Greetings!
FROM THE DIVISION CHAIR OF FINE ARTS
As we embark on the second season of events in our newly renovated facility, I have been reflecting on the connection between the arts and our spiritual lives. In the 31st chapter of Exodus, God endows Bezalel with knowledge and skills to make artistic designs and to engage in all kinds of crafts in support of worship. He also instructs Moses that the seventh day of each week should be set aside as a day of rest, as holy to the Lord.
We are blessed to be part of a community that values collaboration; many of our events this year will highlight the collective efforts of student artists, designers, and performers working in concert – Opera, Theatre, and Christmas Candlelight just to name a few! The Riney Fine Arts Center also hosts our Campus Chapel; we invite you to enjoy this sacred space as an opportunity for worship, prayer, or meditation.
A Friends education prepares students to share their gifts in ways that enrich the lives of whole communities. This past spring, students from art, design, creative writing, psychology, and marketing contracted with the City of Belle Plaine, Kansas, to propose a plan for downtown revitalization. Our choirs have shared their time and talents with Rotary and in visiting with retirement home residents in our area. These are but a few of the ways in which we seek to reflect God’s love for all of us.
We hope you’ll be able to join us this year for a dose of inspiration, comfort, and community!
Come fly wi
Dr. Nathanael May
Tim & Gail Buchanan Fine Arts Division Chair
DR. LYDIA BECHTEL
Assistant Professor of Voice; Coordinator of Vocal Studies
AARON KRONE
Associate Professor of Art
DR. RAYVON T.J. MOORE
Assistant Professor of Music; Director: Choral Studies & Singing Quakers
FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FINE ARTS
FACULTY & STAFF
HEATHER EILERTS
Assistant Professor of Dance
SARAH LAMAR
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre
DR. CANÈS NICOLAS
Associate Professor of Strings; Director: Orchestra
LEIGH BARTON-GREEN Fine Arts Events Coordinator
DR. JAMES KNIGHT
Assistant Professor of Piano
DR. NATHANAEL MAY Professor of Music; Tim & Gail Buchanan Division Chair of Fine Arts
ANGELA KAY PÉREZ
Assistant Professor of Music Education; Director of Concert Choir
FREDDY FALCON Friends University Mascot
ADJUNCT FACULTY
DR. SHAWN KNOPP
Associate Professor of Music Education; Director of Bands
STEVE MONSEN
Assistant Professor Graphic Arts
DR. NICHOLAS SCHROEDER
Assistant Professor of Music; Program Director: Jazz
ROBYN MABE Administrative Assistant
Renea Abdallah , Jazz Bass | Doug Billings , Printmaking & Painting | Laura H. Black , Violin
Steve Blasdel , Choral Arranging | Natalie Brown , Art Education | Rolaine Hetherington , Voice | Amy Hoffman , Flute
Chris Johnson , Clarinet | Denise Kintzel , French Horn | Matthew Koehn , Saxophone; Woodwind Methods | Joy Lenau , Piano Kirsten Moler, String Bass | Miguel Santana Morales , Jazz Guitar/Bass; Conjunto Latino | Greg Nickel , Tuba
Doug Ragon , Jazz Piano; Music Theory | Stephanie Shelden , Cello; Voice | Andy Slater, Percussion Niomi Thompson , Speech | Georgeanne Yehling , Voice
Get in touch at friends.edu/directory
FALL
SEPTEMBER
FIRST FRIDAY: DALE STRATTMAN
Opening Reception
Friday 5, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Gallery | On view until Oct. 31 FREE
VISUAL ARTS: STUDENT SHOWCASE
Opening Reception
Friday 5, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until Oct. 31 FREE
FINE ARTS ALL-FACULTY FANFARE CONCERT
Thursday 25, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
Enjoy the many talents of the full-time and adjunct Fine Arts faculty as they perform the opening concert of the 2025-2026 season!
OCTOBER
WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Tuesday 7, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
CASADO JAZZ NIGHT
Wednesday 15, 7-9 p.m.
Casado Campus Center FREE
CHORAL CONNECTIONS CONCERT
Friday 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FALL THEATRE
Saturday 25, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 26, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
Previous productions include “Eurydice”, “Rabbit Hole”, and “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery”. Be sure to check online for the announcement of this year’s Fall Theatre!
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Monday 27, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
CAMPUS BAND & CHAMBER ENSEMBLES CONCERT
Tuesday 28, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
NOVEMBER
FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FLUTE CHOIR 30th ANNIVERSARY REUNION CONCERT
Saturday 1, 4 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
ORCHESTRA INVITATIONAL CONCERT
Tuesday 4, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FIRST FRIDAY: GALLERY 12 MEMBER EXHIBIT
Opening Reception
Friday 7, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Gallery | On view until Dec. 20 FREE
VISUAL ARTS: STUDENT SHOWCASE
Opening Reception
Friday 7, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium| On view until Dec. 20 FREE
SINGING QUAKERS ALUMNI CHOIR CONCERT
Saturday 8, 7:30 p.m.
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
TOWER WIND QUINTET
Thursday 13, 7:30 p.m.
Chapel, Riney Fine Arts Center FREE
FRIENDS UNIVERSITY JAZZ COMBOS & CONJUNTO LATINO
Thursday 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FRIENDS UNIVERSITY JAZZ BANDS & JAZZ VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Friday 14, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
GRAPHIC DESIGN: SENIOR EXHIBITION
Opening Reception
Monday 17, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until Dec. 11 FREE
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE FALL OPERA
Friday 21, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 23, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Monday 24, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT
Friday 5, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 6, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 7, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
Come and celebrate the Christmas season with the Singing Quakers and Concert Choir, along with the Friends University Orchestra, Flute Choir, and more, at the annual Christmas Candlelight concerts.
VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE
Opening reception
Monday 8, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until Dec. 11 FREE
The Riney Atrium will be transformed into a grand gallery as Friends University Graphic Design and Studio Art students display their fall semester projects. PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
SPRING
JANUARY
DR. NATHANAEL MAY FACULTY RECITAL
Friday 23, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
Enjoy a program of piano music performed by the Division Chair of Fine Arts, and Professor of Music, Dr. Nathanael May.
DR. JAMES KNIGHT FACULTY RECITAL
Saturday 24, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
DANCE SHOWCASE
Saturday 31, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
FEBRUARY
SING IT! VOCAL FESTIVAL CONCERT
Thursday 5, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FIRST FRIDAY: ANALOG & ALT PHOTO INVITATIONAL
Opening Reception
Friday 6, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Gallery | On view until Feb. 28 FREE
VISUAL ARTS: STUDENT SHOWCASE
Opening Reception
Friday 6, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until Feb. 28 FREE
SPRING MUSICAL
Friday 13, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 14, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 15, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Tuesday 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERTS
Thursday 19, 7:30 p.m.
Friday 20, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FLUTE CHOIR PRE-KMEA CONCERT
Tuesday 24, 7:30 p.m.
Chapel, Riney Fine Arts Center FREE
MARCH
CAMPUS BAND & CHAMBER ENSEMBLES CONCERT
Thursday 5, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
FIRST FRIDAY: IRIS FLETCHER
Opening Reception
Friday 6, 5 - 7 p.m.
Riney Gallery | On view until April 4 FREE
VISUAL ARTS: STUDENT SHOWCASE
Opening Reception
Friday 6, 5 - 7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until April 4 FREE
Highlighting the work of several Friends University Graphic Design and Studio Art students, the Student Showcase events are a part of the city’s First Friday art series.
ORCHESTRA INVITATIONAL CONCERT
Tuesday 10, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
CASADO JAZZ NIGHT
Wednesday 11, 7-9 p.m.
Casado Campus Center FREE
Casado Jazz Nights are a great opportunity for prospective students to sample what Friends University Jazz has to offer in a relaxed environment.
SINGING QUAKERS HOME CONCERT
Friday 27, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 28, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
This concert tradition began in 1923 following the Singing Quakers’ first tour of Kansas under the direction of Roy Campbell. Join current choir director, Dr. Rayvon T.J. Moore, as the Singing Quakers continue this well-established spring concert series.
APRIL
OPERA WORKSHOP SHOWCASE
Tuesday 7, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium FREE
Friends University Opera and Graphic Design students will collaborate in a program that will combine voice performance and interactive sets.
CONCERT CHOIR SPRING CONCERT
Friday 10, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 11, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Tuesday 14, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
GRAPHIC DESIGN: SENIOR EXHIBITION
Opening Reception
Thursday 16, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until May 7
FREE
WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Thursday 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
SYMPHONY OF SPRING
Friday 24, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 25, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 26, 2 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
MAY
JAZZ FINALE CONCERT
Saturday 2, 7 p.m.
Sebits Auditorium
VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE
Opening reception Monday 4, 5-7 p.m.
Riney Atrium | On view until May 7 FREE
TICKET INFORMATION & PURCHASES
RINEY FINE ARTS CENTER EVENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
WORKSHOPS
ALL-STATE PREP DAY *
Friday, September 19, All Day
Get in touch with Choral Director, Dr. Rayvon T.J. Moore, for more information on these events * and for reservations: rayvon_moore@friends.edu
CHORAL CONNECTIONS *
Friday, October 17, All Day
2-Year college choirs will join the Friends University Singing Quakers & Concert Choir in this annual outreach workshop. This educational event culminates into a showcase performance, open to the public at 7:30 p.m. in Sebits Auditorium.
ORCHESTRA INVITATIONAL CONCERTs
Tuesday, November 4 & Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
Local Kansas high school orchestras will join the Friends University Chamber Orchestra on the Sebits Auditorium stage for a collaborative public performance! Email Dr. Canès Nicolas, Director of Orchestra, for more information and how to get your school orchestra involved: canes_nicolas@friends.edu.
SING IT! Vocal festival *
Thursday, February 5, All Day
Kansas high school choirs will join the Friends University Singing Quakers & Concert Choir in this annual outreach workshop. This educational event culminates into a showcase performance, open to the public at 7:30 p.m. in Sebits Auditorium.
FREE MATINEE PERFORMANCES
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (FALL OPERA)
Thursday, November 20, 9:30 a.m. Sebits Auditorium
MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR BAND *
Wednesday, October 15, All Day
*
GET TROMBONAFIDE!
Saturday, November 15, All Day
This all-day workshop is all about the Trombone! Including playing, learning, clinics, concerts, and more!
FESTIVAL OF BANDS *
Wednesday, March 25, All Day
Get in touch with Band Director, Dr. Shawn Knopp, for more information on these events * and for reservations: shawn_knopp@friends.edu .
JAZZ FESTIVAL
Thursday, Feb. 19 & Friday, Feb. 20, All Day
This educational and experiential-focused event aims to provide jazz band students and directors an opportunity to blend with other middle school and high school programs alongside a variety of jazz professionals and educators. Each evening there will be a public concert at 7:30 p.m. in Sebits Auditorium. For more information, contact Dr. Nick Schroeder, Program Director of Jazz: nicholas_schroeder@friends.edu or visit friends.edu/jazzfestival.
matinees are also open to home school students between the ages of 14-18!
Ahoy, me hearties! Come and join Friends University Opera students as they perform Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” , featuring sentimental pirates, a blundering policeman and absurd adventures! This performance will be sung in English and will be accompanied by the Friends University Orchestra.
SPRING MUSICAL
Thursday, February 12, 9:30 a.m. Sebits Auditorium
Previous musicals include “Guys & Dolls”, “Footloose” , and “Catch Me If You Can” . Be sure to check friends.edu/fineartstickets and our social media channels for the announcement of this year’s Spring Musical!
SYMPHONY OF SPRING
Thursday, April 23, 9:30 a.m. Sebits Auditorium
Known primarily for their choral music, the Singing Quakers perform a variety of show tunes, Broadway hits, pop music, Disney favorites and classics for Symphony of Spring. Accompanied by a live orchestra, dancers, and performing in a wide variety of costumes and outfits, Symphony of Spring is a fun performance for all music and theatre lovers!
HOW TO BOOK
Send an email to finearts@friends.edu to reserve your school’s place at any of the matinees above and include the following information: name of your school; how many students and chaperones you intend to bring; and any ADA/seating requirements.
FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS
AUDITION AND PORTFOLIO REVIEW DAYS
When you visit campus on a Scholarship Day, students will have the opportunity to audition for scholarships and portfolio reviews, attend classes, sit in on rehearsals, talk with current students, enjoy a free lunch, and even sit in on preview performances of some of our shows! Visit us on one of the dates listed below!
Audition on nov. 10 for our best scholarship awards!
Nov. 10
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
ART & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Provide a portfolio or samples of your work for Studio or Graphics (concept sketches, drawings, renderings, paintings, photographs, sculpture, ceramics, graphic designs, web designs, mixed media, etc.) Submit as printed material, high-res digital images, and/or website link.
DANCE
Join us for a dance class on audition day, or perform a 2-minute dance solo in ballet, tap, modern/contemporary or jazz.
THEATRE
Perform a memorized 1-2 minute contemporary dramatic or comic monologue, or a piece from a published play. This should be presented in your natural voice without dialects.
Feb. 13
Receive a free ticket to opening night of our Spring Musical!
March 13
April 23
Attend an exclusive matinee for Symphony of Spring!
MUSICAL THEATRE
Perform a memorized, 1 minute contemporary dramatic or comic monologue and a 16-32 bar cut from the musical theatre genre. Students must be prepared to participate in a dance call.
VOICE/CHOIR
Perform a solo for your voice type with piano accompaniment. Singers will also be assessed on vocalization, tonal memory, and sight singing. An accompanist will be provided for you.
PIANO/ORGAN
Perform a piece from the standard classical keyboard literature, and a representative technical work, such as a scale (3 octaves), exercise, or etude.
ALL BAND/JAZZ INSTRUMENTS
A passage from a solo, etude, or KMEA audition music, or a piece from your band music. If you play in jazz band, bring KMEA audition music or a piece from your jazz folder.
ORCHESTRA/STRINGS
One major and one minor scale of your choice; a solo work of your choice; and an etude or an orchestral excerpt, e.g. from a youth symphony audition or KMEA/District orchestra audition.
GUITAR
Reading music in open position; open position chords; Barre chords; Jazz chords; scales/modes; a piece in any style/genre that demonstrates technical ability.
