Events from Brock University

The Road Home means something different to each of us: the young child, the world traveller, the refugee, the homeless, the bereaved. Our vision of home is shaped by our lives and our circumstances. It could be a physical or spiritual space, the presence of a loved one or a feeling of acceptance and understanding. This concert aims to capture the longing, the joy, the nostalgia, the regret and the feelings of security and belonging that emerge when we reflect on the importance of experiencing home and extending it to others.

Department of Dramatic Arts presents: DART 4F56 students’ final public project

A program that explores the stages and seasons of life. Featuring Schubert, Mendelssohn & Brahms; Canadian contemporaries Nancy Telfer, Jeff Enns, Jane Siberry & Jon Washburn; Works sung in English, German, Punjabi, Latin & Xhosa.

Join senior visual arts student Emma Mary Sked as she teaches you how to transform scrap fabrics into your own unique sculpture. The event is open to everyone in the Brock community who is looking to relax and unwind while harnessing their inner creativity and learning a new skill. No previous art experience is required, and all necessary materials will be supplied.

As part of the Encore Series, the Music Department presents Clara’s Love Triangle performed by Trio Amore.

Adam Dickinson’s poetry focuses primarily on intersections between poetry and science as a way of exploring new ecocritical perspectives and alternative modes of poetic composition. He is the author of Cartography and Walking (2002), Kingdom, Phylum (2006), The Polymers (2013), and Anatomic (2018). His poem “My Fear of Being Eaten” will appear in Quarry, with art by Lorène Bourgeois, The Small Walker Press (2019, upcoming)

Held in the VISA Art Gallery and Student Exhibition Space, MIWSFPA.

Members of the Niagara African diaspora community share in manifestos their thoughts and experiences in the Niagara region as visible minorities, shouting from the rooftop in English, French and African languages. Co-sponsored with SPFIFRAN and Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Brock University.

Celebrate the raw power of the human voice with the Avanti Chamber Singers, as part of the Brock University Vive Voce Choral Series which features the Brock Chamber Choir and Women's Choir as well as Avanti Chamber Singers who serve as Ensemble-in-Residence for the Department of Music. Under the direction of Conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff, these excellent choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year.

This exhibition presents the multidisciplinary work of the Permanent Vacation Artists.

(CRIT)ICAL is a show brought to you by the VISA 3M90: Advanced Art Practise students. The process of creation begs for interaction and response. With (CRIT)ICAL, the students open the studio doors to their artistic construction and call on the public to react, question and critique. (CRIT)ICAL is a collection of self-directed works from third- and fourth-year students comprised of paintings, drawings, installation work, performative work, sound and video.

This exciting week of talks and workshops features director David Psalmon. Based in Mexico City since 2000, he has staged the work of authors such as Bertolt Brecht, Slawomir Mrozek, Vaclav Havel and Bernard Marie Koltes with his Tetro Sin Paredes. Psalmon has also developed an extensive program using the techniques of Augusto Boal’s the theatre of the oppressed, with whom he had the privilege of working in France during the late 1990’s. Since 2013, Teatro Sin Paredes has embarked on a new path by reclaiming the principle of collective creation. All new productions assert the importance of integrating all the elements of theatrical creation (the text, the work of the actor, the space, etc.) into a single dynamic, throughout the creative process.

The University Wind Ensemble presents: Tribute to the Legends – An evening of Musical Fireworks from Bernstein to Grainger.

The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock's student choral ensembles (women's and mixed choruses) as well as the Avanti Chamber Singers (avantichambersingers.com), who serve as Ensemble-in-Residence for the Department of Music. Under the direction of Conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff, these excellent choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year.

In the Fall of 2018, artist Heather Hart installed a rooftop in the largest room of the Rodman Hall Art Centre for her exhibition Northern Oracle. She asks the question: “What do you want to say? Shout it from the rooftop!” Reflecting on Heather Hart’s exhibition, students in Visual Arts, Studies in Arts and Culture, and French studies at Brock University transform the Studio Gallery into a “manifesto room” in which they create their own statements, be they poetic, absurd or political (in English and in French). In a space that is both radical and respectful, visitors are invited to experience the pleasurable effects of surprise.

One hundred years following the end of the First World War we recall the Christmas Truce, when soldiers along the western front laid down their weapons, emerged from the trenches and joined together in song.

Renowned Canadian concert pianist, David Jalbert, returns to Brock with a program of solo piano works by Bach, Schumann, Liszt and Faure. The recital will conclude with Prokofiev's monumental Sonata No. 7, Op. 33 in B flat major.

More than 2,500 years after it was written, Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone remains one of the most read, performed, and adapted plays in all of dramatic literature. Why is this the case?

A zine is a small, non-commercial, often homemade publication. In this 3-hour workshop, zine author Christine Cucciniello will help participants in the creation of a common zine. Please join us for a fun, creative experience. Each participant will receive a copy of the zine.

The deliberate use of merchandising strategies in presidential campaigns and governmental communications have in the past decade sought out ways to close the gap between the people and their candidates or government officials. The epitome of such strategies can be found in one section of the official website of the Mexican president, entitled: “My picture with the President.” Now, 6 years into his devastating presidency, it seems clear that the only thing president Enrique Peña Nieto has been interest in all along was looking his best with his fans.

The Avanti Chamber Singers present Boundless : conducted by Rachel Rensink-Hoff. Bask in the wonder and mystery of this world and beyond!

These recitals are performed by our most talented performers, who do recitals courses for credit following a rigorous audition process. Come and hear the stars of tomorrow, getting their start right here through our Music program.

Brock Visual Arts student Amber Lee Williams presents photographs, sculptures and installations investigating motherhood, relationships within the family, and loss. Musical performance TBA.

We are proud to present our newest ensemble. Under the direction of George Cleland, the String Orchestra combines university students and community members in the performance of standard masterworks and lesser-known gems of the string repertoire.

This exhibition in two parts displays the work of Honours graduates from Brock University’s Department of Visual Arts. Occupying Rodman Hall’s third floor studios during the 2017–18 academic year, students in the Honours Studio course have been mentored by gallery staff and Visual Arts professors Donna Szőke, Shawn Serfas, Derek Knight, and Donna Akrey. If collectively their goal is to develop a focused body of work from concept to public exhibition, these two unique exhibits capture the exceptional vitality and daring of the emerging artist.

Fourth year recital: William Sadler, tenor with Lesley Kingham on the piano

Brock Visual Art student Sarah Martin and Brock Visual Arts Alumni Caterina Stambolic present photographs and sculptures investigating the interruptions between mind and body. Opening reception to be held on Thursday Mar. 8 from 5-8 pm.

Second year recital: Jessica Tigchelaar, violin with Luis Molina, piano These recitals are performed by our most talented performers, who do recitals courses for credit following a rigorous audition process.

Jane Bunnett and friends look back and present some of the most elegant music from Cuba's rich musical history. Performing music from the beginning of the early 20th century until the present, this evening explores the rarely heard European influences in Cuban music by great composers such as Lecuona, Valdes Cervantes, etc., melding European classical styles with Jazz and Afro Cuban Rhythms.

This exhibition coincides with the talk on Wednesday Jan. 31 presented by Walker Cultural Leader, Dr. Julie Crooks. Her research situates the Bell-Sloman Collection as a "fugitive archive," built with defiance and resistance, in order to preserve, salvage and recover the histories of black Canadian communities whose stories and material artefacts are often left untold or subject to erasure. The exhibition in the Visual Arts Exhibition Space will showcase some of the material presented in the lecture. Please reserve your spot for this free WCL lecture by registering here: wcl-bell-sloman-crooks.eventbrite.com .

A program that springs across the spectrum of classical music, Guy Few (trumpet and piano) and Stephanie Mara (piano) present Jump, which explores the quirkier side of repertoire for trumpet and piano, and piano four-hand. Energetic and exciting, the music hops from classical bebop to chorale, a tarantella to a ballad, and lyrical melodies to wild dancing. Cross-cultural, historical and harmonic styles are depicted in this thrilling program that will have audiences jumping to their feet.

ART BLOCK showcases the artwork of Brock Art Collective members. All artwork has been created on 6”x6” panels in a variety of mediums and will be for sale starting at $40.

Winter is coming. Through blustering winds, treacherous terrains and sleepless nights, those three words remained a mantra in the mind of Adam Shoalts (BA ’09). When the modern-day voyageur set off to conquer the Canadian Arctic in May, he knew it would be a race against time to reach the finish line by September.

In fall 2017, Rodman Hall invites visitors to experience the exhibition Material Girls, which brings together Canadian and international female artists from across artistic disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Giving particular attention to the colourfulness and jubilance of this exhibition, in Colour Constructs, students in Visual Arts, Studies in Arts and Culture, and French Studies explore the materiality of colours in their own diverse ways. Student works are complemented by graffiti art by Niagara-based artist Mat Vizbulis, a classroom guest during the semester.

The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock’s student choral ensembles (men’s, women’s and mixed choruses). Under the direction of conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff, this excellent choir performs multiple concerts throughout the academic year. Includes a Canada 150 performance, composed by Stephanie Martin.

The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock’s student choral ensembles (men’s, women’s and mixed choruses) as well as Avanti Chamber Singers (avantichambersingers.com), who serve as Ensemble-in-Residence for the Department of Music. Under the direction of conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff, these excellent choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year.

The Niagara Leadership Summit for Women presents an inclusive environment to encourage and celebrate women leaders in our community and opens the conversation surrounding women’s issues in Niagara. Everyone, regardless of gender, should have the courage and confidence to be the leader they are and want to be. Leadership is not about being ‘at the top’—there are leaders all around us who make a difference every day.

Hardworking Columbina just wants to enjoy the majestic Wooers’ Woods in peace after a long day’s work, but the greedy business tycoon Pantalone is scheming. When Columbina discovers his plot to build the biggest casino in the world, she knows she must take action. Armed with her wits and her lovesick friends, she aims to set things right in this fun-filled, fast paced, physical comedy that explores the meeting of contemporary life and classical Commedia dell’Arte. Written and Directed by Mike Griffin

The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts will be opening its doors to the public in celebration of Culture Days! We welcome you to stop by every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. for a guided tour of our new, state of the art facility. Not looking for a guided tour? Feel free to pick up a campus map and explore the spaces on your own! Representatives will be waiting for you at the David S. Howes entrance, adjacent to the Performing Arts Centre!

Discover the beauty and depth of brass – from the rhythms of the English Renaissance to the streets of New York City – this concert has something for everyone. Enjoy the sounds of Italy, Russia and France as well as Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story . Our Canadian visit features Morley Calvert's celebrated Suite from the Monteregian Hills.

The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock’s student choral ensembles (men’s, women’s and mixed choruses) as well as Avanti Chamber Singers ( avantichambersingers.com ), who serve as Ensemble-in-Residence for the Department of Music. Under the direction of retiring conductor Harris Loewen, these excellent choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year. They have also engaged in community outreach, collaborated with choirs in Canada and the U.S., and produced CD recordings of works by Niagara composers.

Our Tuesday Music@Noon series is generously sponsored by the RBC Foundation. This free concert series takes places most Tuesdays at noon throughout the academic year. Held in the acoustically excellent Cairns Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, our Music@Noon series provides ample opportunities for artists to display their creativity.

For those who enjoy comedy with a dark undertow, plan to join us for the world premiere of The Ash Mouth Man, an original theatre work to be held in the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre at 15 Artists’ Common.
 Meet Lorna, who in the ‘50’s, is the 31st lady dentist in Canada. A bit of a social misfit, Lorna works on Pretty Girl Street, treating people with all kinds of disorders.

Brock University Visual Arts students will take over at Market Square in St. Catharines with their upcoming Time and Space Exhibition. The...

It's a charity event to raise funds for Community Care St. Catharines & Thorold to help those in need!

Viva Voce! Choral Series presents ANIMALIA: The Lighter Side of the Animal Kingdom

Registering to participate in the year's Walk for Alzheimer's is easy to do - click here to register online or click here to download a pledge sheet to bring with you on the day of the Walk and register in-person beginning at 9:30 am on January 31st at Brock University in St. Catharines.

Hosted by the Social Justice and Equity Studies Graduate Program at Brock University, the Niagara Social Justice Forum is a day-long program of activities such as concurrent workshops, performances, exhibits and information tables in a fair-like atmosphere. This event typically attracts over 150 people from both campus and the community and explores a wide range of issues. Activities are proposed and organized through an open call to campus and community-based individuals and groups committed to social justice.

The University Wind Ensemble enjoys a rich heritage of musical excellence, bringing together both university and high school students as well as members of the Niagara musical community to explore and perform major symphonic wind band works, both original and transcribed. Talented brass, woodwind, and percussion performers engage with their peers and conductor while pursing their passion and enjoyment of music through creative expression.

Our Tuesday lunchtime recital series is free and open to the public, featuring our performance faculty, talented students and alumni, as well as special guests. Held at the Cairns Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines

Brock University’s Department of Dramatic Arts presents their rendition of German playwright Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill’s renowned opera/musical, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny , to be held in the Dramatic Arts Theatre at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, 15 Artists’ Common, from Nov. 13 – 21, 2015.

A celebration of the classical guitar in Niagara, featuring music by local composers: Jeff Bond, Timothy Phelan, Mark Steiger and Floyd Turne; Brock’s eight current guitar students; Brock alumni including: Kirk Harber, Max Holten-Andersen, Kaz Simaitis, Mark Steiger and Paul Wiebe; local International performers Timothy Phelan and Emma Rush; nylon-string fingerstyle performances by Niagara veteran professional guitarists Dan Kozar, Warren Stirtzinger and James Bryan Mccollum (The Philosopher Kings, Prozzak, Nelly Furtado; and another two dozen young and not-so-young students and aficionados of the instrument! Solos, duos, trios, quartets, and the 40+ member “Mighty Niagara Guitar Orchestra” for the grand finale!

The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock’s student choral ensembles as well as the Avanti Chamber Singers ( avantichambersingers.com ). The choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the year. They have also engaged in community outreach, collaborated with other choirs, and produced recordings of works by Niagara composers.

Cellist Gordon Cleland will perform in the Visual Arts studio surrounded by students and professional artists, who will be creating works of art. Cleland is principal cellist with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and an instructor in the Department of Music. Held in the Visual Arts Drawing Studio (Rm. MW416), Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, 15 Artists' Common in downtown St. Catharines

Join us on Monday, October 5th as the Department of Music launches their superb season, and recognizes donors Art & Val Fleming for their generous gift of a beautiful Steinway piano!

Percussionist Devon Fornelli will converse in real time with the city soundscape using traditional instruments and found materials.

The Viva Voce Choral Series includes Brock’s student choral ensembles (men’s and women’s choruses) as well as the Avanti Chamber Singers, a mixed ensemble including many Brock staff and Music alumni. Under the direction of conductor Harris Loewen, the ensembles perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year, and engage in community outreach, collaborative work with other Ontario choirs and special recording projects.

The DART 4F56 class is one where students work together collectively. Students use the knowledge they have accumulated throughout their four years of the Dramatic Arts program to create, build, and produce a collaborative piece that embraces the physical expressivity of Grotowski and LeCoq, action study from Stanislavsky, the performance clarity of Brechtian theories, and the work in voice, speech and spontaneity that grounds research and critical theory in human relations. A good theatre process takes awkward and uncomfortable to a whole new level!

The fifth Festival of the Arts – Industrial Fabric , held March – April 2015, illustrates the unique talents of students enrolled in the...

The University Wind Ensemble enjoys a rich heritage of musical excellence, bringing together both university and high school students as well as members of the Niagara musical community to explore and perform major symphonic wind band works, both original and transcribed. Talented brass, woodwind, and percussion performers engage with their peers and conductor while pursing their passion and enjoyment of music through creative expression.