Opera performer Delores Ziegler returned to UT Knoxville on July 28 to launch the art-themed 2010 Alumni Summer College.
Ziegler, who graduated from UT with a master of music degree, delivered the keynote address for the Alumni Summer College’s opening night.
She currently serves as the chair of the voice/opera division for the University of Maryland’s School of Music. Ziegler’s performing career has taken her to every major theater in the world, and she has a discography of 21 recordings with prestigious orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony, with conductors including James Levine, Riccardo Muti, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Robert Shaw, Claudio Scimone, Armen Jordan, and James Conlon. Her most recent CD is Ned Rorem’s song cycle The Evidence of Things Not Seen.
Ziegler spoke about her illustrious career and the importance of music in our lives. With her accompanying pianist, Dr. Tim McReynolds, Ziegler brought the crowd to their feet with several performances of opera music.
Alumni Summer College
Ziegler’s keynote address was only the first of many educational activities offered during the 2010 Alumni Summer College, whose theme was “Bravo! Exploring the World of Visual and Performing Arts.”
The longest-running lifelong learning program at UT, Alumni Summer College this year hosted 106 alumni and friends from 14 states and Canada from July 28 to August 1.
Events included the following:
- Opening night reception and dinner with keynote address by “Accomplished Alumna” Delores Ziegler
- Faculty Presentations:
- Dr. Heather Hirschfeld, “The Visual Cultures of Shakespeare’s Theater”
- Baldwin Lee, “In Consideration of Photographing the South”
- Wendel Werner, “The History of Rock-n-Roll”
- Dr. Jan Simek, “Prehistoric Rock Art in Tennessee”
- Beauvais Lyons, “Do You Believe in Centaurs?”
- Lunch at the S and W Grand and dinner at The Orangery
- Lunch with college deans
- Clarence Brown Theatre Summer Workshop student performance
- Tour of the Knoxville Museum of Art
- Visit to the Tennessee Theatre with Wurlitzer organ performance by Chancellor Emeritus Bill Snyder
- Saturday Field Trip to Nashville:
- Tour of the Frist Center for Visual Arts
- Tour and lunch at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Dinner at Nick’s in Cookeville
Information about next year’s Alumni Summer College will be posted online later this year. Visit the Lifelong Learning website and the Alumni Summer College website for more information.