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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Classical music is having a moment, and this time it’s capitalizing on a younger generation in the digital era.

According to a 2025 survey of 2,000 people conducted by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, more people under 35 were listening to orchestral music (65%) daily than individuals aged 55 or older (57%). For the first time, young people are more likely to listen to this genre of music than their parents.

The rise in younger listenership is fueled by several reasons, most notably social media platforms that promote the soothing sounds of classical music. Talented violinists, organists and other instrumentalists flood TikTok, Instagram and other short-form spaces. The hashtag #classicalmusic on TikTok has surpassed over 2 billion views.

Down-to-earth musicians like violinist Ray Chen provide fans with unfiltered and personal access on their social channels, building a tight connection to this genre of music. Generation Z has embraced classical music as a mindful aesthetic, taking advantage of their preference for mood-based listening habits.

Greg Jones serves as the Associate Dean of Engagement at the Florida State University College of Music. An experienced trumpet soloist and conductor, Jones has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Fort Wayne Philharmonic and several more. His efforts as an instructor have helped the FSU College of Music be named the No. 6 best college for music in America, according to Niche.

Jones thinks streaming platforms have boosted young people’s interest in classical music.

“The soundtrack for video reels sets the mood for the visuals in the same manner it does in movies and television,” Jones said. “Streaming platforms, the primary delivery system for younger listeners, offer the opportunity to match AI-sorted music according to mood and listening history. If you select something from a movie soundtrack, for example, the platform will continue your playlist with similar selections.”

Media interested in the resurgence of classical music may reach out to FSU College of Music Associate Dean of Engagement Greg Jones via email at Greg.Jones@fsu.edu.

Greg Jones, associate dean of engagement, College of Music

What about classical music do you feel helps it connect so well to the younger generations like Gen Z?
Although younger generations do not differentiate between musical genres to the degree that preceding generations do, they tend to find comfort and connection from acoustic instrumental sounds, beautiful melodies and the naturalness of classical music. Over-produced and tech-heavy music in later styles cannot replicate the personal emotional responses and sense of naturalness that classical music stimulates.

Classical music has enjoyed a resurgence, sparked by expanded interest from a younger demographic. In what ways have you witnessed this shift?
We find that the younger demographic is drawn to classical music through participation in ensembles in junior high and high school and in festivals and camps like the ones we host annually in the College of Music. Others find a love for this style of music as it is still prevalent in movie soundtracks like How to Train Your Dragon, Star Wars and countless television series.

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(Updated 12:20 p.m. Jan. 28, 2026) 

Florida State University’s Office of Research will host the 2026 Festival of the Creative Arts, a campuswide event that highlights the voices, talents and creativity of FSU faculty and students in February and early March.

Departments from across campus will celebrate the innovation and creative excellence that results from combining various modes of expression and disciplines.

“Each year, the Festival of the Creative Arts celebrates interdisciplinary engagement across campus with events that include faculty and student participation,” said Iain Quinn, festival director and FSU’s Research Fellow in the arts and humanities. “In addition to ongoing research conversations that develop from one festival to another, there are also new collaborations and multiple first performances.”

Several events are offered for K-12 students and families, including “It’s the Weather!” at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee on Saturday, Feb. 7. There will also be a premiere of a new performance work involving digital art and music.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about the historic and contemporary connections between art and science with multiple hands-on activities,” Quinn said. “The festival is always a special opportunity for everyone to be inspired by the creative spirit that defines FSU.”

All events are free of charge, and no reservations are required. For more information, visit research.fsu.edu/fca.

The full list of events includes:

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

Poets at the Party
7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, Katherine W. Montgomery Hall

A special collaboration between dance, hospitality, music and poetry featuring multiple premieres across disciplines.

Participants: Darcie Ogando Almánzar, Jacob Andrews, Lilian Baker, Shea Boeker, Jacob Grice, Isabelle Hagley, Caroline Laganas, Raúl Parra, Natalie Eleanor Patterson, Camille Pepper, Christell Victoria Roach, Jan Schwalbe, Sophia Upshaw, Hugh Wilhelm, Kuan-Yu Yang and members of the FSU Trombone Choir. 

SATURDAY, FEB. 7

It’s the Weather!
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee

Come and learn about the weather and nature in works of art while discovering scientific facts about the world around us. This event features hands-on activities led by faculty from the departments of art history, art education and music education, as well as the first performance of a new interdisciplinary work with digital art and music. Great for K-12 students.

Participants: Angelina Ciardi, Eren Gümrükçüoğlu, Ann Harrington, Stephanie Leitch, Marlo Ransdell, Keith Roberson, Sara Scott Shields, the FSU Guitar Ensemble and the National Weather Service Tallahassee.

SUNDAY, FEB. 8

Storytime Under the Stars
6 – 7 p.m.
Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee

Experience an evening of nostalgia and wonder at the Fogg Planetarium, where classic stories come to life under a celestial canopy of stars. This event is specially designed for young children and their families.

Participant: Christine Hansen.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10

Arts-Health-Humanities Symposium VI
12 – 2:30 p.m.
Claude Pepper Center

This annual festival meeting of faculty and students — from design, medicine, music education, music therapy and musicology — continues conversations about current research and future interdisciplinary collaborations. Includes poster presentations by art therapy and music therapy.

Participants: Michael Bakan, Daejin Kim, Adriana Lizardi-Vázquez, Parintorn “Pim” Pankaew, James Riley, Tana Jean Welch and Racheal Yap.

THURSDAY, FEB. 12

Classics Symposium
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Beth Moor Lounge, Longmire Building

Join a celebration of Ancient Greek and Latin poetry featuring an evening of readings of ancient texts and creative performances by students and faculty.

Coordinator: Virginia Lewis.

MONDAY, FEB. 16

Nickel Boys
6 – 9 p.m.
Askew Student Life Center

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, “Nickel Boys” chronicles the powerful friendship between two young African American men sentenced to Nickel Academy. Co-presented with the FSU Civil Rights Institute.

Participants: Ted T. Ellis, Keithen Mathis, Dennis Moore and Mark Schlakman.

TUESDAY, FEB. 17

The Art of Walking
12 – 1:15 p.m.
Bradley Reading Room, Strozier Library

Walking in the city is not only a form of physical exercise and transportation, but a social and cultural practice described as flânerie. The lecture will amble through some of the major French figures who wrote about the flâneur’s and flâneuse’s kaleidoscopic encounters with the sights and sounds of urban life. Co-presented with the Milton S. Carothers Faculty Lecture Series.

Participants: Aimée Boutin and Meaghan McSorley.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

Lay of the Land
Symposium: 2 – 5:30 p.m.; Opening: 6 – 8 p.m.
Facility for Arts Research

“Lay of the Land” is a Department of Art faculty exhibition and symposium exploring the beauty, complexity and fragility of the landscapes we inhabit.

Participants: Department of Art Faculty.

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

Chamber Music of Frank Martin
4 – 5:30 p.m.
Longmire Recital Hall

A concert devoted to the music of the great Swiss composer Frank Martin (1890-1974), offering an exceptional opportunity to hear his distinctive voice across numerous contrasting ensembles.

Participants: Stijn De Cock, Geoffrey Deibel, Amy Dill, Suzanne Lommler, Mary Matthews, Dylan Principi, Pamela Ryan, Gregory Sauer, Natalie Sherer, Marcy Stonikas, Shannon Thomas and Valerie Trujillo.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25

The Contemporary Film – Finding Your Family
6 – 9 p.m.
Askew Student Life Center

An evening of cinematic exploration with panel discussions about the many definitions of family. Screening of a collection of student shorts followed by a Q&A conversation with members of FSUFILM faculty.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, FEB. 27-28

24-Hour Create-A-Thon
Feb. 27, 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.; Feb. 28, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Pitches, Performances, Awards: Feb. 28, 2 – 4 p.m.
Innovation Hub

FSU students from across campus work in interdisciplinary teams to develop new works that celebrate creativity as a foundation of innovation across the disciplines. Registration opens Jan. 26.

Coordinator: Ken Baldauf.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

Interlocking Art: A Mixed Media Gala
6 – 9 p.m.
Student Union

Club Downunder and the Department of Student Engagement present an evening of student creativity across the arts, culminating in an annual fashion show.

Exhibitions

Water Ways: Indigenous Ecologies and Florida Heritage
Elizabeth A. Cecil (Curator)
Co-presented with the FSU Native American and Indigenous Studies Center.
Museum of Fine Arts

Akimbo: A Solo Exhibition by Zoë Charlton
An installation and animated film exploring themes of memory, place, and resilience in the Tallahassee Landscape.
Museum of Fine Arts

Lay of the Land
Department of Art Faculty
Facility for Arts Research

The Art of Healing – Ted T. Ellis
Robert Manning Strozier Library

The post FSU to host 2026 Festival of the Creative Arts appeared first on Florida State University News.

A Florida State University College of Music graduate student has been selected for a euphonium position with the United States Navy Band, one of the nation’s most prestigious military ensembles.

Cayden Miller, a second-year Master of Music student in music performance and a graduate teaching assistant in the Tuba & Euphonium Studio, won the highly competitive audition for the Navy Band’s premier wind ensemble, based in Washington, D.C. The ensemble is recognized for its artistry and musical versatility, performing a wide repertoire and representing the Navy and the nation at public concerts and major events for more than 95 years.

“We are tremendously proud of Cayden and his remarkable achievement,” said Matthew Hightower, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium at FSU. “Winning a position with one of the world’s most respected military bands is a testament to his exceptional musicianship, dedication and hard work.”

Miller’s journey to the Navy Band began in his sixth-grade band class, when his parents, both euphonium players, inspired him to switch to the instrument from the trombone. He credits his time at FSU for helping him refine his craft and professional discipline.

“Coming down to Florida State, one of the things that was immediately apparent was the emphasis on professional development,” Miller said. “One of the main things I realized at FSU was that I have to be excellent on all fronts, and I’ve improved since I got here. Dr. Hightower guided me to become more regimented and organized. During my time here, I’ve also realized I should try to be as good a person as I can be, because, after all, music is about people and connecting with people.”

Miller’s success adds to the long tradition of excellence among students and alumni of the FSU College of Music, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in professional ensembles, academia and military music organizations.

“During my time here, I’ve realized I should try to be as good a person as I can be, because, after all, music is about people and connecting with people.”

— Cayden Miller, FSU College of Music graduate student

“Premier military ensembles like the Navy Band represent the highest professional standards similar to major symphony orchestras, and the audition process is very similar— the FSU College of Music has a long tradition of placing students in these prestigious groups,” said Greg Jones, associate dean of the College of Music. “Cayden will now join many other FSU alumni making music in our nation’s capital.”

In addition to his Navy Band appointment, Miller performed with the Renegade 8, the FSU Tuba-Euphonium Octet, which traveled to Valencia, Spain, for the 2025 International Tuba Euphonium Conference (ITEC), where he was also recognized as a semi-finalist in the Artist Euphonium Solo Competition.

Before coming to Florida State, Miller completed his undergraduate studies at Indiana University, where he won the 2024 Brass Concerto Competition.

Miller described the audition process as “pretty competitive, especially for an instrument like mine,” noting that military bands are among the few professional opportunities for euphonium players.

“For someone who plays my instrument, it’s either going into higher education and teaching, or one of these jobs,” he said. “At first, I wanted to do higher ed, but when I got to Florida State, I realized I wanted a career that’s playing. The benefits from being in the military are very good, and it’s a great place to have a career.”

The Navy Band’s role extends beyond concerts, including ceremonial performances at military functions, changes of command, funerals and events for visiting foreign leaders.

“Every day is going to be something different, which is something I’m really excited about,” Miller said.

Miller expects to begin his Navy Band career in 2026, following the completion of his degree and basic training.

For more information about the FSU College of Music and its programs, visit music.fsu.edu.

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