Our audiences like to feel the power of classical music and the thrill of a live orchestra performance. That's why the Fine Arts Center is committed to providing this experience to its patrons with its presentations of chamber and orchestra performances.

While bringing classical music to the Fine Arts Center patrons has always been a vital part of our mission there exists an opportunity to do much more--THE ORCHESTRA CIRCLE!

The Orchestra Circle is a growing community of individuals committed to the nurturing and support of classical music at the Fine Arts Center. They are a group of loyal patrons who want to hear the sonorous tones of the timpani right here in their own Concert Hall.

Orchestra Circle members ensure funding for an annual presentation of a major orchestra of international renown; they help create outreach programs to families, students and young professionals so we can grow our classical music audiences and they enjoy invitations to special events and discounted bus trips (including one to the Boston Symphony Orchestra held in the alternate season of our presentation), and mostly, they join together as a "circle of friends" who share this common passion!

Hats off to Carol Moore Cutting for nine years of service on our Friends of the Fine Arts Center Board of Directors. A pioneering woman in radio and owner of WEIB -- 106.3 Smooth FM, Carol is celebrating ten years on the air and now on the web. We are grateful for all she has done in support of the Fine Arts Center.

On the evening of May 4th, FAC Jazz in July program director Frank Newton was honored as the 2009 Robin McBride Jazz Commission Series Composer at Amherst College.

After being selected in January of this year, Frank Newton (UMass Amherst M.M. '08) composed and arranged a new work for the Amherst College Jazz Ensemble called "Into the Light." The premiere concert was held at Buckley Hall on the campus of Amherst College.

During the concert, Frank was presented a plaque and a hand-made key chain in recognition of his work. The commission's name-sake Robin McBride (Amherst College class of '59) was also on hand and was presented a catalogue of over 2000 vinyl records, which he donated to the Amherst College Jazz Library in 2005. Past recipients of the commission are Nathan Childer (2005), David Springfield (2006), Santiago Cerda (2007), and Dave Rivello (2008).

UMass Fine Arts Center Director Dr. Willie L. Hill, Jr. has been named the chair of the recently-formed Society for Jazz Education. Dr. Hill, who is also a Professor in Music Education, has served as President of the National Association for Music Education, and as chief executive for a number of high-profile professional societies. He is a widely-published author; in 2001, his tireless work on behalf of Jazz education was recognized when he was granted the prestigious Lawrence Berk Leadership Award by the International Association for Jazz Education.

As a former officer of the National Association for Music Education, Dr. Hill was the natural choice for the inaugural chair of the Society for Jazz Education.

Dr. Hill has guided the Fine Arts Center for ten years. Kudos are duel for his decade of service to UMass and the wider community.