December 2014

UArts to Conduct National Search for New President

Sean T. Buffington (left), who has served as president of the University of the Arts since 2007, will step down from that position effective January 1, 2015, it was announced by UArts Board of Trustees Chair Jeffrey A. Lutsky. Provost Kirk E. Pillow has been appointed interim president beginning on January 1, while a national search is conducted. President Buffington will assist Dr. Pillow through January 31 to ensure a smooth transition. Buffington will join the Henry Luce Foundation in New York City as vice president for planning and strategic initiatives. "Sean has led the University of the Arts through important changes that position it as a leader in arts education nationally," Lutsky said. "The trustees and the University community are grateful to him for his leadership and service and wish him well in his new role at the Luce Foundation."

School of Music Alum Heads to Semi-Finals on NBC's 'The Voice'

School of Music alum Matt McAndrew BM '13 (Vocal Performance) [above] proved once again why he is still a finalist on NBC singing competition "The Voice," delivering a jaw-dropping performance of the Damien Rice song "The Blower's Daughter" that earned him a spot in the show's Top 5. His cover version peaked at No. 2 on the iTunes Top 200 Singles Chart, the highest charting song of any "Voice" performance from the December 1 live show. McAndrew and the other four semi-finalists will perform live for viewers' votes and a chance to advance to "The Voice" finals on Monday, December 8.

Students Sweep Philadelphia Museum of Art Design Competition

Students from the University's College of Art, Media & Design were top winners in the 2014 Collab Student Design Competition held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on November 17. Jude Marks '16 (Industrial Design) was named the first-place winner, Chun Lin "Eddie" Yeh '15 (Industrial Design) won second place and Colleen Daniels '15 (Craft + Material Studies) took home third place. In addition, work by juniors Lena Feliciano-Hansen '16 (Industrial Design) and Tito Williams '16 (Industrial Design) and Glasgow School of Art exchange student Sarah Gray (Industrial Design) was included in Collab's week-long "People's Choice Award" exhibition on display at the museum.

Above right: First-place winner "Habitat" by Jude Marks '16 (Industrial Design).

Longtime UArts Trustee Irvin Borowsky Passes Away

Longtime UArts Trustee Irvin J. Borowsky, a benefactor of the University and an outstanding business leader and philanthropist, passed away on November 25 at the age of 90. Irvin and his wife, Trustee Laurie Wagman, were instrumental in the creation of the University's Borowsky Center for Glass Arts and the prestigious Irvin Borowsky Prize in Glass Arts, awarded annually.

Funeral services were held November 28 in Philadelphia.

American Ballet Theatre Showcases Choreography by Dance Professor

The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) showcased new work by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance Jillian Peña as part of its Innovation Initiative, a one-night-only performance that featured works in process choreographed by members of ABT and outside creators, and performed by ABT dancers. The performance was held November 16 at Columbia University's Miller Theatre.

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Music Students to Perform with Top Jazz Orchestra

Congratulations to Instrumental Performance majors Jimmy Boyle '16 (Trumpet) [lead trumpet], Nick Lombardelli '15 (Trombone) [lead trombone, 2nd year], Zack Lutz '16 (Saxophone) [baritone sax], Connor Saltzer '16 (Drums) [drum set alternate] and Evan Kilgore '15 (Saxophone) [tenor sax alternate, 2nd year], who have been selected for the 2015 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra (MACJO), recognized as the premier orchestra for the East Coast's finest college jazz musicians. The MACJO Orchestra will perform on Sunday, January 5, 2015, at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola as part of the program at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, led by Sean Jones, lead trumpeter for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

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Above l-r: Jimmy Boyle, Zack Lutz, Connor Saltzer, Evan Kilgore and Nick Lombardelli.

Young Alumni Challenge - We Did It!

Thanks to the generosity of our young alumni, we have successfully completed the Mandell Young Alumni Challenge! The challenge, created by the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation with help from alumnus TJ Walsh BFA '07 (Graphic Design), matched one to one all gifts to the Annual Fund from those who graduated from UArts in the last 10 years, doubling the value of their contribution. Donors to the Annual Fund increase our ability to offer the critical scholarship dollars that nearly 90 percent of our students count on each and every year. As our year draws to a close, we invite you to consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Annual Fund so that even more of our students can be positively impacted by the generosity of those that have gone before them.