Arts are in the air as Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto kick off this week in Charleston. For the students in the College’s Arts and the Media at Spoleto Maymester class, that means hands-on experience in artist research, scheduling, question development, interviewing, app development, broadcast programming, social media, marketing and media relations, script writing, voiceover and remote- and studio-video and -audio recording/editing.

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Spoleto opening ceremony

For the rest of us, it means 17 days of cultural adventure beginning May 22 and featuring faculty and alumni from the School of the Arts and the College of Charleston.

Here are the must-see Piccolo Spoleto events that involve CofC talent:
  1. Sacred Harp Singing: Mathematics professor Tom Ivey helped organize this all-day singing event that showcases traditional singers from around the South.
  2. Jazz Cruise: Professor emeritus Franklin Ashley and his quintet performs aboard this cruise around the Charleston Harbor.
  3. Little Red Riding Hood : College of Charleston Opera performs for the Piccolo Spoleto Children’s Program.
  4. Classical Colleagues: College of Charleston professors and celebrated musicians, violinist Yuriy Bekker, pianist Ran Dank and cellist Natalia Khoma, play chamber music together in concert for the first time.
  5. Stelle di Domani: Sure to make you feel the power of dance and the theatre, this seven-part series features students, faculty and alumni from the College’s Department of Theatre and Dance.
  6. Force of Nature: On display at the College’s Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, this exhibition features the recent work of Alyson Shotz, whose practice examines the properties and interactions of light, gravity, mass and shape.
  7. Young Artists Series: The College of Charleston Young Artists Series presents 13 concerts, ranging from opera and choral works to music by the jazz and classical ensembles.
  8. Early Music Series: Coordinated by music professor Steve Rosenberg, this series features music from around the world – all located in the French Protestant Huguenot Church.
  9. Jazz Concerts: College of Charleston faculty and alumni perform in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s jazz concerts, including an intimate concert at Kiawah.
  10. L’Organo Recital Series: Music professor Julia Harlow (organ) performs with alumni Jack Cleghorn (harpsichord) and Esther Senft (violin).
  11. Spotlight Concert Series: Music professors Natalia Khoma (cello) and Volodymyr Vynnytsky (piano) perform at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, and music professor Robert Taylor is coordinating a concert at Mepkin Abbey.
  12. Celtic Arts Series: Coordinated by music professor Robert Taylor, this series features the Taylor Festival Choir, in residence at the College of Charleston.
  13. Remington Concert Series: Music professor Natalia Khoma and CofC alumni have concerts in this series.