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EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Architecture (ARCH)

Film

College of the Arts (COTA)

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA)

Art + Art History + Design (A+AH+D)

Music & Theater (M&T)

Community Partner (CP)

Event continues on multiple dates.

Welcome to Fall term! The excitement is palpable in the College of the Arts as we continue to ride some major tailwinds from recent successes and ongoing developments. Our partnership with LAIKA kicks off this year, as three faculty fellows and six students begin their collaborative work with this world-renowned animation studio. We are celebrating a historic show of support from our state government to fund PSU’s portion of the new Performing Arts and Culture Center. Within this complex, PSU will build new and much-needed academic spaces in which our music and theater students can learn, study, and perform. Our new mass timber building for the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design is set to open in just eight months, realizing the stunning and powerful vision that our faculty had for this facility. Our School of Architecture once again teamed up with Pickathon this summer to build a wildly creative stage, which served not only as a centerpiece of the festival but also as a model for the other stages and art installations of the event. Finally, our award-winning Chamber Choir and Opera programs, having earned national and international prominence, both celebrate their 50th anniversaries this year, with spectacular performance seasons on the horizon.

All of these exciting developments—and so many more — give us reason to celebrate as we start the 2025-26 academic year. We invite you to attend any of the many events offered by our faculty, students and community partners, and join us as we continue to make history.

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr. Dean, College of the Arts Portland State University

Above: Yoonhee Choi

Left/Cover: “HwaHong,” recycled cotton paper, 11”x17”, 2024

On the cover: KSMoCA’s Fall visiting artist, Yoonhee Choi, is a multidisciplinary maker whose works include paper pulp paintings, line-tape collage, and folded paper compositions. Born and raised in South Korea, Choi was educated as a city planner, an architect and an artist. Her work is in numerous private and public permanent collections including the Portland Art Museum, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Collection and the Portland International Airport. In this residency at KSMoCA, Choi will lead art workshops with the young students at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, and her work will be displayed alongside theirs in a public exhibition at the school, opening December 4. See page 10.

ONGOING

ONGOING THU 2 FRI 3 SUN 5 THU 9 FRI 10

Deinum Prize Showcase: Missing Everglades of the West, by Adrianna Jasso—Adrianna Jasso ‘25, winner of the College of the Arts 2025 Deinum Prize, explores Indigenous perspectives on water and dam removal along the Klamath River in this documentary film and exhibition. Runs through December 14.

FILM + COTA | FREE LINCOLN HALL BROADWAY GALLERY AND STUDIO THEATER

Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation—Through her collaborative printmaking process, multimedia artist Marie Watt brings her Indigenous and German-Scot ancestry into her storytelling, which draws from Native and non-Native traditions, including Greco-Roman myth, pop music and Pop art, Indigenous oral narratives, “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” Runs through December 6. See also page 5.

JSMA | TIMES VARY | FREE JSMA AT PSU

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—At the Graphic Design program’s lunchtime lectures, design professionals share wisdom on current topics in the industry.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Music @ Midday Formerly known as the Noon Concert Series, the School of Music & Theater’s weekly lunchtime series features renowned faculty and talented student ensembles. See page 3.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Fridays@1—Architects, designers, scholars, artists, faculty and students discuss contemporary issues and timeless principles in the field of architecture.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

Portland Piano International: Boris Giltburg—Pianist Boris Giltburg plays Chopin and Rachmaninoff.

CP | 4:00 PM | $53–$63; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Music @ Midday: Echoes of Spain: Music for Violin and Piano—Inspired by violinist Tomás Cotik’s Fulbright Scholar year in Spain, this program highlights the intersection of classical tradition and Spanish folk influences, featuring works by de Sarasate, Granados, Albéniz and de Falla.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1—See October 3.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

CP | 7:30 PM | $57; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL SAT 11 TUE 14

Portland Taiko: Gaman: Past and Present Gaman is a Japanese word often translated as “inner strength.” With this concert, Portland Taiko honors the legacy of their Japanese forebears, who endured famine, the Great Depression, backbreaking labor, discrimination and unjust incarceration in internment camps—but who nevertheless embraced the spirit of gaman, persevering with dignity and patience. The Minidoka Swing Band joins Portland Taiko. Additional performance on October 12.

CP | TIMES VARY | $40 GENERAL; $28 STUDENTS; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Portland Piano International: Anderson and Roe

San Francisco Classical Voice has called Anderson and Roe “the most dynamic duo of this generation.”

ABOVE: GEORGE COLLIGAN

MIDDLE: PSU CHAMBER CHOIR IN ITALY

RIGHT: TOM Á S COTIK

A musical interlude: Experience jazz, classical, electro-acoustic and more, performed by some of the best musicians the region has to offer, right here on our own campus. This term, the Music @ Midday series, formerly known as the Noon Concert Series, includes performances by violinist Tomás Cotik, jazz pianist George Colligan with vocalist Zyanna Melada, PSU’s award-winning Chamber Choir, pianist Melissa Espíndola Terrall and many others.

The series kicks off with a faculty showcase on Friday, October 3. Mark your calendar for Fridays at 12:15 p.m. for this weekly musical experience that is frequently inspirational, never dull—and always free. See page 2 (and most Fridays throughout the term).

ABOVE: “PANIC SETS IN” STILL AND POSTER

Don’t panic: In a moment of sheer terror, a man makes a split decision that explodes the most important relationship in his life. Blending tension and suspense with savage dark comedy, the new feature film “Panic Sets In” takes a twisted trip into the heart of one couple’s tenuous bond.

“Panic Sets In” was written and directed by PSU Film professor Dustin Morrow, whose film “Black Pool” was praised as “claustrophobic, intense [and] white-knuckling” by Willamette Week. “Panic Sets In” was produced entirely by a Portland-based cast and crew. On October 23, join Professor Morrow and lead actors from the film for a screening and Q&A. See page 5.

THU 16 FRI 17

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Music @ Midday: Poetic Resonances—As part of the PSU Steinway Piano Series, guest pianist Ronaldo Rolim performs works by Scriabin, Ravel, Chopin, Price and de Falla, in a program that balances his “consummate elegance” (New York Concert Review) with energetic dynamism. Master class featuring PSU students, at 2 p.m. in Lincoln Hall 326, follows the recital.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1: Center for Public Interest Design Students from PSU School of Architecture’s Center for Public Interest Design showcase recent student-led, community-focused projects including the Oak Savanna and ITECK Center, the Rocket Mass Heater Bench, the AR Sandbox and the Montgomery Plaza Activation

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

Friends of Chamber Music: Esmé Quartet—Equally at ease with the classical masterworks as with contemporary repertoire, the Esmé Quartet is recognized for their mesmerizing performances. Additional performance on October 21.

CP | 7:30 PM | $32–$63; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Panic Sets In: Film Screening with Director and Cast Q&A See page 4.

FILM | 6:30 PM | FREE STUDIO THEATER

Music @ Midday: George Colligan featuring Zyanna Melada With guest vocalist Zyanna Melada, jazz pianist and professor George Colligan performs original music by Colligan and Melada, joined by Robert Rodriguez (bass) and Micah Hummel (drums).

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1—See October 3.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

Deinum Prize Showcase: Missing Everglades of the West Reception and Screening See page 2.

FILM + COTA | 5:30 PM | FREE LINCOLN HALL BROADWAY GALLERY AND STUDIO THEATER

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Dina Benbrahim: An Introduction to Moroccan Graphic Design Histories—From the 19th century through Morocco’s independence in 1956, the story of Moroccan art and design was written largely from a colonialist perspective. By retelling design histories from Moroccan perspectives, Dina Benbrahim challenges narratives that have positioned European aesthetics as universal standards while relegating non-Western traditions to categories like craft. Benbrahim’s approach to culturally decolonizing design addresses interconnected layers of historical erasure in North Africa. Funded by the Mary Ausplund Tooze Endowed Visiting Professor of Islamic + Ancient Art Fund.

A+AH+D | DOORS AT 6:30 PM | FREE KILN

Music @ Midday See October 3.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1—See October 3.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

CP | 7:30 PM | $10–$77; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL MON 3 THU 6 FRI 7 SAT 8

Friends of Chamber Music: Hermitage Piano Trio—Celebrating over ten years of musical excellence, the Hermitage Piano Trio has solidified its place as one of the world’s leading piano trios, known for their impeccable musicianship, sumptuous sound, and interpretative range. Additional performance on November 4.

CP | 7:30 PM | $32–$63; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Music @ Midday: PSU Chamber Choir—As the Portland State University Chamber Choir prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary season, the award-winning ensemble performs favorite selections from classical, pop and world music.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1—See October 3.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

Chamber Music Northwest: Trio Afiori—The Trio Afiori— featuring clarinetist Anthony McGill, mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron, and pianist Gloria Chien—performs music specially arranged for mezzo-soprano, clarinet and piano.

ABOVE: NANCY KING, WITH THE TOM ALBERING TRIO, 1970 s

Remembering a jazz icon: The uncompromising jazz vocalist Nancy King passed away in August 2025, leaving a supportive community of jazz artists and music lovers around the world bereft. The musician whom Herb Ellis once called “the greatest living jazz singer” left a legacy of musical innovation, courageous spirit, and a career defined by her fierce determination to create music on her own terms. “It wasn’t just that she was one of the best ‘scat’ singers anywhere,” remembered pianist Tom Grant in a social media post. “It was her ‘old soul’ wisdom that came through in her extraordinary voice.” With heartfelt performances by students and faculty in the PSU Jazz Area, “Perennial,” November 13, will honor King’s artistry, mentorship and the generosity she extended to up-and-coming jazz singers. Expect to hear the songs that defined her remarkable career and will continue to inspire for generations to come. See page 7.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL THU 13 FRI 14 SUN 16 WED 19 THU 20

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Everybody See page 9 Runs through November 22.

M&T | TIMES VARY | $5–$20 BOILER ROOM STUDIO

Perennial: A Concert in Honor of Nancy King See page 6

M&T | 7:30 PM | $15–$35 (PAY WHAT YOU CAN); FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

White Bird: Lali Ayguadé Company—Lali Ayguadé is one of Spain’s most acclaimed up-and coming choreographers, whose career spans collaborations with dancers and circus performers across Europe. Additional performances on November 14 and 15.

CP | 7:30 PM | $12–$75; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Music @ Midday—See October 3.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

Fridays@1—See October 3.

ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX

Breaking Ground: The PSU Chamber Choir and Fourth Wall Ensemble—The Portland State Chamber Choir kicks off its 50th anniversary season with an evening of musical brilliance featuring New York City’s inventive, genre-bending Fourth Wall Ensemble. The program spans centuries, from Claudio Monteverdi’s shimmering Renaissance harmonies to Portland’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, as well as classical works and folk music from the Philippines. Additional performance on November 15.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $25+ TBA

Portland Piano International: Eric Lu—Eric Lu, pianist, plays Schumann, Schubert and Chopin.

CP | 4:00 PM | $53–$63; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Women in Jazz Poster Session and Concert—Students from the Women in Jazz History class present a research poster session highlighting the contributions of women jazz musicians from Oregon. Following the session, enjoy a performance by PSU Jazz faculty members Sherry Alves, Kerry Politzer and friends.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$25 (PAY WHAT YOU CAN); FREE WITH PSU ID

LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

PSU Impro Ensemble’s Postshow Unscripted—Following the November 20 performance of the PSU Theater Arts production “Everybody,” the new PSU Impro Ensemble will take over the stage for an hour of “unscripted” (that is, improvised) postshow fun.

M&T | 9:00 PM | FREE BOILER ROOM STUDIO

Music @ Midday: European and Mexican Piano Repertoire with Melissa Espíndola Terrall—Classical pianist and PSU alumna Melissa Espíndola Terrall performs standards and hidden gems from the European and Mexican repertoire. In between musical pieces, Melissa will conduct a Q&A on topics ranging from building a music career, living abroad, her time at PSU and more.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

PSU Percussion: Ionisation—The PSU Percussion Ensemble, and the newly formed graduate ensemble Percussion Group Portland State, perform contemporary and established works for chamber percussion by Edgard Varèse, Missy Mazzoli and Steve Reich, and a world premiere by Portland-based composer Marc Evanstein.

M&T | 3:00 PM | $10 GENERAL; FREE WITH STUDENT ID LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

In Session: Jazz Combos Live—The Jazz Area Combos present small group performances featuring jazz and contemporary works arranged or composed by students and faculty. Additional performance on November 25.

M&T | 7:00 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

PSU Opera: The Eleanors—“You’re just a bunch of Eleanors,” says a curmudgeon to three young women, intending it as an insult. But to this trio of friends—two with husbands fighting on the frontlines of World War II—it’s an honor to be associated with Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman of purpose, intelligence and compassion. In this uplifting tale of wartime solidarity and community, the three women experience the terror, hardship and enduring hope of living during a time of global strife. As they struggle to keep the home fires burning, they lean on each other, ultimately discovering their own strengths and the power of friendship. Featuring music influenced by swing and the American Songbook, this new chamber opera composed by Jodi Goble, with libretto by Goble and Michael Ching, is a nostalgic delight. Additional performances on November 30, December 6 and December 7.

M&T | TIMES VARY | $45 GENERAL; $30 SENIORS; $20 STUDENTS; $40 GROUPS STUDIO THEATER

PSU Jazz Band—The PSU Jazz Band presents an evening of jazz arrangements crafted by faculty and students. Showcasing original compositions and arrangements, the performance highlights student artistry and expression at the core of the ensemble’s work.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$25 (PAY WHAT YOU CAN); FREE WITH PSU ID

LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

PSU Vocal Collective—The PSU Vocal Collective is a small vocal ensemble performing a wide-ranging contemporary repertoire, including jazz, pop, rock, gospel and more. Composed of 8 to 14 voices and a rhythm section, the Collective focuses on music that features rich harmonies and intricate vocal textures, offering captivating performances that demonstrate the group’s versatility and artistry.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$25 (PAY WHAT YOU CAN);

FREE WITH PSU ID

LINCOLN RECITAL HALL

Death comes for us all: What would you take with you into the afterlife? Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s hilarious, thought-provoking play “Everybody” (2017), directed by Damaris Webb, is a contemporary take on the 15th-century morality play “Everyman.” As the character named Everybody journeys toward their demise, they reflect on a life too quickly ending and beseech a colorful cast of characters, including Time, Friendship, Beauty and Stuff, to accompany them into death. Every night, an onstage lottery assigns cast members their roles, making each performance unique and even a little risky. Irreverent, heartfelt and enticingly unpredictable, “Everybody” invites us to confront the inevitable ending we will all face. The play is “messy and multilayered and constantly surprising . . . an enormously exciting ninety minutes in the theater,” wrote Exeunt magazine. Preview November 13; opening night November 14. Runs through November 22. See page 7.

branden jacobs-jenkins

WED 3 THU 4 FRI 5 MON 8 FRI 12

University Band Concert—PSU’s University Concert Band performs musical selections, with guest ensembles from the School of Music & Theater.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$15

LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Artist Talk and Exhibition: Yoonhee Choi at KSMoCA See page 1.

A+AH+D | 10:00 AM | FREE

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SCHOOL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (KSMOCA)

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—See October 2.

A+AH+D | NOON | FREE

ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL

Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony Concert—PSU’s Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony perform musical selections.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$15

LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

Music @ Midday: Opera Workshop—Opera Workshop students perform operatic scenes and pieces.

M&T | 12:15 PM | FREE

LINCOLN RECITAL HALL AND VIRTUAL

PSU Choirs: Unceasing Love: A Community Sing and Concert—Inspired by the timeless line from Stephen Paulus’s “Pilgrims’ Hymn,” this concert brings together PSU’s community choirs and the Rose, Thorn and Briar Choirs for a heartwarming winter celebration, with works by beloved composers including our own Coty Raven Morris. The program weaves together sacred and secular traditions, embracing the season’s quiet reflection and communal joy through soaring harmonies, spirited rhythms and the unifying power of song.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $20 GENERAL; $10 STUDENTS AND SENIORS FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Friends of Chamber Music: Takács Quartet—Now entering its 50th anniversary season, the Takács Quartet is widely recognized as one of the world’s great ensembles. Known for the vitality of its interpretation and the ability to convey nuance through effortless chemistry, the Quartet is joined on Tuesday, December 9, by violist Jordan Bak for rarely performed Mozart viola quintets. Additional performances on December 9.

CP | 7:30 PM | $32–$63; ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE

LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL

PSU Choirs: A Holiday Garden—PSU Chamber Choir and jazz pianist and professor Darrell Grant perform arrangements by Brad Hansen, to benefit music scholarships.

M&T | 7:30 PM | $20 GENERAL; $10 STUDENTS AND SENIORS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PORTLAND

YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE SUPPORT THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

“Being awarded this scholarship is such an honor. It is validation that my efforts towards becoming a graphic designer are valued and it is encouragement to put my all into the last year of my degree.”

Scholarship recipient, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design, College of the Arts, Class of 2025

Your generosity plays a crucial role in uplifting our students and faculty in the College of the Arts (COTA), helping them achieve their dreams. With your support, they acquire the skills and develop the portfolios needed to serve as visionary leaders in an ever-changing world. By contributing to COTA scholarships, faculty research, initiatives, and programs, you help PSU cultivate the next generation of artists and sustain a vibrant, creative community. Thank you for making a difference!

Contact Kailin Mooney, Director of Development, at mooneyk@psuf.org or or 503.725.5031 for more information.

To make a gift, visit bit.ly/give-arts

Up on Cherry Hill: Continuing a years-long partnership between PSU Architecture and Pickathon, students in PSU’s Architecture program designed and built an original, temporary performance venue at the music festival this summer. This year’s creation for the Cherry Hill “neighborhood” was a landscape-hugging snakelike stage structure named “The Water Serpent” by the students who created it. Made from more than 500 pieces of Douglas fir and 400 burlap strips cut from coffee-bean sacks, the stage created a welcoming, inspiring destination within the festival, hosting some 18 performances. All of the materials from the stage will go on to be reused in other settings, leaving no waste.

Portland State University | College of the Arts Fall 2025 Events

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