First Friday News
The Bower School of Music & the Arts produces a newsletter on the first Friday of each month with information about the work of our students, faculty, staff and alumni within the FGCU community and beyond.
Current Issue:
First Friday News, Edition 88, December 2024
This month's issue features a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from our faculty,
students and alumni; In Memorium; information about the bird-safe installation on
the Arts Complex windows; and the events through the end of the Fall 2024 semester.
Past Issues:
First Friday News, Edition 87, November 2024
This month's issue features a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from our faculty,
students and alumni; Focus On...Quang Vo; information about an upcoming bird-friendly
window installation that you can be a part of; and the events through the end of the
Fall 2024 semester.
First Friday News, Edition 86, October 2024
This month's issue features a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from our faculty
and students; news from the Wasmer Art Gallery; information about Study Abroad Opportunities
at the BSM&A; and the events of October and early November
First Friday News, Edition 85, September 2024
This month's issue features a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from our faculty
and students; notes from both the Vocal Area and Piano Studio; and the events of September
and early October
First Friday News, Edition 84, August 2024. This month's issue features a welcome back from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from
around the BSM&A from our students, staff, faculty and alumni; a notice about the
2024/25 BSM&A Season Brochure; and the events of August and early September.
First Friday News, Edition 83, June 2024 This month's issue features the year-in-review from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news
from around the BSM&A from our students, staff, faculty and alumni; and a notice about
the 2024/25 BSM&A Season Brochure...coming soon to a mailbox near you. As a reminder,
there will be no First Friday News in July as we prepare for the new school year and
upcoming season. Have a safe and fun summer!
First Friday News, Edition 82, May 2024 This month's issue features a thank you from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; notes from the Vocal Area; news from the students, faculty and alumni; and the upcoming events
First Friday News, Edition 81, April 2024 This month's issue features a message from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; the winners from the Juried Art Exhibition; news from the Piano Studio; news from around the BSM&A from our students, faculty and alumni; the events through the end of the 2023/24 Season; and the FGCU Chamber Strings' return to Sanibel!
First Friday News, Edition 80, March 2024 This month's issue features a message about FGCU Give Day from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from around the BSM&A from our students, faculty and alumni; a word from a Bower student who recently completed a legacy project of sorts; and the events through March and early April 2024, including information about our return to Sanibel with the FGCU Chamber Strings! More on the ECHO sculpture in this issue can be found on the WGCU website.
First Friday News, Edition 79, February 2024 This month's issue features a message from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; MTNA national finalists; a conversation with Silent Sky playwright Lauren Gunderson; news from around the BSM&A from our students, faculty and alumni; and the events through February 2024, including information about several special events.
First Friday News, Edition 78, January 2024 This month's issue features a message from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; Empty Bowls & Pottery Sale information; our new Associate Professor Emeritus; news from around the BSM&A from our students, faculty and alumni; and the events through January 2024.
First Friday News, Edition 77, December 2023 This month's issue features a holiday message from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; Joyful & Triumphant information; news from around the BSM&A from our students, faculty and alumni; and the events through the end of 2023. Happy Holidays, everyone!
First Friday News, Edition 76, November 2023 This month's issue features a thank you and information about big upcoming events from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; news from around the BSM&A and from our students, faculty and alumni; images from a recent Printmaking experiment; and the events for November and early December.
First Friday News, Edition 75, October 2023 This month's issue features information about some October events from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; notes from our students, alumni and faculty; and a photo from the Theatre Program's Theatrical Intimacy Workshop.
First Friday News, Edition 74, September 2023 This month's issue features information about the 2023/24 Season from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki; notes from our students, staff and faculty; photos from our first event of the season and the events for September.
First Friday News, Edition 73, August 2023 This month's issue features a brand new look with information from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, our students, alumni and faculty. There is also a Focus On... our students in Thailand, and the events for August.
First Friday News, Edition 72, June 2023
This month's issue is an wrap-up of the 2022-23 school year at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts by Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki. Please note that there will not be a
First Friday News in July, but we will jump into the 2023/24 Season in our August edition.
First Friday News, Edition 71, May 2023
This month's issue includes the news from the end of the school year at the Bower
School of Music & the Arts, notes from our Students, Alumni, Faculty and Staff, congratulations
to Florida's latest Radio Station of the Year, and a very special Focus On...
First Friday News, Edition 70, April 2023
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list through the end of the 22/23 Season, notes from our
Students, Alumni, Faculty and Staff, and the Wasmer Art Gallery.
First Friday News, Edition 69, March 2023
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list for March and early April, notes from our Students,
Alumni, Faculty and Staff, and a new video from the Wasmer Art Gallery.
First Friday News, Edition 68, February 2023
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list for February and early March, notes from our Students,
Alumni and Faculty, a reminder about our upcoming Fjelstul Lecture, and notes from
the Wasmer Art Gallery.
First Friday News, Edition 67, January 2023
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list for January and early February, notes from the Wasmer
Art Gallery, and an update from the 16th Annual Empty Bowls Soup Lunch.
First Friday News, Edition 66, December 2022
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list for December and early January, and Focus On...Video
Interviews from the Wasmer Art Gallery.
First Friday News, Edition 65, November 2022
This month's issue includes the news of the past few weeks at the Bower School of
Music & the Arts, an event list for November and early December, and Focus On...Life
After Hurricane Ian.
First Friday News, Edition 64, October 2022
This is our first edition of the First Friday News since Hurricane Ian tore through Southwest Florida. Thank you for your patience while
we adapted to some very difficult circumstances. We look forward to seeing you at
one of our upcoming events, and welcome you to read about some of the incredible things
our students and alumnae have been up to since last we wrote.
First Friday News, Edition 63, September 2022
This month's slightly late issue includes news from our Alumni and Faculty, as well
as a brief note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A, the events for
September and the beginning of October, and a notice about the change of venue for
the October 23rd Symphony Orchestra concert to Moorings Presbyterian Church.
First Friday News, Edition 62, August 2022
This month's issue includes all of the news from the past few months and the beginning
of the 2022/23 season at the BSM&A. Thank you for your support of the BSM&A.
First Friday News, Edition 61, June 2022
This month's issue includes an end of year letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A and an upcoming
event at the BSM&A. Just as a reminder, there will be no newsletter in July, so we
will be back on August 5 with the first First Friday News of the 2022/23 Season.
First Friday News, Edition 60, May 2022
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our students, alumni, faculty and staff; and the winners of the awards from
the 24th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.
First Friday News, Edition 59, April 2022
This month's issue includes a note about our recent donor events from Dr. Krzysztof
Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our alumni, students, faculty and staff;
BSM&A in the News; information about a benefit concert in aid of the Ukraine; and
information on our events through the end of the 2021/22 Season.
First Friday News, Edition 58, March 2022
This month's issue includes a note about FGCU Give Day from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki,
Director of the BSM&A; news from our alumni, students and faculty; a Focus On one
of our Art alums; photos from FGCU Day; information about the Theatre Program's production
of On Baile's Strand; and information on our March events.
First Friday News, Edition 57, February 2022
This month's issue includes a note about FGCU Day from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director
of the BSM&A; news from our faculty and students; a Focus On one of our students who
took over the #wearefgcu Instagram for a week; and information on our February and
early March events. Don't miss all that is happening on FGCU Day, Saturday, February
12, the official kickoff of FGCU's 25th Anniversary!
First Friday News, Edition 56, January 2022
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our faculty and students; a report on the 20th (Almost) Annual Pottery Sale
and 15th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser; and information on our January and early February
events.
First Friday News, Edition 55, December 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our faculty and students and information on our December events.
First Friday News, Edition 54, November 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our faculty and students and information on our November and early December
events.
First Friday News, Edition 53, October 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our faculty, students and alumni; a Focus On... Spencer Gillespie ('17,
Art); a note about the October 14 Wind Orchestra concert at Riverside Park Amphitheater
in Bonita Springs and information on our October and early November events.
First Friday News, Edition 52, September 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A;
news from our students, faculty and alumni; a Focus On... with some of our Theatre
Program grads; and information on our September events.
First Friday News, Edition 51, August 2021
This month's issue includes a welcome back letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director
of the BSM&A; news from our students, alumni and faculty; a note from the Events Coordinator;
and information on our August events.
First Friday News, Edition 50, June 2021
This month's issue includes an end of year letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A and some
of the articles about the BSM&A from the past 9 months. Just as a reminder, there
will be no newsletter in July, so we will be back on August 6 with the first First Friday News of the 2021/22 Season.
First Friday News, Edition 49, May 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts; the award winners from the 23rd Annual Juried Student
Art Exhibition; a new segment called Featuring...; news from our students, alumni & faculty and more!
First Friday News, Edition 48, April 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts; information about a new partnership with the Sanibel Music
Festival; a Focus On... about coping in the world of COVID-19; information about tickets
for the virtual performance of the Theatre Program's production of Sweet and Sad; news from our students & faculty and more!
First Friday News, Edition 47, March 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts; Information about FGCU Remembers: the Covid Memorial Project;
and news from our students, faculty & alumni
First Friday News, Edition 46, February 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts and news from our students, faculty & alumni
First Friday News, Edition 45, January 2021
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts; news from our students, faculty & alumni; photos from Very Empty Bowls; and information
about our January events and how you can attend.
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower School of Music & the Arts; news from our students, faculty & alumni; a Focus On...; and a holiday message for you to enjoy.
First Friday News, Edition 43, November 2020
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts; news from our students, faculty & alumni; a two-part Focus On...; and information
on upcoming virtual events for you to enjoy.
First Friday News, Edition 42, October 2020
This month's issue includes a note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the Bower
School of Music & the Arts introducing our new faculty; news from our alumni and faculty;
and a brief Focus On... for you to enjoy
First Friday News, Edition 41, September 2020
This month's issue includes an important note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of
the Bower School of Music & the Arts; news from our faculty; and a Focus On... for
you to enjoy
First Friday News, Edition 40, August 2020
This month's issue includes an important note from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of
the Bower School of Music & the Arts; news from the students, alumni and faculty;
a bit of Events Information; and congratulations to the Summer 2020 graduates of the
BSM&A
First Friday News, Edition 39, June 2020
This month's issue includes an end of year letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A and a piece
of news from our Students. Just as a reminder, there will be no newsletter in July,
so we will be back on August 7 with the first First Friday News of the 2020-21 Season
First Friday News, Edition 38, May 2020
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; a congratulations to
the BSM&A class of 2020; information from our Community Based Performance class; online
learning wins; news from our Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni; and a note from the Events Coordinator
First Friday News, Edition 37, April 2020
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Students and Faculty; and an FGCU Chamber Choir edition of "Focus On..."
First Friday News, Edition 36, March 2020
This month's issue includes a letter from Joanna Hoch, Events Coordinator at the Bower School of Music & the Arts; news from our Students and Faculty; events for March and early April; and RSVP information for the 6th Annual Champagne
Signature Concert
First Friday News, Edition 35, February 2020
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; events for February; and RSVP information for the 6th Annual Champagne Signature Concert
First Friday News, Edition 34, January 2020
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; a save the date; events for January; and a photo from the FMEA conference in Tampa this week
First Friday News, Edition 33, December 2019
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; a save the date; and the events for the rest of 2019 at the BSM&A
First Friday News, Edition 32, November 2019
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; an Art-related installment of "Focus On..."; and the events for the month of November at the BSM&A
First Friday News, Edition 31, October 2019
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; a Theatre-related installment of "Focus On..."; and the events for the month of October at the BSM&A
First Friday News, Edition 30, September 2019
This month's issue includes a letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; news from our Faculty, Students & Alumni; another installment of "Focus On..."; and the events for the month of September at the BSM&A
First Friday News, Edition 29, August 2019
For the first edition of the 2019-2020 Academic Year, the August issue includes a
letter from Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki, Director of the BSM&A; bits of news from our
Faculty, Students and Alumni; the events for the month of August at the BSM&A; and
a notice for children's piano classes to be held over the course of the year.
First Friday News, Edition 28, June 2019
For the final edition of the 2018-2019 Academic Year, the June issue includes letters
from both Dr. Michael Rohrbacher, Interim Director of the BSM&A and Provost James
Llorens. The First Friday News will be taking its annual vacation next month, but will be back in August with all
of the exciting news of our new season and from throughout the BSM&A.
First Friday News, Edition 27, May 2019
This month's issue includes the winners of the Southwest Florida Symphony's Prescott
Competition, the final Storytelling Slam, information from Around the BSM&A and a
new feature entitled "Focus On..." where you will get to know one of the members of
the BSM&A community
First Friday News, Edition 26, April 2019
This month's issue includes the award winners from the 21st Annual Student Juried
Exhibition, news from our Alumni and from Around the BSM&A and the list of events
through the end of the 2019 Season
