This year’s call for proposals encouraged researchers to leverage technology to enhance arts-based health programs, improve accessibility and develop evidence-based practices that promote overall wellness, under the theme 鈥淚nnovative Synergy: Bridging Arts and Wellness with Technology.鈥� As technology continues to transform how we live, work and create, the opportunity to explore the connection between the arts and wellness through a technological lens has never been more promising.

The awards were founded by Central Florida鈥檚 Pabst Steinmetz Foundation to recognize teams building sustainable models for arts and wellness innovation. The teams involve collaboration between the聽College of Arts and Humanities, at least one internal university partner and a community organization, in order to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and research.

鈥淧artnerships between 麻豆原创 and community always create magic and inspiration as they enrich our community鈥檚 capacity; the 2024 awardees/initiatives are no exception. We look forward to the impact each creates,鈥� says Margery Pabst Steinmetz, who co-founded the foundation with her husband Chuck Steinmetz.

The winners were selected for their significant potential to positively impact the community through a collaboration of arts, science, wellness and engagement in their research.

Scientific Proof of Music Therapy’s Impact on Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease

In collaboration with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Lake Nona Medical Center and 麻豆原创 Health Faculty Physician Practice at Lake Nona, this innovative research aims to investigate the effects of music therapy on individuals with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease by examining molecular changes in salivary exosomes. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by cells that carry biomarkers reflecting brain health, making them an ideal tool for studying the molecular effects of music therapy in Alzheimer鈥檚. By analyzing biomarkers such as serotonin, dopamine, amyloid-beta and tau proteins, the study seeks to uncover how music therapy impacts mood, memory, and anxiety and potentially slows neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer鈥檚 .

麻豆原创 School of Performing Arts Professor and violinist Ayako Yonetani lends her expertise in music therapy and performance, which is crucial for developing effective music therapy sessions. Under her guidance, the project will include live classical music, as familiar and emotionally significant compositions are known to elicit stronger therapeutic responses. Yonetani’s unique combination of skills in both the performing arts and the therapeutic applications of music will help bridge the gap between the arts and science, ensuring that the music therapy sessions are effective and tailored to the needs of Alzheimer’s patients.

鈥淢usic is more than just art and entertainment 鈥� it has the power to enhance brain function and well-being,鈥� Yonetani says. 鈥淎bout a decade ago, we discovered that Mozart鈥檚 music could boost frontal lobe function by 50%. While its benefits for Alzheimer鈥檚 patients have long been recognized, definitive proof has been challenging due to the difficulty of measuring brain function noninvasively.鈥�

This pioneering collaboration between our Pegasus String Quartet at the music department and the College of Medicine bridges music and the brain, using innovative saliva-based technology developed at 麻豆原创 to provide concrete evidence of its effects. I hope we continue to explore music鈥檚 remarkable influence and uncover new ways it can enrich our lives.鈥�

The research aims to enhance the quality of life for patients by utilizing personalized music therapy. The noninvasive nature of salivary exosome analysis makes it an accessible and scalable method that could be widely adopted in clinical settings. Caregivers, who often experience significant emotional and physical stress, will also benefit from the improvements in patients’ mood and cognitive function, as well as the structured and meaningful interactions facilitated by music therapy.

In addition to benefiting Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, this research holds significant implications for the healthcare and research communities. The study’s findings could pave the way for the incorporation of music therapy as a complementary treatment, providing valuable clinical evidence to support its use. By demonstrating how music therapy influences molecular biomarkers, this research has the potential to revolutionize diagnostic and monitoring tools for Alzheimer’s, with possible applications in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and various forms of dementia.

Ultimately, this research has the potential to establish music therapy as a scientifically supported and widely accessible treatment for Alzheimer’s, which could transform clinical practices and improve patient care.

This project involves researchers from the College of Arts and Humanities, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, and the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, including:

• Ayako Yonetani, School of Performing Arts
• Kiminobu Sugaya, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine
• Mariana Dangiolo, geriatrics and palliative medicine, College of Medicine
• Amoy Fraser, director of clinical and aerospace health research, College of Medicine

Immerse, Rehearse, Perform: An Innovative VR Experience for Overcoming Stage Fright

This project, developed by the CREATE team at 麻豆原创, aims to address performance anxiety 鈥� specifically public speaking anxiety 鈥� in schools. Utilizing immersive virtual reality (VR) technology, the initiative enables users to practice public speaking in a virtual classroom environment. The primary focus is on secondary and high school students, but the VR experience can be beneficial for anyone preparing for public speaking, including professionals such as ministers, motivational speakers, singers and individuals preparing for presentations.

“Our project will combine new technologies in the use of virtual reality and the creation of digital assets in order to produce a complete, interactive, and immersive experience that can assist a user in practicing skills to help overcome anxiety, nervousness, and fear in public speaking and presentations,鈥� says Stella Sung, Director of 麻豆原创 CREATE.

While existing VR applications assist with performance anxiety during job interviews and public speaking events, this project enhances the experience further. Users can customize their VR practice sessions to simulate a range of disruptions 鈥� such as student chatter, tone shifts or camera jitters 鈥� and receive simulated audience feedback, providing a more realistic practice environment. This VR tool allows users to rehearse their material repeatedly in various conditions, offering the flexibility to practice at any time and in the comfort of their own homes.

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida has expressed a need for technology that can help students overcome performance anxiety and build their confidence. By partnering with 麻豆原创 CREATE, the students now have access to advanced VR tools, along with opportunities for personal growth and development. The project is designed to be scalable, with the potential to reach schools, community centers, places of worship and other 麻豆原创 organizations throughout Central Florida.

This project goes beyond skill-building as exposure to VR technology sparks interest in STEM fields and promotes digital literacy within the community, encouraging lifelong learning. It also has the potential to evolve into a commercially available application, expanding its reach and offering a valuable tool for public speaking in various fields.

This project includes researchers from 麻豆原创 Create, E2i Creative Studio (iST), and Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida:

• Stella Sung, 麻豆原创 CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ronald Hargrove, 麻豆原创 CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
• Maria Murillo, 麻豆原创 CREATE, School of Visual Arts and Design, College of Arts and Humanities
• Eileen Smith, E2i Creative Studio, Institute for Simulation and Training, Pegasus Research Center
• Michael Carney, E2i Creative Studio, Institute for Simulation and Training, Pegasus Research Center
• Maria Harrington, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, College of Sciences
• Tasha Banks Robinson, Parramore Club, Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida

Here she shares the importance of integrating science and the arts, as well as her research on using virtual and augmented reality in the classical concert setting.

Transcript

Stella Sung: We have the opportunity to be totally creative. Totally creative. And 麻豆原创 has an opportunity to be a part of that in a really big way.

James Evans:聽Hello and welcome back to another episode of Knights Do That! We are interviewing Dr. Stella Sung on the show today. Dr. Sung is a renowned composer, Pegasus Professor, Trustee Chair Professor, and Director of CREATE at 麻豆原创. Her work at 麻豆原创 spans decades and her academic career is non-linear to say the least. Starting as a聽music聽professor in the聽School of Performing Arts, Dr. Sung now brings her expertise to the School of Visual Arts and Design, where she works to inspire future generations of animators and empowers them to use music and sound to elevate their storytelling.

We’re going to discuss what it means to hold these titles, the importance of integrating science and the arts, and her research regarding using virtual and augmented reality in the classical concert setting.

Thank you Dr. Sung for being here today. How are you?

Stella Sung: Thank you. It’s great to be here with you. It’s

James Evans: It’s fantastic.

How did you develop your passion for music? That’s such an important part of your identity and what you provide to 麻豆原创 and your community. Did you always know that you wanted to be a composer?

Stella Sung: I started as a kid taking piano lessons, so actually I’m trained as a classical pianist.

My undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and is in piano performance. And then I kind of veered a little bit off to doing a master’s degree in composition. I thought it was just going to be something to explore and, you know, just kind of do. And so I have a master’s from UF in that.

And then I still felt like I could be a good pianist and make a career out of that. So I went to the University of Texas at Austin and did my doctorate in piano. But you know, life has interesting paths for us and some that we know and we don’t know. And I started working more and more as a composer.

And got a lot of inspiration and encouragement in that way, just getting things published from major publishers that I never thought I would ever have that kind of opportunity. The signs were there that I should just kind of keep writing music and I kept getting commissions and working with wonderful artists and and orchestra.

Ensemble soloists. I had an opportunity to write a piece for Yoyo Ma, who was, you know, a world-famous cellist, right?

And that was kind of a really sort of marvelous opportunity to say, 鈥淗ey, this is, this is neat to connect to these world class artists doing the work that I do.鈥�

I didn’t really start off as being a composer at all.

It took me a while to think of myself because I wasn’t planning to do that. You know, when I started writing music, I would always feel that it came naturally, it came easily. It was work, but it was sort of, I got into that zone of creativity where, you know, you kind of lose track of time and all that.

And I got to that place when I was a pianist as well, but not in the same way. And I think the turning point for me was I was awarded a fellowship at the McDowell Colony, which is in New Hampshire. And lots of well-known artists of various different kinds have gone to the McDowell Colony to do their thing. And so, it’s a beautiful place. It was set up by an American composer named Edward McDowell, and I think it’s like 400 acres. Just this beautiful New Hampshire area and every artist has their own studio. A little studio, very simple. Piano and restroom area and a little couch or something, and then a table. And that’s about it. And so it’s a very simple sort of thing.

And at that time, I didn’t have a cellphone. There were no TV or anything. So you’re just out there doing your art, right? And all the cabins, all the studios are separated pretty far away from each other. And in fact, you know, artists are asked not to bother other people. You’re kind of just doing your thing. And then we meet for meal at the main house and that sort of thing. So there is some socialization.

I had a residency for a month in beautiful September, October, where the leaves are so fantastically changing and beautiful. And I took a project there and a set of three songs that was going to write on poetry by Robert Frost. And it was just this turning point where started writing this music, finished the piece in a couple of weeks. and I thought, this is really what I want to do. This is really who I think I can be and make an impact and make a make a difference with this work.

And so I think that was really kind of like the turning point that I said, 鈥淥K, aha.鈥� You know, it’s one of those aha moments, right? Where I thought, 鈥淵ep. OK, I can call myself a composer:

James Evans: That’s amazing. And now you’re a composer that also does a lot of work with documentaries.

You’ve been credited as a composer on several award-winning documentaries. Can you, A, explain that experience to me, but also explain your perception both on yourself and the work you do as a storyteller

Stella Sung: Yeah. So I’ve actually been really fortunate to hooked up with wonderful filmmakers One is Dr. Lisa Mills. And so I’ve been fortunate to work with her on her documentaries and also Aaron Hose. And Aaron is a graduate from our school. And I think at the time working actually in communications or in instructional research or something. And so I wrote music for his documentary film called Voices in the Clouds. So I’ve always had an interest in visual things that connect to the arts and to the visual film or so on. I think it’s probably, because my mom is an artist, as a painter. I always had paintings and visual things all around the house. So I’ve always been aware of that and I’ve always liked including multimedia stuff in my work as a composer. So film kind of just was natural.

And I think the challenge of writing music for documentaries particularly is really interesting because you’re helping to tell the story that’s already being told through the documentary subjects. The music has to support the action or the words or the mood but not interfere. We’re not there to create the big, landscape or the big score for these action types of things. It’s much more subtle in documentary films. I really enjoy that though. I really find that’s it’s a great way to get to know different subjects learn some new things. And I still love writing for (that) medium.

James Evans: I’m going to switch gears a little bit because I could talk about this forever,but I, I also want to get into this idea, not even this idea. I just want to understand, you’ve been with 麻豆原创 for quite a while, for several years, many moons. And I want to walk through that. I want to understand, what was 麻豆原创 at the time? What do you think of it now? That progression that we’ve had what are your thoughts on 麻豆原创鈥檚 journey and your entanglement with it, right? As somebody who’s been here for quite a while, you’ve seen us grow exponentially. And I’m sure that that’s an interesting, insightful perspective. And I’m very curious about your thoughts.

Stella Sung: Yeah, so I, started out at 麻豆原创 as a fill-in for professors in the music department who were going on sabbaticals.

James Evans: Mm-hmm.

Stella Sung: And I, at the time, I was finishing up my degree at the University of Texas at Austin. So I was, I’d done all the coursework and was ready to look for a job. But I was still working on my dissertation, just had to do my lecture and recitals. And I got a call from a pianist who I had studied privately with at the time, Gary Wolfe, and he was in the music department, and he was going on sabbatical. So I got a call and he said, 鈥淥h, will you be interested in teaching?鈥� So, of course, (I say), 鈥淪ure, that’d be great.鈥� And then they also said, 鈥淲ell, and our music theory teacher and our class piano teacher, they’re going on sabbatical in the spring, so can you teach music theory and can you teach piano class?鈥� I said, 鈥淪ure.鈥� You know, I mean, when you’re young, you’ll just go for all the opportunities, right?

When I first got to 麻豆原创 we were about 18,000. And there was like one, two fraternity houses. There was a McDonald’s and a Pizza Hut, and that was about it around, And there was really not a whole lot and University Boulevard was just like two lanes. Alafaya was a two-lane, rough, paved road. And I thought, 鈥淥h, I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m going to come out here and teach.鈥� So that’s where I started, and then everybody came back from sabbatical. And so, I went to Paris to work with a composer that I had studied with at Austin, and he was an American but lived in Paris, and I had always wanted to go to Europe and live in Europe, so I was able to do that.

And then I got a call and they said, 鈥淲ell, one of our musicology teachers is going to become an associate dean.鈥� And so the music theory teacher said, 鈥淲ell, I’ll do musicology, but I need somebody to help teach music theory.鈥� So I came back as a visiting instructor.

James Evans: Mm-hmm.

Stella Sung: And it became a tenure-earning line. I applied for the job. It was a competitive search. But I ultimately ended up with the job and I’ve been here at 麻豆原创 ever since. It’s been a wonderful place. I will have to say one of the great things about 麻豆原创 is it allowed, and it still allows, lots of room for exploration. It’s not tied to 鈥� it’s not a 200-year-old university where all these, you know, traditions and so on are just sort of stuck there. And I, think for me, 麻豆原创 was a perfect fit because I always like exploring new things. I always like to look at what else can we do. And so, I was in the music department and it was a great run while I was there. I did end up moving my tenure and professorship to, at the time, digital media. Partly because I wanted to explore some new things. And partly because it felt like it was a necessary change. So, again, you know, where life takes you to different paths and you just never really know.

And so I started working with our animation unit and fell in love about all of our animation students and the whole idea of marrying music to animation. And that was just a perfect fit for me.

James Evans: Yeah, absolutely. And now you’re the director of CREATE, which conducts multidisciplinary research around science and the arts. Can you give us more insight into that experience being the director, but also the work you’re doing there? What kind of impacts does that have?

Stella Sung: Sure. So create stands for the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment. And we are located at 麻豆原创 Downtown. We’ve been there for about 17 years. So we’ve actually been there before 麻豆原创 Downtown was established, but 麻豆原创 had a building down there and so we were part of that.

We have our offices downtown. And I was asked to take over, create about 17 years ago. And at the time I really didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was down. So part of our emphasis has been to become a sort of outreach unit for our college and for 麻豆原创 so that we can connect to the community, we can connect to our partners downtown and around in the city.

We do a lot of community outreach, and we were doing after school programs. We do summer camps, so we’re working with kids and high school students primarily to have a way for 麻豆原创 folks to have a connection to the community where they might not normally have that. Because, you know, when we’re on our campus, we’re sort of in our little bubble world on the campus.

I think that it’s a good thing to be able to reach out to the community and find ways to connect to the community. Now what we do in our programming has been to use. And technology to try to train and give skills to students and members of our community to bring them another aspect of what art and technology can do in enriching your lives and to look at how art and technology can be sort of married together. Not so much separated, you know, we always sort of think of science and we always think of art, right? And, and they’re sort of like separate things. In my view, they’re actually much more closely related.

We do a similar process with sciences. It’s sometimes we’re experimenting, you know, sciences. I love working with scientists because I think their brains are kind of, they are exploratory. And we do that in the arts. We don’t know exactly what we’re going to end up with, but we had that same process.

So what we do at CREATE is to try to bring that concept into reality. For example, now we are working with high school students in animation and teaching animation. Well, animation involves math, it involves sciences, it involves geometry, it involves computer technology and then it also involves arts. It’s a visual language. It’s a storytelling language. So you know, that’s a beautiful medium to illustrate how science and art and technology all come together.

James Evans: Yeah. And what lessons have you learned over the past 17 years of working at CREATE? I mean, you’ve surely seen it grown. You’ve surely seen 麻豆原创 Downtown become a thing.

Stella Sung: Yeah.

James Evans: Probably before we even having conversations about it. Right,

Stella Sung: Right.

James Evans: What lessons, what takeaways do you have from that experience and what are you looking to do in the future with that?

Stella Sung: iI’s an amazing opportunity, an amazing time to grasp all the things that are coming up. The technology, the ability to find new technologies and put those and use those in the arts, it’s absolutely tremendous. I’ve been doing work with VR and AR and with my colleagues in digital media actually. And I think that one of the projects that I’ve been doing is trying to find ways where VR and mixed reality can be used in a live concert setting. To have this opportunity and to be located downtown, where there’s a lot of stuff happening, where there’s community efforts, there are businesses like Electronic Arts, which is located now in downtown, and to be in that kind of mix it just is a really great time for 麻豆原创 to be a part of all of that. It’s very exciting actually. It really is. I mean, we do a lot of great things on campus, but we also have things that are on that cutting edge when we’re not just siloed in our own areas here, but that we can actually be connecting to businesses and organizations outside of 麻豆原创.

James Evans: Can you walk us through that idea of partnership? How does that happen? How does partnership, how does collaboration, how does community engagement happen at CREATE? And, taking those things to the next level?

Stella Sung: One of our main emphasis is partnerships. And we’ve built a lot of great partnerships with Orlando Science Center, for example.

And in fact, we just had a meeting here recently. Their Otronicon event, which has been going on for, I think, 15 years now (started in 2006). They’re rebranding it as Spark Fest and they want actually to involve more 麻豆原创 people. So I’ve been trying to sort of be a little catalyst to connecting them to as many 麻豆原创 folks as we can.

It’s about a three, four day event and it brings anywhere from 12 to 13,000 people into the science center. it’s a wonderful opportunity for 麻豆原创 to showcase all of our great initiatives that we have, the projects that we have, the departments we have. medical school, nursing, school engineering computer sciences, all these great things that can come down together.

So partnership is really important for us. A few years ago, CREATE received a Disney grant, one of those nice Disney grants in partnership with our local community organization called Page 15. And they work with kids and young adults in developing literacy skills. So they do poetry, writing, reading, all those kinds of literacy skills.

So we did a partnership and hosted several summer camps with Page 15. So again, you know, finding other ways where 麻豆原创 can be a part of the lives of these people that we don’t necessarily normally reach out to. Part of our mission is to be able to say, 鈥淗ey, 麻豆原创 is a place that you could be a part of, and we want to be a part of your life.鈥�

And that’s what’s so wonderful about the work that we do. I think at CREATE we’re just we’re really about trying to bridge, to make bridges happen.

One of our current projects is we’re working with Continuing Education. And the state of Florida has now mandated that there’s a financial component that must be taught in all of the high schools, and that’ll start next fall. So, our instructional designer, Tracy Morrison, has been working on developing online courses. And so she’s working with Continuing Ed to deliver that content. So that’s another aspect. What we’re doing is, trying to find ways where we can help teachers teach students about financial literacy.

James Evans: That’s really interesting. So it’s not just about empowering students, obviously that’s, the crux of it. That’s the core of it. It’s also about empowering their instructors, empowering the community or, or our campus partners or our corporate partners to be able to engage with us in that mission.

That’s fascinating. I love it. So along that same thought, research and professorship and all of the wonderful things you’re doing, you’re also a Pegasus Professor and a trustee professor. cCn you give us the insight into that? What do those things mean and what do they mean for you?

Stella Sung: Sure. Well, I guess as professors are generally senior professors here at 麻豆原创, it’s a wonderful award and one, I think , (that) carries responsibility, as well as the trustees chair award.

But the Pegasus Professor award is I think one that we value highly because mostly it’s awarded to professors who have shown that they’ve reached a certain pinnacle in their careers and also have reached either recognition nationally or internationally for their work.

For research in my area, for example, is creative activities. But you know, we have several professors who are throughout the university in, various different fields. So those professorships are really meaningful and, again, carry responsibility. I look at the Pegasus Professorships as a responsibility to maintain a level of excellence, to be a role model for showing that. We keep working hard, keep your eye on the goals, work with our students, work with our staff and our colleagues, and try to make sure that we are pushing 麻豆原创 and our goals forward. So that’s one aspect of what I believe the Pegasus Professorships do.

The trustees chair professorships don’t always come up. I’m very honored to have received that now twice and It carries with it a financial award part to one’s personal finances, but also part to the unit that you are in. So, that award can be used towards furthering a research project in my case, maybe creative projects or as I actually use our funds for CREATE and using it in various different ways to support our work.

Those two particular awards, I think, the university gives out to try to recognize professors that you know have reached a certain distinguished area in their work.

James Evans: It’s really important that we’re looking at the university, we’re looking at our faculty and empowering them, finding ways to give back to them and give them the resources and give them the recognition needed to continue to do the amazing things that they do. What kind of projects have you been able to do or further down been able to invest in, to create?

Stella Sung: Yeah. So the trustee’s professorship, but that’s the one we’re kind of talking about right now. [It] allows us a certain amount of financial support and people can use it in various different ways. And what I’ve been doing is, I used some of my money to support 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts, which is a wonderful yearly event that we have downtown. Bringing the arts to downtown and giving opportunities for the orchestra, chorus, band, performing arts to be in the Dr. Phillips Center. And now in the new Steinmetz Hall. So for example, this past spring, we did my large-scale orchestra work called Oceania, and I was able to invite professors from 麻豆原创, our biology professors from 麻豆原创, Dr. (Kate) Mansfield and Dr. Linda Walters, to be a part of the panel as well as a senior scientist from the New England Aquarium Scott Krause. And so I had these scientists with me and also the filmmaker that did a film that went with my piece. So I was able to bring us all together and have a panel and where we discussed the problems of ocean noise pollution, which is what my piece is a little bit about and also the work that our scientists are doing. So for example Dr. (Kate) Mansfield who is a turtle specialist talked about her work with turtles and Dr. (Linda) Walters, who is our oyster specialist, she talked about oyster reefs and why those are important for us. And so we gave the audience a chance to say, 鈥淲hat else?鈥� Not only [what] 麻豆原创 professors do, but what are the concerns, the greater concerns for our environment? So I used part of my funding to invite these people over on the totally opposite spectrum. The next next project that we’re looking at is working with Keith Harrison, who is in the DeVos School. And he is very good friends with Reggie Saunders. So Mr. Saunders is the VP for Jordan, Nike brand. They’re all into kind of hip-hop artists. And so next year is the sort of 50th anniversary of hip-hop. So we would like to bring Mr. Saunders in as a guest speaker, and sort of figure out how we can marry hip-hop and sports, because there’s actually quite a big connection there.

So that’s another way that I plan to use some of our funding.

James Evans: That’s amazing. I want to give you the space and the time to kind of throw in a Celebrates the Arts ad here. OK. Because I think that’s great and I think Celebrates the Arts is one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 traditions that doesn’t get as much recognition as, you know, Spirit Splash, right? That’s a huge one everybody talks about. Lots of our athletic events gets a lot of attention. You know, Celebrate the Arts provides these opportunities not only for our performers to do their work and do their jobs and give back to their community, it also allows for these amazing collaborations and connections.

So I want to give you the space right here and now to kind of put in the middle of the podcast an ad about Celebrate the Arts, tell the audience about it, what are you excited about? And give us the information on it.

Stella Sung: Yeah. Happy to do that. It’s an amazing event that happens over a course of two weeks. It’s sort of the brainchild of our dean, Jeff Moore, who is a percussionist, a musician, but he put together this idea of having the Celebrates the Arts where we bring all of the arts, performing arts as well as visual arts, together to do this celebration. We go downtown and we set up our things.We set up our exhibits. We do the performances. There’s an amazing array of performances from the school of music and theater. So we have theater, we have orchestra, band, chorus, jazz band, all parts of the performing arts, and then we have our visual arts. So our artists, our painters will bring their paintings and they go on display. And then we also have our animation units. So our animation students and units get to show their films. So we also have screen.

It’s a huge array of things that you can go down and participate in. Most are very inexpensive tickets. And some are free and it’s a great place to bring family down to have a day or evening of enjoying a wonderful event.

This past spring, they did Shrek the Musical and it was great. It was in the Disney Hall. It was great. And then they did my orchestra piece as well as showcase other parts of the orchestra with Beethoven Symphony No. 6. And some animation that was done to that piece by our animation students.

And this is really a wonderful way to showcase all these things that 麻豆原创 does. And I hope that as we move along, more people will come out more people from the community will come out and enjoy it and get to know some of the things that 麻豆原创 is able to offer. It’s an amazing event. I hope that we can bring as many people down as possible.

James Evans: It absolutely is. I got to see Shrek last year and it was fantastic. Really.

Stella Sung: And these are student performers, they are Broadway-quality performers. I mean, they’re learning their craft, they’re learning their art. But in that process they really come to the top. It’s so impressive. It really is. And to see these young people giving their absolute 100% plus to performing is just a thrill.

James Evans: Absolutely right. Do we have a set month or set date already for this upcoming spring, or is that still in conversation?

Stella Sung: We do. I don’t remember the dates, but it’s usually in April. OK,

James Evans: Awesome. I’m really curious, are you looking into the future to be able to incorporate more of the STEAM and the connections, not only with your research, right?

I could very easily see in the next five to 10 years having a performance that includes VR, AR, MR into a Celebrates the Arts performance. Is that where you’re looking to do, where you kind of planning on going with that over, the course of the next few years?

Stella Sung: Yeah, so I, my personal belief is, technology is going to drive the future of the arts. I really believe that. I’ve already done some of this with my operas, which had digital projections, 3d animation in the digital set where the animation actually made the set come alive. And in Oceania we did a little bit of an experiment where I had a VR headsets, as well as the HoloLens, two headsets being used during the performance. So this was kind of a trial to see.

But my belief is that this is going to drive the next interactivity for live performances. It’ll take a little while, but I believe that our young people, and I believe the next generation of people, want to be engaged, want to be actively a part of any performance.

I can envision people bringing their own headsets, right? Being able to experience that either in MR or AR or VR and hearing the live music, seeing the live music and experiencing it in a different way. So with VR, of course, your headset is, you don’t see the things around you, but you can hear, you can hear the stuff going around you in the mixed reality. In the HoloLens, too, you can see everything that’s going on and. Basically holograms are being put forth for you. So this is a really cool thing because for example, what we did was in Oceania, we I worked with some of my colleagues in digital media, John Murray, Dr. Murray, and his students, and we developed a prototype. For example, whales that were swimming around in the, if you will, swimming around in the concert hall. But they were large life size. So as you’re sitting there, you’re hearing and seeing the orchestra, right? But you’re also seeing the superimposed layer of digital assets. And it just completely gives you a different experience of interactivity.

I truly believe that this is going to be the future for live performances and engaging people in a different way using technology.

James Evans: I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had the chance to talk to Peter (Weishar, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 themed experience program) and his work with the themed experience program, and getting those students ready for the real world and providing a whole new a program that’s focused in on themed experiences. And most people, again, think theme parks, right? Which makes sense, but it’s well beyond that. It’s in your everyday life. And I’m so curious to see how technology is going to start to move. I mean, it already is in our everyday lives, but products like a HoloLens too, as people begin to use them for performances or for experiences regularly, right?

Like we already had Google try their smart glasses a couple years ago, right? So we’re obviously moving in that direction and I’m so intrigued by how we can not only set up spaces, per Peter’s episode, and create rooms and spaces and entire experiences built for human use. And providing and telling that story through the environment that you’re in, but also then bringing in a whole new environment, a virtual environment, right? That adds onto that.

I think that’s fascinating. As we’re moving in two directions as a university. Where we’re telling a story with the physical environment that’s here and we’re also telling a story with the rest of our senses.

What else are you seeing that’s not in the physical environment? What are you feeling that’s not in the physical environment? So I guess it’s not the rest of your senses, but it’s a second level. It’s more, what’s going on? And I think that’s fascinating.

Stella Sung: It is, it is. And you know, and I’ll make a plug for 麻豆原创, too, because we are blessed that we have all these wonderful technology areas here, in Orlando, businesses and companies that are here in Orlando. And it’s a great way to interface with those companies. We’re blessed with fantastic faculty and students who want to push that envelope. Who want to take that step and go forward in looking at ways in where we could create that third dimension between, audience and presenter.

Theme-park experience, for example, is really cool because in a theme park we have the theme-park reality. That is you’re in the park, but somebody else presented that reality to you. So the theme park makers are the sort of presenters, if you will. And then when you go to the theme park, you’re like the audience, but you step out of your audience mode and become interactive. And so you’ve created a third dimension, if you will, of an experience. So theme parks do this so well because they really know how to capture our imagination and our participation in a really active way, where we’re not really thinking about what we were. And we’re not really thinking about who made that necessarily, although Disney, of course, brands everything, right?

But it doesn’t matter because you’re so engrossed in it that you, you become something else. You go to a different experience and that’s why people love theme parks you get to a different place.

James Evans: Related to this, but not entirely to theme parks. I want to pick your brain about something. There’s a phrase, a word, whatever you want to call it, that I’ve been hearing recently, and I think you’re going to 聽have some good insight into this. Orlando is working towards becoming Meta City. Capital of the metaverse. We want to be the home, the hub of where the metaverse grows and shapes and forms and builds, and your work and your research.

And a lot of 麻豆原创鈥檚 work and research is at the crux of that development, right? How are we combining the human experience to this entirely new place that’s completely virtual? How are we bridging that gap where it’s not entirely virtual and people can move in and progress into that?

What are your thoughts on Orlando becoming and wanting to be Meta City, wanting to be capital of the metaverse? I just want to hear your thoughts on that.

Stella Sung: I personally think it can happen. I really do. I mean, Orlando is a place that is moving forward. It’s growing rapidly. It’s attracting new businesses, it’s attracting new companies, it’s attracting technology.

You know, our medical school, our nursing school, these things are involved with the human factors. They’re all growing. They’re busting at the seams, basically. So we have the opportunity to do this. We have the opportunity to be totally creative. Totally creative. And 麻豆原创 has an opportunity to be a part of that in a really big way.

We’ve got it. We can do it. We have all the resources here to make that metaverse, you know, to be that hub, if you will, to attract our young people to attract the creatives as well as the technical people, as well as the engineers.

All these kinds of things combined, we’ve got the hugest, the greatest ability to do it. We just need to do it, we just need to step forward and we need creative people to think about it and be a part of it. We’ve got business who are ready to fund it. So I think we’ve got all kinds of possibilities and I would love to be a part of that.

James Evans: I’ve had the fortune of talking to several researchers and just being exposed to many more. And I’m constantly seeing work that’s pushing the edge of academia, pushing us forward in some very innovative and creative ways. And I just sit there in awe.

Stella Sung: I’m learning a part of it too.

James Evans: Exactly. You know, despite me being an accounting major and there’s not a lot of research going on in accounting, I don’t think, to see and be exposed to how much our academic units and our faculty are pushing forward their fields and pushing forward this region. It’s fascinating.

Stella Sung: It is. It’s a great time to be here and it’s a great time to be at 麻豆原创 and we’ve got a huge a wonderful, wonderful future ahead of us. Our old slogan was Reach for the Stars, and I think we’re getting there.

James Evans: Oh, absolutely. What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do or even just succeed like you have?

Stella Sung: Just do the best work you possibly can every day.

The best thing that I try to do is when I come to work, when I work with our students, give 100%. That’s all you can actually do really, I think, is do your best work. Always keep a level of excellence in your forefront. Everything isn’t always going to be perfect, but you be flexible and learn and be ready to explore.

James Evans: I, as a student, engage and respond best to the teachers and the professors that are most engaged back, right? Are you doing something great that’s inspiring? How are you sharing it with your students and then pushing them, right? You were saying, 鈥淭his is where I’m headed. This is what’s going on. This is what we’re doing. How are you going to be a part of that?鈥� I think presenting that challenge to students of, can you beat me? Can you match me? Can you put your energy in and provide something back? And can you do it for your community? I think those are really great questions that we need to be asking our students.

Stella Sung: Well, and it’s true that one of the greatest joys is when the student succeeds and exceeds the master. I have some wonderful students who have gone on to great careers who are out, out in LA as composers and they’re doing really, really well. They’re writing music for Netflix. They’re writing music for major commercials for the Super Bowl. I mean, these kinds of things that I didn’t do, and I’m glad that they are. It makes me really proud that I kind of helped in guiding them through their career paths. And that’s our job and that’s our passion is to say, 鈥淥K, you know, I can show you what I know, but now you show me what you know.鈥�

James Evans: I know that’s what I want when I become a parent, when I become a teacher, when I become somebody who’s a mentor to others. I want them to be able to stand on my shoulders and push farther than I ever even had the ability to dream of, right?

Stella Sung: Yes.

James Evans: That’s the goal.

Stella Sung: That is absolutely the goal.

James Evans: So last question. What’s one thing you are still hoping to do?

Stella Sung: Oh gosh, there’s still a lot out there that I’m hoping to do, but I think we’ve actually really covered this already I really want to explore how can we make the live concert, the live classical concert experience, more engaging, more interactive, more interesting.

One of the things that I really would love to see before I retire or whenever is seeing that technology married, seeing that technology being used in the concert hall and seeing the success of that and making sure that there’s still a future for live classical concerts.

James Evans: I want to thank you. I mean, this has been an amazing conversation. You’ve really given me some insight that I had no clue about, and you’ve explained so much more than I even had anticipated for the episode. It’s really been a pleasure.

Stella Sung: Well, thank you, James. It’s great to be here with you and thank you for your thoughtful and interesting questions.

James Evans: I want to reiterate my thanks to Dr. Sung for being on the show today. Her work and story shows that we can all be mentors, leaders, and life-long learners. As the world continues to be increasingly more digital, we have to reimagine how we tell stories and give future generations the tools to do so. We can also all take away a lesson of personal excellence. It’s no small feat to be a well-published and awarded composer.

Speaking of personal excellence, our next episode will be with Chris Clifford 鈥�21, a 麻豆原创 alum who was our first student be offered the highly selective Gates-Cambridge Scholarship 鈥� but actually turned it down to follow another prestigious path. Chris now studies and researches at MIT as he is working to cure diabetes, and he shares why this is the best way for him to make a difference.

As always, if you’re doing something cool, whether that’s at 麻豆原创 or somewhere you took 麻豆原创 that we should know about, send us an email at socialmedia@ucf.edu and maybe we’ll see you on an episode in the future. Go Knights. Charge on!

Chris Clifford: My motto that I live by is always strive to be the dumbest person in the room. I think that is an amazing way to grow. A lot of people are scared of being in an environment like that, but I pursue environments like that because, if you’re the dumbest person in the room, there’s only one trajectory really.

The new programs will promote literacy and writing skills through creative activity. Starting this summer, Page 15 and CREATE will design and implement new curricula for 鈥淲riting + Animation鈥� and 鈥淲riting + Podcast.鈥�

About the New Programs

In the animation program, students will use creativity and technology to bring stories to life. In two-week workshops within Page 15鈥檚 after-school, in-school and publishing programs, students will begin by editing, revising and completing a short story, poem or piece of nonfiction writing. Working alongside CREATE instructors, students then learn to storyboard, film a stop-motion animation, edit and add background sound/music/narrative to a short stop-motion animated film inspired by their writing.

In the podcast program, students will explore the popular publishing format of podcasting by drafting, writing, and recording a three-part 鈥渄igital story.鈥� Support for the content will be provided by trained Page 15 staff and local podcasters, and production design, recording and musical compositions will be supported by the CREATE team.

Stella Sung, director of CREATE, says these programs will encourage creativity and wellbeing in children, while also providing an innovative environment for learning outside the classroom.

鈥淥ne of our primary goals is to ensure that school-aged children become comfortable in a university environment,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 doubly rewarding to see them develop a keenness for 麻豆原创 and hear them聽talking about one day becoming a Knight. These students are 麻豆原创鈥檚 鈥� and Central Florida鈥檚 鈥� future.鈥�

About the Grant

The other organizations that were 鈥済ranted by Disney鈥� this year include Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, Heart of Florida United Way, Zebra Coalition and Homeless Services Network of Central Florida; Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida; Orange County Library System, Hero Spark, Inc. and ArtReach Orlando; and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Walt Disney World surprised each of the five grantees with a Toy Story-themed celebration and ceremony.

For decades, Walt Disney World Resort has remained committed to Central Florida, investing in the community in ways that directly improve the lives of children and families. This infuses the same unique magic seen of the Disney theme parks and resorts into the day-to-day lives of Central Floridians who need it the most, helping to strengthen children and families and bring positive, lasting change to the community. In 2018, Disney plans to invest more than $34 million in local organizations, and more than 200,000 volunteer hours through the efforts of Disney VoluntEARS.

About 麻豆原创 CREATE and Page 15

麻豆原创 CREATE is a unique center within the 麻豆原创 wherein internal and external programs apply interdisciplinary curriculum through S.T.E.A.M., arts integration, technology and entertainment to K-12 learners. Under the direction of Sung and located at the 麻豆原创 Center for Emerging Media, part of the future 麻豆原创 Downtown campus, the affiliated faculty and students of CREATE explore a wide range of educational, research and creative topics.

Page 15 is a program of the Urban Think Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching Central Florida’s cultural landscape by developing and growing educational and creative literary arts programs.

To watch a Disney-themed celebration for the grants, click .

John Morris Russell, guest conductor for the NSO and conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, selected The Peace Corps from Sung鈥檚 Rockwell Reflections collection to play at the annual event.

鈥淚t just feels so amazing to finally have that dream come true,鈥� said Sung, who also is director of the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment (CREATE) at the university鈥檚 downtown Center for Emerging Media.

Sung wrote the Rockwell Reflections collection for the Orlando Philharmonic in 2007. At that time, a collection of paintings by artist Norman Rockwell was touring the country and Sung became so inspired she created orchestral pieces for five of his works.

The Peace Corps was the final composition in the set and inspired by a painting of President John F. Kennedy with a group of the organization鈥檚 volunteers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very inspiring illustration, it just personifies that really wonderful American spirit and hope and service because that鈥檚 what the Peace Corps was all about,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淭his piece is reflective of those Peace Corps feelings.鈥�

Russell said Sung鈥檚 composition was inspiring.

鈥淚t has the grand, open sonorities reminiscent of Copland, an epic scope worthy of John Williams, capped by a beloved melody by Irving Berlin,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淚t is as American as apple pie: inspirational and stirring.

Sung鈥檚 music has been played all around the world by a multitude of different orchestras such as the German Ministry of Culture, the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and others.

鈥淚 really am forever indebted to all the other orchestras, the youth orchestras, the university orchestras, regional orchestras, that have played my music,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淚 owe a debt of gratitude to all my colleagues and musicians because you can鈥檛 start with major orchestras. You build and have those years of support and it has finally come to fruition.

鈥淭his is one of my favorite pieces. Even if it doesn鈥檛 get played by another orchestra, I鈥檒l be really happy with how everything turned out.鈥�

These aren鈥檛 robots to take out the garbage or play chess.

Instead, they are small assembly-kit robots built by people 55 and older who may be experiencing age-related physical and cognitive decline. Researchers want to see if the model sets have any impact, and are redesigning off-the-shelf kits to make them more accessible for the study鈥檚 subjects. While the team is still assessing participants鈥� abilities and the barriers in building the kits, one benefit is already clear: The kits provide people with another outlet for socialization.

鈥淎 couple of years ago we were working with teachers at the Orlando Science Center and having them do commercially available robot-kit assembly,鈥� said Stella Sung, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 CREATE (Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment) at the downtown Center for Emerging Media, where much of the research is taking place. Both are part of the College of Arts & Humanities.

鈥淭he聽kits were fun, but I got to thinking that they were all designed for kids and youngsters, and that some older people would have a hard time doing some of the tasks. The parts are small, the instructions are not always very clear, etc.鈥�

Sung checked to see if there was anything similar on the market specifically for that demographic, but she said she discovered there was nothing to compare.

So she partnered with psychology Professor Janan Smither in the College of Sciences to create a project they鈥檝e been calling the Silver Robot Kit. The team is creating the kits geared for 55 and older adults and researching the impact on cognitive and physical skills.

Smither, whose interests include technology and aging, and two of her students earlier this month attended the British Society of Gerontology International conference in Wales and presented the kit project, which won second place out of more than 40 gerontology studies.

鈥淭hese robotic kits can provide a fun and cognitively stimulating leisure activity,鈥� Smither said. 鈥淭his activity can conform to the interests of the more technology-savvy older adult as well as provide an outlet for socialization with other older adults or bridge the generational gap, as it can be a fun activity to build a kit with grandkids.鈥�

The team is researching off-the-shelf products to develop Silver Robot Kits with large-print instructions, easier-to-follow drawings and pictures, and brighter colors. Next they plan to make prototypes using 3-D printers and gain enough traction so that companies will make and market the kits commercially.

鈥淥ne of the things that we noted about many (available) kits is that the colors are limited to聽industrial聽grey, blue, black, white colors,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淲e would like our robots to be colorful, artistic and creative, and聽include聽sound and light elements as well.鈥� As the project progresses, the team plans to involve the School of Visual Arts & Design.

For their research, the team has been organizing 鈥渢eam builds鈥� at CREATE and Smither鈥檚 Technology and Aging laboratory on campus, where the volunteer participants build small robots to test workable and inadequate designs. About 30 participants have helped with assembly projects so far, but the team plans to take the test kits to senior centers for more study.

鈥淎t the beginning, I thought that these kits could be created for聽recreational and intergenerational purposes. However, since then, we’ve engaged in a聽research agenda that further聽explores the聽purposes of the kits and how they might enhance聽various skills,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淭he kits could also be used for others with certain disabilities. We are still deciding what functions the robots will do. At present, they聽would聽be聽designed聽for聽entertainment purposes, but I believe that we’ll eventually be able to have the robots programmed to聽serve other purposes.鈥�

Sung said some of the participants have commented that because of their hearing loss they often feel isolated in group activities. But with the Silver Robot Kits, she said they can assemble them as a group or individually in a socialized setting.

鈥淪till others have responded that the activity gave them a sense of having聽accomplished聽something which they thought that they would not be able to do,鈥� she said.

Four doctoral students in Smither鈥檚 laboratory are working on the project. Eva Parkhurst, Jessica Michaelis, Fernando Montalvo and Michael Rupp are assessing participants鈥� abilities and dexterity, barriers in building the kits, existing commercial assembly instructions, and other factors.

鈥淲e are pursuing the development of robotic kits because this is a popular modern activity that a lot of older adults have never even considered attempting,鈥� said graduate research assistant Eva Parkhurst. 鈥淚 personally love to see the look on the faces of our participants when they start using the remote control to move the robot that they built with their own hands.鈥�

The team hopes to eventually see an entire line of products specifically designed for the target demographic.

鈥淎s the聽next generations of aging adults聽approach, the use聽of聽technology and what聽technology can do is聽becoming more and more a part of daily life,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淥ne of the聽goals of the robot kits is to聽introduce聽them to the increasing ways in which tech influences their lives as well as the lives of all around them.鈥�

John Morris Russell, guest conductor for the NSO and conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, selected The Peace Corps from Sung鈥檚 Rockwell Reflections collection to play at the annual event. He also will conduct the piece at a Fourth of July celebration in Cincinnati.

鈥淚t just feels so amazing to finally have that dream come true,鈥� said Sung, who also is director of the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment (CREATE) at the university鈥檚 downtown Center for Emerging Media.

Sung wrote the Rockwell Reflections collection for the Orlando Philharmonic in 2007. At that time, a collection of paintings by artist Norman Rockwell was touring the country and Sung became so inspired she created orchestral pieces for five of his works.

The Peace Corps was the final composition in the set and inspired by a painting of President John F. Kennedy with a group of the organization鈥檚 volunteers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very inspiring illustration, it just personifies that really wonderful American spirit and hope and service because that鈥檚 what the Peace Corps was all about,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淭his piece is reflective of those Peace Corps feelings.鈥�

Russell said Sung鈥檚 composition was inspiring.

鈥淚t has the grand, open sonorities reminiscent of Copland, an epic scope worthy of John Williams, capped by a beloved melody by Irving Berlin,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淚t is as American as apple pie: inspirational and stirring.

Sung鈥檚 music has been played all around the world by a multitude of different orchestras such as the German Ministry of Culture, the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and others.

鈥淚 really am forever indebted to all the other orchestras, the youth orchestras, the university orchestras, regional orchestras, that have played my music,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淚 owe a debt of gratitude to all my colleagues and musicians because you can鈥檛 start with major orchestras. You build and have those years of support and it has finally come to fruition.

鈥淭his is one of my favorite pieces. Even if it doesn鈥檛 get played by another orchestra, I鈥檒l be really happy with how everything turned out.鈥�

This is the third year of the university and festival鈥檚 growing partnership, which this year also begins W麻豆原创 TV鈥檚 involvement as the festival鈥檚 media partner. The PBS station and film festival are developing some joint projects.

The college鈥檚 free Education Day will kick off the four-day festival of more than 70 short films from a dozen countries. Three of those films in competition were directed by 麻豆原创 graduates.

Lisa Mills, an associate professor of film in the college鈥檚 School of Visual Arts & Design who is leading the workshops, said this year鈥檚 sessions focus on animation because she said she鈥檚 never seen the topic offered as an educational component at other festivals. The workshops are geared for anyone who鈥檚 ever thought about writing, producing, animating or directing a film.

A 9 a.m. panel discussion on 鈥淎nimation Adaptions to the Digital Age鈥� and a 10 a.m. discussion on 鈥淐areers in Animation鈥� will be led by聽Mills at the Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce, 400 E. 1st St. The panel will consist of:

At 11:30 a.m., Mark Seppala, a Sanford artist and Walt Disney World’s former general manager for character merchandise, will talk about 鈥淢y Life in Animation,鈥� including his time in the field of merchandise design and animation. A graduate of the New England School of Art and Design, he majored in animation and advertising design. After 25 years at Disney, he retired three years ago and now has a studio at the Gallery on First in Sanford.

Space is limited so reservations are recommended through the festival鈥檚 website, LoveYourShorts.com.

At 7 p.m., the student films that were completed last year will be screened at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Magnolia Ave.

With titles such as Grizzly Girl by Destiny Deming, Mirrored Canvas by Christine Paul, Ape and Turtle Versus the Fire Monster by Rick Lee, and Burp by Benjamin L. Gill, there鈥檚 a little something for all film fans. Some of the films have mature themes and language, so viewer discretion is advised.

Three student films that were submitted and accepted by the festival for competition are:

The rest of the festival weekend at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center will showcase short films in seven categories (comedy, drama, animation, documentary, sci-fi/horror, Florida Flavor, and E for Everyone), plus an opening-night variety of films, and a Best of the Fest competition on closing night. Also on Saturday during the festival, a workshop will be offered for middle and high school students to see what it is like to be on a working film set, and a panel of visiting filmmakers will present a discussion and Q&A on techniques, tips and current projects. All the workshops and panels are free.

For a schedule of films, events and ticket information, visit the festival website. And for updates: .

Composed by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Stella Sung, the opera will debut next week at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Sung, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment, has written about 100 compositions, but this is her first opera 鈥� and she says it won鈥檛 be her last.

鈥淚n doing the research, I discovered that I could develop a story 鈥� based in historical fact or at least what we know of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan 鈥� that would make a good opera plot,鈥� she said. 鈥淒ashing world traveler plus a young and beautiful princess gives us the love element, but the thrust of the story has two central themes: one of fate and one of transformation, and this is really where the depth of the story is found.鈥�

The tale follows the Italian merchant on his travels to China, where he meets the Mongolian emperor and his daughter. The project took about nine months to complete with librettist Ernest Hilbert.

The story came about because Sung said she wanted to expound on the Chinese proverb that says 鈥減eople who are meant to be together will also be connected by an invisible 鈥榯hread鈥� 鈥� a feeling of being connected to those whom we are fated to meet.鈥�

The story line also interested her because her parents are from China. They met at UF and still live in Gainesville.

Sung joined 麻豆原创 in 1987 as a visiting instructor in the Music Department. She soon became a full-time professor, teaching music theory, composition, piano, singing and other courses. In 2006, she became a professor of digital media in the , and in 2007 was named to her current post, where she develops multidisciplinary research-driven initiatives.

Drawing from that multidisciplinary background, she used digital technology to create a virtual set with projections.

鈥淥ur set has been designed by a local group from Ninjaneer Studios, a small group of former 麻豆原创 students who graduated from our character-animation program 鈥� Joe Rosa, Heather Knott and Chris Brown,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淭hey have worked very diligently to produce some spectacular virtual sets with slight animations, so that the set will feel like a 鈥榣iving鈥� set. The ship scene will have some shimmering water, billowing sails, etcetera. I am incredibly excited to see these projected!鈥�

An ensemble cast of performers from the UF Opera Theatre, directed by Beth Greenberg, will be joined by the UF Symphony Orchestra led by Raymond Chobaz. From 麻豆原创, Thomas Potter, an associate professor of voice in the Music Department, will play a lead role of Kublai Khan.

Performances for The Red Silk Thread, which will be sung in English, will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17,聽and Saturday, April 19, at Phillips Center on the UF campus.

Tickets range from $25 to $40 and can be purchased from the box office at 352-392-2787.

When did you realize that you wanted music to be your career?

I started formal musical training as a pianist when I was 8 years old. By the time I was 12, I realized that music was what I wanted to do and I started working towards the goal of being a concert pianist.

What do you like about being at 麻豆原创?

As I approach my 27th year at 麻豆原创, I am so proud to call 麻豆原创 my academic home. 麻豆原创 has always offered me the opportunity to grow, explore, change, and move forward in my teaching and creative activities. When I first started at 麻豆原创, there were about 18,000 students, and I loved the university鈥檚 motto of 鈥淩each for the Stars,鈥� as it truly felt like that was what 麻豆原创 was all about鈥攑eople reaching their potential, people believing in their dreams and knowing that there was a wonderful university to support them. Happily, it is still true today as it was then, and as 麻豆原创 celebrates its 50th year, I can only imagine what the next 50 years will be like.

Being at 麻豆原创 has allowed me to 鈥渞einvent鈥� myself in many ways, and I have been so fortunate to have had the support of my deans and upper administrators.

What accomplishment have you been most proud of at 麻豆原创?

I am most proud of the students I have served and mentored, many of whom now have wonderful careers in music and the arts. Several former students have gone on to graduate music programs, and some are even back at 麻豆原创 in faculty positions. I am also very honored to have been selected as a Pegasus Professor, and am actually the first Pegasus Professor in the College of Arts and Humanities. (Dean Jose Fernandez of the College of Arts and Humanities was named a Pegasus Professor when the college was the College of Arts & Sciences.)

What projects are you working on now?

I usually have several projects on the burner, but the most prominent one at the moment is my full-length opera, The Red Silk Thread. I had two public workshop performances at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this April, and I am now preparing for the world premiere next April at the University of Florida. The opera is based on stories of Italian explorer Marco Polo and the court of Mongol leader Kublai Khan.

How do you involve digital and multi-media applications into your compositions?

Since the 1980s, I have used digital technology in my compositions. One of my former students was highly interested in composing music for film 鈥� he is now actively working in Los Angeles as a composer for television and films 鈥� and so I then built a digital audio workstation in my home as I realized that I needed to keep up with the latest applications of computer technology in music, much of which was being used by film composers. I also have two music studios at the 麻豆原创 Center for Emerging Media. I now use computers extensively in my composition work, and the technology continues to improve.

What are a few of the memorable performances you have attended?

As an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, I had the opportunity to hear many of the world鈥檚 greatest classical music artists. I remember attending three concerts by the Russian pianist Vladimir Horowitz, and those were stunning recitals. I also heard the great Leontyne Price, who had a wonderful voice and the most incredible stage presence. I also remember some of the concerts that I attended while a 鈥渃amper鈥� at the Interlochen Arts Camp (then known as the National Music Camp) when I was a child of 12 and 13. I heard my first Mahler symphony (Symphony No. 5) when I was 13, played by the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and I remember being completely and emotionally moved by the music.

Then of course are the performances of my own music. I have had many fine performances by wonderful artists and ensembles. As I was the composer-in-residence for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (2007-11), I was extremely blessed to have had my orchestral works performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and its fine musicians and music directors. It is a real thrill to hear one鈥檚 work come to life and being played by 80+ musicians!

What music do you listen to?

Over the years, my musical listening tastes have really expanded to include all genres of music. It is difficult now for me to say what I listen to the most, as it often depends upon what I myself might be working on. For example, since I have been writing an opera, I am listening to opera most of the time. But I juxtapose that with some of my favorite songs from Chicago or other groups.

Tell us a little about your family.

My parents are from China (Beijing and Chung-king) but they met at the University of Florida. My mother is a professional painter and was at one time chief artist at the Florida State Museum, now the Natural History Museum at the University of Florida. My father had a dental laboratory for many years, but is also a general businessman and entrepreneur. They still live in Gainesville. My brother is a lawyer and lives in Orlando.

What do you like to do when you鈥檙e not at work?

I really don鈥檛 do much except work! But that鈥檚 a good thing because I really love writing music, and I really love working for 麻豆原创.聽 But in the leisure times, I do enjoy gardening, watching DVDs of old TV shows, swimming, yoga, and going to movies.

The award is the most prestigious a faculty member can receive at 麻豆原创. The honor recognizes extraordinary contributions to the 麻豆原创 community through teaching, research and service. Each recipient received a statue of the 麻豆原创 Pegasus, a gold Pegasus Professor medallion and a check for $5,000.

This years winners are: Professor Donald C. Malocha from the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Physics Professor Talat Shahnaz Rahman from the College of Sciences; Martin Richardson, a professor in the College of Optics and Photonics and director of the Townes Laser Center; Sudipta Seal, an engineering professor and the director of the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center; Stella Sung, director of CREATE and an internationally known musician, and biology professor and marine conservation expert Linda Walters.

Donald C. Malocha is a professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and an internationally recognized scholar in the field of surface acoustics and wireless radio-frequency devices.

During his 30 years at 麻豆原创, Malocha has accomplished much, including developing the first two clean rooms at 麻豆原创 and supervising 51 graduate-level students. He always participates in anything that helps students, from guest lectures during open houses to helping students and graduates launch start-up companies.

He鈥檚 also made contributions that will help many industries, and frequently partners with NASA among other agencies. His development of a wireless-sensor system 鈥� like those used in home-security systems 鈥� may help protect future spacecraft by detecting threats such as biohazards.

Malocha has written more than 200 technical publications and has 12 patents awarded to him with several others pending. Many professional associations and his students who praise him for his commitment to their education and their success have honored him.

鈥淒r. Malocha truly deserves this prestigious honor from the university, which recognizes faculty members who have made significant impact on the university and have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service,鈥� said Engineering Dean Marwan Simann. 鈥淎 key faculty member in our college, Dr. Malocha is an outstanding educator and researcher who is internationally known for his work.鈥�

Talat Shahnaz Rahman is a theoretical physicist and the chair of the physics department. She joined 麻豆原创 in 2006 and since then has worked tirelessly to improve the teaching of physics while continuing her exceptional research work.

Rahman is internationally renowned for her research in computational nanoscience. Her research finds ways聽to engineer materials at the nanoscale with optical, magnetic, vibrational, and chemical properties needed for a variety of applications 鈥�”building” the materials,on the computer, atom by atom.

Rahman serves on elite panels and regularly receives 聽exclusive invitations to collaborate with top researchers from around the world, including a Nobel Laureate in Physics. Her work has been cited more than 3,500 times. And she鈥檚 obtained recurring funding from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. She has mentored several undergraduate and graduate students and participates in the American Physical Society鈥檚 Committee on the Status of Women in Physics and its efforts to change the climate for women and minorities.

鈥淪he is in demand worldwide both for scientific presentations and advice to governmental agencies on science issues,鈥� said Michael Johnson, dean of the College of Sciences. 鈥淲 could do no better for a choice for the Pegasus Professorship.鈥�

Martin Richardson, director of the Townes Laser Institute and a professor of optics, began working at the university in 1990 when he co-established 麻豆原创鈥檚 Laser Plasma Laboratory at CREOL, the Center of Research in Electro-Optics & Lasers.

In 2003, he was appointed the Northrop Grumman Professor of X-ray Photonics, and in 2007 was named the founding director of the laser institute.

Richardson has published more than 400 articles in professional journals, holds 20 patents with several pending, and has chaired many international conferences in addition to being a former associate editor of JQE (Journal of Quantum Electronics), a recipient of the Schardin Medal, and a Fellow of the Optical Society of America.

鈥淒r. Richardson is a world-class leader in the area of lasers with a strong commitment to research, education, and partnership,鈥� said Bahaa Saleh, dean of the College of Optics and Photonics. 鈥淗e has received an impressive amount of funding from government and industry sources for research on a wide variety of laser applications, and has mentored a large number of students who now hold high positions in industry. His extensive connections and partnerships with many international institutions bring to 麻豆原创 great visibility and recognition.鈥�

Sudipta Seal joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center and the Department of Engineering in 1997. Since then he has been a leader pioneering innovative research in the areas of materials sciences and nanotechnology, providing service through partnerships with high schools and universities around the world as well as inspiring future scientists.

Seal has a long list of accomplishments. Highlights include: the 2002 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award and being selected as the Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow and as a Visiting Professor Fellow at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London.

He has penned more than 200 academic articles in peer-reviewed journals and has received more than $12 million in grant funding for his work.

Seal was also one of the principal authors of the master鈥檚 and Ph.D. degree program in Materials Science and Engineering in Mechanical Materials and Aerospace engineering and was instrumental in initiating a graduate portfolio in nanoscience and technology through the Nanoscience and Technology Center.

鈥淚t is very hard nowadays, in an era where emphasis on specialization is rewarded, to find faculty members who excel in all the areas of teaching, research and service,鈥� said M.J. Soileau, vice president for the Office of Research and Commercialization. 鈥淒r. Seal is undoubtedly one of these individuals that are hard to find.鈥�

Stella Sung, director of the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology, and Entertainment (CREATE), first joined the university鈥檚 Music Department in 1987 as a visiting instructor. She soon became a full-time professor teaching music theory, piano, singing and other courses, including the music composition program she initiated.

In 2006, she became professor of digital media in the School of Visual Arts and Design, where she and her students have won awards for film and video game projects.

She was named in 2007 to the CREATE post, where she develops multidisciplinary research-driven initiatives.

Sung also is an international award-winning composer and composer-in-residence for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Dance Alive National Ballet in Gainesville.

She has received awards from the National Endowment of the Arts, the State of Florida, Phi Kappa Phi and others, several documentaries have been made about her work, and she serves on numerous prestigious boards.

鈥淪tella Sung is 麻豆原创鈥檚 quintessential Arts ambassador. By all standards by which faculty are judged, she excels,鈥� said Jos茅 Fern谩ndez, dean of the College of Arts & Humanities. 鈥淪he is an internationally recognized artist and composer, and yet, she remains an unassuming and humble individual who puts 麻豆原创 first.鈥�

Linda Walters joined 麻豆原创 in 1997 and has shared her passion for biology with her students and the community through her teaching, research and service each day of her career.

Walters has received national, state and 麻豆原创 awards for teaching and research excellence.聽 She鈥檚 in demand at the national level, frequently being invited to share her research techniques and findings, which she has published in 50 peer-reviewed journals and more than 22 popular publications.

She鈥檚 received more than $10 million in grant funding and runs the Biology Field Station at Canaveral National Seashore. Her work in the community is also outstanding, providing hands-on opportunities to learn about the important ecosystem and ways to protect it. From school visits to Boy Scouts tours, she鈥檚 reached out to teach and inspire young people.

Her efforts to restore oyster reefs and stabilize coastal shorelines garnered national attention. Toyota and Field & Stream magazine selected her as one of its 10 national 鈥淗eroes of Conservation鈥� in 2011. Locally, Volusia County established an annual 鈥淒r. Linda Walters Day鈥� to recognize her contributions.

Walters also is an enthusiastic collaborator sharing what she knows through the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning and serving as a mentor to aspiring biologists.

鈥淒r. Walters is a first-rate scholar addressing very important topics of marine conservation biology,鈥� said Michael Johnson, dean of the College of Sciences. 鈥淪he is also one of the university’s best teachers both in the classroom and as a mentor of student researchers.鈥�