HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Arts First, Harvard's annual festival of students in the arts, will celebrate its 14th anniversary May 4 - 7. Sponsored by Harvard University's Board of Overseers, the festival involves more than 2,000 students presenting over 200 concerts, theatrical and dance productions, multimedia presentations, exhibitions, and public artworks. The Office for the Arts at Harvard (OfA), which produces Arts First, announced its sponsorship of 25 of the many projects taking place during the weekend festival.

A sampling of the projects, which are sponsored through the OfA grants program and selected by the Council on the Arts at Harvard (a committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences), follows: photography exhibitions by Diversity & Distinction and Tuesday magazines; dance performances by the Asian American Dance Troupe; readings and spoken word performances; six theatrical productions; concerts by the Harvard Early Music Society; and "Manual v.1," an multimedia installation.

Grants are awarded to undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff. Funded projects combine artistic merit, artistic experimentation, and educational benefit to undergraduates. Council on the Arts members at the time of selection include Robert J. Kiely (chair), Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor of English; Elizabeth Bergmann, director, OfA dance program; S. Allen Counter, director, Harvard Foundation; Deborah Foster, assistant dean for undergraduate education; Jorie Graham, Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory; Annette Lemieux, professor of the practice of studio arts in visual and environmental studies; Cathleen McCormick, program director, OfA; Jack Megan, director, OfA; Robert J. Orchard, director of Loeb Drama Center and executive director of the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.); Stephen Prina, professor of visual and environmental studies; Carol Oja, William Powell Mason Professor of Music; Marcus Stern, associate director, A.R.T. and the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theatre Training; and John Stewart, senior preceptor in music.

The OfA, which administers the grants, will also offer grants for projects taking place during fall semester 2006. The application deadline for these grants is May 10. Visit http://www.fas.harvard.edu/ofa for further information.

OfA grants for dance

Dance Festival 2006, Crimson Dance Team, Julia Choe '09: The Crimson Dance Team's presentation of routines incorporating elements of jazz, funk, gymnastics, and ballet.

Dance Festival 2006, Harvard Ballet Company, Amy Diaz '08: A performance featuring original choreographed pieces created by members of the company.

The Joyful Villagers, Madelyn Ho '08: A traditional Chinese dance duet featuring elements of ethnic folk dance as well as classical Western styles.

Asian American Dance Troupe, Tibetan Dance, Eva Luo '08: Performance showcasing traditional Tibetan dance, costume, and music including sacred chants and resonant drum beats.

OfA grants for multidisciplinary arts

Manual v.1, Xiaowei Wang '08: An art installation in the Molotov Café in Adams House.

"Maude and Harold: On-Ice," Farley Katz '06: "On-ice" production of an original dark comedy musical about a May-December romance.

"Spotlight on Multiracial People in the Arts," Harvard College ReMixed, Ndidi Menkiti '06: Exhibition celebrating the artistry of multiracial actors, musicians, directors, and writers, and open-mike night featuring spoken word performances and readings on multiracial themes.

OfA grants for music

Harvard Pops Orchestra, Perry Tsai '07: A short concert featuring favorites from the Pops 2005-06 concert repertoire, including student-composed pieces.

Chamber Music Marathon Concert, Brattle Street Chamber Players, Zachary Taxin '09: A concert featuring chamber ensemble performances of lesser-known and contemporary works.

Dudley House Orchestra Concert, conductor Drew Schroeder: Concert featuring Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 12," a selection of Dvorak's "Slavonic Dances," and a solo with acclaimed young soprano Susanna Phillips.

Handel's "Messiah," Holden Choirs, Quentin Sedlacek '08: A performance of the complete "Messiah."

Harvard Brass Ensemble, David Daniels '09: A concert debut of a new student group, including student-written compositions.

Harvard Wind Ensemble, Grace Schroer '09: A concert featuring repertoire highlights as well as works composed or arranged by Harvard alumni or faculty such as Leroy Anderson and Leonard Bernstein.

Harvard Percussion Quartet, Danielle Lehle '07: A concert of a variety of works including jazz-style, drums-intensive, and mixed-percussion work.

Spem in Musicum Habui, Harvard Early Music Society, Michael Givey '06: A performance of sacred and secular music of the English Renaissance, including Tallis' "Spem in Alium" for 40 voices.

"Struttin' with Some Barbecue: The Jazz Tradition of New Orleans," Harvard Sunday Jazz Band, Noel Swanson '08: A tribute to the birthplace of American jazz to take place during the Arts First picnic on May 6.

OfA grants for theater

"A Tale of Two Cities," Sunken Garden Children's Theater, Mary Birnbaum '07: A performance of the Dickens classic at the Radcliffe Yard Sunken Garden.

"Alice in Wonderland," John Drake '06: A staging of Lewis Carroll's classic.

Immediate Gratification Players' Dinner Party Show, Nathan Dern '07: An improv comedy show where everyone in the audience is a guest at a dinner party.

"Inherit the Wind," Eleni Andreadis '06: A production of the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee based on the 1925 Scopes Trial, to be staged in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum.

"The Zoo Story," Brandon Geller '08: A production of traditional theater in a nontraditional space.

OfA grants for visual arts

"Ten Years of Uncovering Diversity," Diversity & Distinction Magazine, Jessica Harmon '07: A photography exhibit featuring notable photography from the magazine over the past 10 years.

"Last to Be First," Corey Rennel '07: A film documenting the Harvard Mountaineering Club's attempt to be the first American expedition to penetrate the Borkolody Range deep within the Kyrgyz Republic.

"Sleight of Veritas," Harvard Magic Club, David Mu '07: A performance by the Harvard club.