University of Southern Mississippi - Fine Arts

Fine Arts

The University of Southern Mississippi is the only institution within Mississippi, and one of only a dozen universities in America, to hold accreditation in all four fine arts emphasis areas: art, dance, theatre and music. The Southern Miss Wind Ensemble has a considerable reputation, as does The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which has performed with such figures as singers Renee Fleming and Ray Charles, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, violinist Joshua Bell, flautist James Galway, trumpet player Doc Severinsen, and tenor Plácido Domingo. In the past few years, the Southern Chorale, the university's top choir, has come into national and international prominence. The Southern Miss Pride of Mississippi Marching Band has performed at such events as the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2010. The Department of Theatre and Dance has been active in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. Several productions from The University of Southern Mississippi have been selected for performance at the Region IV (Southeast) festival; two productions (Catfish Moon & The Rimers of Eldritch) have been invited to the national KC/ACTF festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..