UCF music professor Laszlo Marosi was arrested in Seminole County after investigators say he tried to meet up with an underage male at Walmart for sex, according to a police report. The 59-year old was in contact with the minor through the dating app Grindr, police said. Grindr is "the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans and queer people," according to the company's website. The chat between the two started March 18 and, about two days later, Marosi offered to meet up with the mi

Mariana Restrepo and Isis Bermudez struggled with mental health issues during the past year due to remote learning. However, they both found solace through the use of the arts. “I love painting and I never do it because I never have time, and now I'm locked up in the house," Restrepo said. “It was something to look forward to. To express myself, to bring out creativity, and to keep my mind focused on positivity.” The sophomore health sciences major said she struggled with depression and codepe

Isis Bermudez was shocked and surprised when she heard the news that all UCF music ensembles would be rehearsing outdoors for the fall 2020 semester. "I understood the circumstances, but my first reaction was just surprised," Bermudez, sophomore vocal performance major said. "I think it was the correct decision, but it was also sad because being part of an ensemble is a unique experience and being closer to each other in the group." Voice and wind instruments are not being played indoors on UCF's campus, said Scott Lubaroff, professor of music and director of bands.

UCF music majors are holding their postponed recitals, but will perform in a recording studio with a live-streamed video. Due to COVID-19, UCF postponed all music recitals scheduled for spring 2020 without an official resuming date. "It was a mix of frustration and a hint of hope in there that it was going to be okay," said Elizabeth Lockwood, senior vocal performance major. "When I found out I wasn't going to be able to sing in the rehearsal hall, it was frustrating, and I cried."

After David L. Brunner retired as the director of choral activities at UCF in December, a national search was conducted to find the perfect candidate for the job. Just a few months later, Jeffery Redding has been selected to take over as the new director of choral activities and is set to start this fall, according to a announcement posted to the College of Arts and Humanities website on March 6. According to his biography, Redding pursued a Ph.D. in choral conducting/music education and a mas

After 31 years of being a professor of music and director of Choral Activities at UCF, Dr. David L. Brunner is set to retire with the culmination of the fall 2019 semester, making his last concert with the choirs a celebration of his "road home." The concert, "The Road Home," took place Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church: Sanctuary. It revolved around the theme of traveling a road, taking a journey, being on a path and going home. All the pieces chosen were pieces Brunner said he loved, and there were a few ones composed by him. Meaghan O'Berry, junior music education major and one of Brunner's choir students, said the concert would be a very moving and touching farewell.

The UCF Opera Program will be presenting scenes from famous operas at the UCF Visual Arts Building auditorium on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m., and is inviting the UCF community to the performance. The UCF Opera scenes performances will feature scenes from prominent operas such as Carmen, Callaveria Rusticana, Macbeth, Cosi fan tutte and several others. Jenna Toler, junior music major and opera student, said this performance allows for students and the audience to experience a variety of music and operas.

Joyce Camille Hernandez’s heart sank as she tuned out every word her doctor spoke after telling her she needed vocal surgery. She feared she wouldn’t be able to sing again. “My voice felt awful throughout all of this. I wasn’t allowed to sing and talking had to be kept to a minimum because I would’ve made it worse and I sounded absolutely terrible,” Hernandez said.

The UCF Art Gallery will be exhibiting "Coalesce" curated by Erika Hirugami, an exhibition that voices individuals who have hybrid "intersectionalities" and defy classifications within the parameters of Latin culture. Open from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1 from 5-7 p.m., the gallery is inviting all who are interested in encountering an artistic perspective of Latin America’s rich cultural heritage and the tensions cultural diversity might cause. It will feature work from 12 different artists from al