College of Visual and Performing Arts (James Madison University)
Encyclopedia
The College of Visual and Performing Arts is an academic college of James Madison University
in Harrisonburg, Virginia
, USA. The colleges include three schools: the School of Art and Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance. The College also includes the Madison Art Collection, and the Institute for Visual Studies.
The College's majors were originally part of the College of Arts and Letters. On June 24, 2005, the Board of Visitors approved the Madison College Proposal, which created the College of Visual and Performing Arts out of the College of Arts and Letters.
with almost 500 members who were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band. In 2005, the School of Music received an anonymous gift of 65 Steinway Pianos
worth $1 million.
. Formed in 1972 (same as the football team), the "MRDs" perform at halftime and post-game at all home football games, and travel with the team occasionally to perform at away and post-season games. In 1994, the MRDs were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band, and was the second ensemble from a school with a I-AA football team to do so, after Florida A&M University
in Danville, Kentucky. The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead, YBS Band solo horn Sheona White
, baritone soloist Katrina Marzella and trumpet soloists Vince DiMartino and Allen Vizzutti
. The band has also worked with prominent brass band conductors Stephen Bulla, Philip Sparke, James Curnow and Douglas Yeo
.
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, USA. The colleges include three schools: the School of Art and Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance. The College also includes the Madison Art Collection, and the Institute for Visual Studies.
The College's majors were originally part of the College of Arts and Letters. On June 24, 2005, the Board of Visitors approved the Madison College Proposal, which created the College of Visual and Performing Arts out of the College of Arts and Letters.
School of Art and Art History
The school offers undergraduate majors in art history, studio art, graphic design, interior design, and industrial design. Minors are offered in studio art and art history.School of Theatre and Dance
The school offers three undergraduate concentrations: theatre, dance, and musical theatre. Minors are offered in theatre and dance. James Madison University, School of Theatre and Dance is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the National Association of Schools of Dance.School of Music
The School of Music offers degrees in music composition, performance, education, theater, and music industry. Currently, the University is home to over ten ensembles. Among them is The Wind Symphony, The JMU Brass Band, a Pep Band, several choirs, and The Marching Royal Dukes, the marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
with almost 500 members who were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band. In 2005, the School of Music received an anonymous gift of 65 Steinway Pianos
Steinway & Sons
Steinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
worth $1 million.
Marching Royal Dukes
The Marching Royal Dukes are the school's official marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
. Formed in 1972 (same as the football team), the "MRDs" perform at halftime and post-game at all home football games, and travel with the team occasionally to perform at away and post-season games. In 1994, the MRDs were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band, and was the second ensemble from a school with a I-AA football team to do so, after Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
JMU Brass Band
The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion (2004, 2005), and is currently the 2007 NABBA Champion Section Runner-up. The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off campus. Most recently, the band was a featured ensemble at the 2004 Virginia Music Educators Conference in Norfolk, Virginia and the 2006 Great American Brass Band FestivalGreat American Brass Band Festival
The Great American Brass Band Festival is a music festival held annually in Danville, Kentucky since 1990. The open-air festival features a wide variety of brass bands, a hot air balloon race, a picnic, and other activities...
in Danville, Kentucky. The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead, YBS Band solo horn Sheona White
Sheona White
Sheona White is the current Solo Horn of Black Dyke Band, was the solo tenor horn player of the YBS and Foden's Richardson bands, as well as horn tutor at the University of Salford, where she also gained her BA Hons degree, with Distinction in Performance....
, baritone soloist Katrina Marzella and trumpet soloists Vince DiMartino and Allen Vizzutti
Allen Vizzutti
Allen Vizzutti is an American trumpeter, composer and music educator.Allen Vizzutti very recently recorded his first solo jazz album in some time. "Ritzville" which will be available November 1st, as announced by Vizzutti himself...
. The band has also worked with prominent brass band conductors Stephen Bulla, Philip Sparke, James Curnow and Douglas Yeo
Douglas Yeo
Douglas Yeo is bass trombonist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he holds the John Moors Cabot Bass Trombone Chair...
.