Enrique Campuzano (b. 1948) Chile. CORONACION, 1990. Oil on canvas. 75 inches by 51 inches.

Five paintings by contemporary Latin American artists have been donated to New World School of the Arts by an anonymous donor. The five large-scale paintings have an appraised value of over $100,000 and represent the seed for NWSA's budding permanent art collection.

NWSA Provost, Dr. Mercedes A. Quiroga who, along with Dean of Visual Arts Maggy Cuesta and NWSA arts faculty Rosario Martinez-Caņas, embraced the valuable donation expressed "This gift helps us materialize our vision of owning our private art collection and it sends a message to the South Florida community at large, to think of NWSA as a worthy institution when it comes time to bequeath their own private collection."

Each piece represents a unique style with varying artistic influences and techniques. They in turn reflect the many different backgrounds that make up the fabric of today's Miami. Artists include Antonio Armaral, Guillermo Trujillo, Siron Franco, Emilio Falero and Enrique Campuzano.

Conducted by Alfred Gershfeld, the NWSA High School Orchestra will present the 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4" and Rimsky- Korsakov's "Capriccio Espagnol", opening this year's music season. Performing alongside the group of fifty five musicians will be the String Quartet, also from the NWSA High School division, coached by Aaron Merritt, and the High School Brass Quintet coached by Lee Morrison.

Our award-winning Symphony Orchestra will continue to showcase its talent as it performs at various exciting venues in the coming months. Joining the 25th Annual Book Fair celebration, the orchestra will be honored to perform at the, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts' Knight Concert Hall on November 8, 2008. NWSA's popular and long awaited annual Symphony Orchestra Concert, typically presented during the fall, will welcome spring this year. Featuring world-renowned pianist Jose Feghali, the March concert will be performed in the heart of Coconut Grove at Ransom Everglades. Visit our website for more information about these upcoming performances.

Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 pm.

Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus Auditorium, Building 1 - Room 1261. 300 NE 2nd Avenue, downtown Miami.

General admission $10; students and seniors $5. More information at (305) 237-3609.

NWSA's David Kwiat, will be celebrating his 20th year as a faculty member in the Theater Division, performing in the Southeastern premiere production of November by David Mamet at GableStage.

Set in the Oval Office just days before a presidential election, this hilarious new play by Pulitzer Prize- winning David Mamet, which just closed on Broadway, addresses many of today's social and cultural issues with a touch of wicked humor.

Saturday, October 18 through Sunday November 16. GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables.

General admission is $37.50 on Thursday and Sunday Matinee. $42.50 Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. More information at (305) 445-8645.

NWSA Provost, Dr. Mercedes A. Quiroga, Foundation Board Co-Chair Abbey Chase; Foundation Board member Betsy Kaplan; college dance students Tsai- Lin Wu, Rony Lenis and Sarah Matry-Guerre; NWSA dance faculty Maureen O'Rourke.

The NWSA college freshman class received a much welcomed surprise as members of the NWSA Foundation Board honored them with a delightful Sunday luncheon.

Organized by Board members Dennis Edwards, Betsy Kaplan and Co-Chair Abbey Chase, the celebration took place at Mr. Edwards' residence. With more than forty guests in attendance, the four-hour fete gave new students (representing the four arts divisions) an opportunity to get to know each other better in an informal and relaxed atmosphere, paramount for an open and creative exchange of ideas.

The occasion was also the perfect setting for one-on- one dialogues between students and NWSA board members, faculty and administration. "NWSA has an open door policy, particularly with the students," explained Dr. Quiroga. "Our Foundation and Executive Board members understand the importance of getting to know our students and are committed to enhancing their experience at NWSA. To that end, they have organized this series of 'welcoming luncheons' giving new students the personal attention they deserve and so important at this stage in their life."

"Because we have a non-traditional campus, the NWSA Board members feel it's important to give our new students a sense of community," added Edwards. "These welcoming events let them know that they have supporters looking out for them, and that we are among the fans who will be attending their performances and exhibitions in the coming years."

Two additional luncheons are slated for this weekend at the homes of NWSA Foundation Board member Susan Galler and Executive Board member Gerald K. Schwartz.

Left photo: NWSA College - dance students Maribel Cordero, Janelle Delgado, Tsai-lin Wu, Malika Brown, Melissa Hurt. Right photo: theater student Lyndsay Flona McLaren with Foundation Board member and host, Dennis Edwards.

New World School of the Arts was created by the Florida Legislature as a Center of Excellence in the visual and the performing arts. An educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida.