For Priscilla Navarro, choosing to pursue her Doctorate in Piano Pedagogy at the Frost School of Music has helped her reach new heights as an artist.
“As a pianist, I consider many faculty members in my program as mentors. They have been extremely supportive and are dedicated to each and every student,” said Navarro.
With the encouragement of Frost faculty, Navarro has grown into an exceptionally accomplished pianist who has won several competitions across the U.S., Europe, and South America. Most recently she was named the grand prize winner of the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition and is set to compete against students from around the world as a semi-finalist in the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in the Netherlands this upcoming April.
“It’s all very exciting to me. The fact that I’m a semi-finalist is an accomplishment in itself. I thank Frost for uplifting me to my fullest potential,” she said.
In order to amplify remarkable stories like these, the University of Miami has created a new website, The U Creates, which will serve as a platform for the stories behind outstanding students and faculty members from a wide range of academic disciplines, including theater, film, music, and fine arts. “The U Creates” is designed to enrich the student body and community experience in the arts and humanities.
“The arts and humanities are fundamental to our mission, and as you know, the U has played a foundational role in promoting the arts in South Florida since 1926,” said University President Julio Frenk. “The U Creates celebrates diverse perspectives and forms of expression, affording students unique opportunities to experience artistic creation and production,” he added.
The site provides audiences interested in the arts easy access to information about academics, cutting-edge premieres, thought-provoking lectures, exhibits, and films that reflect the university’s youthful spirit and multicultural vibrancy. It also spotlights the important role the arts and humanities play in academic institutions.
“At the University of Miami we strive to transform lives by offering an array of majors and programs, giving students the opportunity to engage in world class performances, scholarship, and research that enhances their experience in the arts and humanities,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Our goal is to consistently provide students with an innovative, motivating, and relevant education so they can continue to grow as leaders in the world of art and innovation.”
For those interested in learning more about how they can immerse themselves in the arts at the University of Miami, “The U Creates” features monthly arts guides that detail on-campus happenings and engages the community through programming open to the public. Featured venues include the Bill Cosford Cinema, Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, the Lowe Art Museum, and the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.
Rudy Fernandez, the University’s senior vice president for public affairs and communications and chief of staff to the president said, “This is a jewel for the community. The U plays an important role in Miami’s vibrant art scene, and initiatives like this elevate the U’s presence in the community.”
Max Stefanos Matthaiou, an undergraduate student majoring in studio art with a minor in entrepreneurship, said this platform really reinforces the sense of community he felt when he first visited the U’s campus.
“I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of, and I’m grateful for continuous opportunities like these that allow me to expand my reach to others both on campus, as well as off,” said Matthaiou.
To learn more about The U Creates, visit arts.miami.edu
