rivers has additionally been collaborating with the “Huracán de Sueños” foundation, an after-school center that brings classes and activities to vulnerable children in the area. There, she is helping to run a music program and assisting the kids with their English homework.  

“Music is the way that I interact with others in Colombia, because everybody loves music here,” she said. “It’s such an easy and fulfilling starting point for cultural exchange.” 

Rounding out her role as a cultural ambassador, Rivers is also interning with the U.S. Embassy and Education USA, which helps students in Colombia earn a college education in the U.S.  

While Rivers is not yet sure where her passions will take her following the Fulbright award, she hopes to continue riding the international wave. 

“I’ve been bitten by the Fulbright bug,” she said. 

For now, she believes that Rionegro is where she is “meant to be.” 

“I feel like I have my dream job in my dream location,” she said. “I’m still trying to convince myself that this is real.” 

Interested in applying for a Fulbright? 

Graduate students: Contact Keith McCall, assistant director of the FSU Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, at kmccall2@fsu.edu.  

Undergraduates and recent graduates: Contact Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, assistant director of the FSU Office of National Fellowships, at bjgarcia@fsu.edu. 

Faculty: Contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland, director of FSU Faculty Development, at mwrightc@fsu.edu. 

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The life’s work of one of America’s most decorated composers and a cornerstone of the Florida State University College of Music has found a permanent home in the nation’s capital. 

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1983, Marie Krafft Distinguished Professor of Composition and two-time FSU Alumnus, has donated her comprehensive personal archive to the Library of Congress. 

The collection was recently named one of the top five music acquisitions of 2025 by the Library’s Music Division, placing Zwilich’s legacy alongside titans of American music such as Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Stephen Sondheim. 

“The inclusion of Professor Zwilich’s archives in the Library of Congress is a magnificent tribute to a lifetime of musical innovation and excellence,” said Todd Queen, dean of the College of Music. “As both a legendary alumna and a devoted faculty member, her legacy continues to be a guiding light for the next generation of composers here at Florida State.” 

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Students at Florida State University fused human creativity with modern technology during a recent 24-hour Create-a-thon. The design sprint, hosted by FSU’s Innovation Hub, challenged participants to celebrate Tallahassee’s community spirit by building interactive experiences that cultivate a lasting sense of belonging and connection.

The event served as a feature of the 2026 Festival of the Creative Arts (FCA), an initiative led by the FSU Office of Research that highlights the voices and talents of students and faculty across the university.

“Events like this Create-a-thon provide our students with a space where creativity is the primary driver of discovery,” said Ken Baldauf, founding director of the Innovation Hub. “When we bring together dancers, engineers, musicians, writers and scientists, we aren’t just making art, we are developing a universal language for problem solving that leverages the latest technologies.”

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Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC) is celebrating a milestone as the first cohort of graduates completes its Master of Science in entrepreneurship with a major in creative arts entrepreneurship.

The innovative program represents a significant step forward in interdisciplinary arts education at FSU, bringing together resources from the College of Music, the College of Fine Arts and the College of Motion Picture Arts to support creators who want to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.

The program is designed for experienced creatives who want to enhance their professional practice by adding entrepreneurial strategy and business insight. Students will complete online courses, providing flexibility for those already working in their field. Cohorts typically include individuals who specialize in fields such as music, film, visual and performing arts or creative writing.

“As someone who is working full time but wanted to continue their education, the Creative Arts master’s program allows me the flexibility to learn valuable skills in my current career and beyond,” says Evan Eisenstark, who works full time as a social media specialist at FSU. “Being a part of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship has also given me the opportunity to meet and learn from other entrepreneurs and take the steps to one day start my own venture.”

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African drummer, composer, dancer and singer Sidiki Conde will bring his high‑energy performance to Opening Nights at Florida State University.  

“SIDIKI! The Pulse of Africa” will take place on Friday, March 6, in the auditorium at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and performance running from 7 to 8 p.m.  

“Sidiki’s performances are exhilarating,” said Susan Baldino of Arts4All Florida who is hosting the musician in Tallahassee. “His musicianship and verve are second to none, but the real power Sidiki has is the uncanny ability to connect with people of all abilities, to make them smile, to temper their trepidations.”  

“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair. When I teach, I help my students transform themselves, too. They become happy, free, lighter and more confident. Their joy comes back to me and assures me that my life has one purpose: to dance and teach.”   

— Sidiki Conde

Conde will be joined by celebrated African drummer Abdoulaye Toure, a former performer with Guinea’s National Ballet Djoliba and current resident musician for Princeton University’s West African dance classes.

Members of Tallahassee’s Ayoka Afrikan Drum and Dance will also perform. The group is committed to making African drumming and dance traditions accessible to the community. Ayoka shares Conde’s belief that “dance and drumming are more than art forms — they are transformative tools for healing, joy and community upliftment.”    

Conde’s life story is inspirational. He grew up in Guinea, West Africa and experienced a life‑changing incident at age 14.  

“Coming from school, I fell down and never stood up again,” he said. “Everything was paralyzed. My back, hand, leg. It was polio.”   

Facing the stigma associated with disability in his community, he strengthened his upper body and learned to walk and dance on his hands. Since then, he has dedicated his life to sharing joy and resilience through music and dance.  

“When I sing and dance, I am a bright star on the stage, not a dark figure in a wheelchair,” Conde said. “When I teach, I help my students transform themselves, too. They become happy, free, lighter and more confident. Their joy comes back to me and assures me that my life has one purpose: to dance and teach.”   

Known for his distinctive dance style and accomplished musical career, Conde has performed with African music icons Youssou N’Dour, Salifa Keita and Baaba Maal. He previously served as a soloist and director of choreography for the respected ballet troupe Les Merveilles de Guinea.  

After touring with the troupe, Conde relocated to New York City, where he founded the Tokounou All‑Abilities Dance and Music Ensemble. The group provides performances and educational programs for people of all ages and abilities, including students with disabilities and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.  

Conde’s artistic impact includes being named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 2007, co‑founding Afro‑Jersey with singer‑songwriter Terre Roche in 2008, serving as the subject of Alan Govenar’s 2013 documentary “You Don’t Need Feet to Dance,” releasing the album “Africa in New Orleans” in 2025, and earning a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship this past fall.  

The performance is sponsored by Arts4All Florida, a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure universal access to the arts. Arts4All Florida partners with Opening Nights at FSU, the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, and the FSU College of Music with support from The Brady Foundation, the FSU student‑led organization University of Choice and Marjorie Turnbull.  

The event is free and open to the public, with reservations available.  

For more information and to reserve a free ticket, visit openingnights.fsu.edu. 

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“The addition of this new program is part of an overall expansion to match career paths in the rapidly changing music industry,” said Greg Jones, associate dean of the college. “Our partnership with the Herbert Wertheim College of Business, the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and industry collaborators is vital for building bridges to career opportunities for our students. Flexible degree programs combined with professional mentorship across the spectrum offer FSU students exciting opportunities in traditional and emerging job markets.” 

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Florida State University research is connecting the arts and humanities to health, healing and human connection, demonstrating how interdisciplinary scholarship can improve healthcare.

Faculty and students from across campus gathered on Feb. 10 at the Claude Pepper Center for the Arts–Health–Humanities Symposium VI, an interdisciplinary forum exploring how creative and scholarly perspectives converge to advance human well-being and healthcare. The symposium is part of the Festival of the Creative Arts, a monthlong celebration of the voices, talents and creativity of FSU faculty and students.

“By bringing together researchers from different disciplines, the symposium creates opportunities to collaborate and expand research across campus,” said Professor Iain Quinn, research fellow in the Arts and Humanities and director of the Festival of the Creative Arts. “The inherently interdisciplinary nature of the event allows us to benefit from the knowledge of other fields and strengthen our own work.”

Now in its sixth iteration, the symposium featured faculty and student researchers from medicine, music therapy, interior design, ethnomusicology, art therapy and the humanities. Presentations, experiential performances and poster sessions highlighted emerging scholarship in arts-based health research and its applications across the lifespan.

For Daejin Kim, associate professor in the College of Fine Arts, principles of architectural and interior design play a critical role in shaping environments that support both physical safety and psychological well-being. Kim’s research focuses on how interior design strategies can help older adults age in place while maintaining independence.

His presentation emphasized how thoughtful design choices, including lighting, spatial layout and material selection, can reduce fall risk while preserving autonomy and dignity. Rather than relying solely on clinical safety standards, Kim stressed the importance of centering the lived experiences of older adults in design decisions.

“Design has the power to support both safety and autonomy,” Kim said. “When we consider the lived experience of older adults, we can create environments that promote independence without sacrificing dignity.”

Several presentations explored the role of the arts in medical education and healthcare practice. Tana Jean Welch, associate professor at the College of Medicine, discussed “HEAL: Humanism Evolving through Arts and Literature,” a creative arts journal published by the FSU College of Medicine. Welch highlighted the journal’s history and its role in fostering reflection, empathy and humanism in medical training.

Music as medicine

Music therapy research featured prominently throughout the symposium, with presentations spanning infancy through adolescence. Adriana Lizardi-Vázquez, a doctoral student in music therapy, opened her presentation by singing a lullaby commonly used by caregivers in Puerto Rico. Drawing from a study of caregivers with infants ranging from newborns to 18 months old, Lizardi-Vázquez documented more than 180 distinct lullabies and identified shared musical characteristics such as simple melodies, slow tempo and repetition.

Her findings highlight how familiar music supports bonding, language development and emotional regulation.

Other research explored adolescents’ use of music as a coping strategy. Doctoral students Parintorn “Pim” Pankaew and Shun Ee “Racheal” Yap presented findings from a statewide survey of Florida adolescents, revealing widespread use of music for stress management, emotional expression and relaxation. Their work explores how these patterns can inform music therapy–informed wellness and mental health interventions.

James E. Riley addressed professional development in music therapy, sharing preliminary findings on entrepreneurship in the field. While nearly 90% of surveyed music therapy students expressed interest in entrepreneurial work, a similar percentage reported receiving little to no formal guidance.

“There’s a disconnect between how students are trained and the professional realities they will face,” Riley said. “Future music therapists must develop professional and entrepreneurial skills alongside clinical training to navigate today’s healthcare and wellness industries.”

In an experiential session, Michael Bakan, professor of ethnomusicology, led participants in a group vocal performance inspired by the gamelan suara, or “vocal gamelan,” of Bali, Indonesia, demonstrating how collective music-making can foster social cohesion, wellness and joy.

Creativity continues

Poster presentations further highlighted student and faculty research at the intersection of the arts and health, with topics including art therapy assessments for PTSD, community music therapy initiatives, and the art-informed study of the experiences of athletes with disabilities.

“In times of shared challenge, the arts remind us that connection is essential,” Bakan said. “They help us build community, process experience and support one another in ways that are fundamental to human health.”

The Festival of the Creative Arts continues Monday, Feb. 16, with a screening of “Nickel Boys,” a film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, from 6-9 p.m. at the Askew Student Life Center on FSU’s campus.

Visit the Festival of the Creative Arts website for a full schedule of programming.

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The University Philharmonia, a premier ensemble within the Florida State University College of Music, will perform the U.S. premiere of Arthur Barbosa’s “Variations in Search of a Theme by Matos Rodríguez.”

The concert is free and open to the public and will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Opperman Music Hall.

The concert marks the beginning of guest composer Barbosa’s residency, a project initiated by Guilherme Leal Rodrigues, a doctoral candidate and graduate associate conductor of the University Philharmonia. Rodrigues also serves as the music director of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras.

“It is such a pleasure to welcome advanced graduate students like Guilherme who can contribute to the rich cultural life of our campus and community,” said Alexander Jiménez, professor of conducting and director of orchestras. “It is also tremendous to work at an institution like the College of Music that offers students a wide range of opportunities to refine and expand their craft in creative ways.”

The performance serves as the culmination of Rodrigues’ doctoral thesis — the first in-depth research and performance analysis of the iconic tango “La Cumparsita” conducted in the United States.

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