September 20, 2000

Contact: Vickie Hamilton-Smith, School of Fine Arts, (785) 864-9742.

KU School of Fine Arts launches lunch concerts at union

Brown Bag Classics brings the School of Fine Arts to a central space on campus, while creating awareness of student and faculty performers in the Department of Music and Dance. Each event will be entertaining and educational because the performers will discuss the works they play and field questions from the audience.

"The School of Fine Arts is delighted to launch this new series, designed to highlight student and faculty performers and occasionally artists from the Lied Center Series," says Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of the School of Fine Arts.

"The emphasis is on helping our students learn to become more articulate advocates for the arts," Montgomery says. "The era of artists giving concerts then walking off stage is passing."

The mission also is to educate new audiences about the variety of programming offered through the Department of Music and Dance. Brown Bag Classics audiences are likely to hear jazz, piano, choral works and an assortment of chamber music.

Those attending are encouraged to bring a lunch. Drinks are provided courtesy of the Kansas Union.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm and support of union director David Mucci, who was receptive of the idea of the School of Fine Arts at the Union and has agreed to have the Kansas Union serve as a co-sponsor of the event," Montgomery says.

Mucci shares the excitement: "We are thrilled with the collaboration between the Kansas Union and School of Fine Arts. The union is an excellent forum for student artists to perform for their peers."

A full schedule of Brown Bag Classics will be announced later this month. People from both KU and the Lawrence community as a whole are encouraged to attend.