STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—The Center for Beauty at Franciscan University of Steubenville will launch its series of Monday evening talks, recitals, and performances on September 26, 2022, to be held throughout the fall semester.

“It’s exciting to have such a deep range and quality of events in this fall series,” said Franciscan University Professor of Philosophy Dr. Paul Symington. “We’re blessed to have world-class participants again, including members from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra!”

“We look forward to branching into performing arts and visual arts in the spring semester’s series,” added Symington. “Stay tuned!”

This semester, the Center for Beauty has scheduled five presentations. The first event is a September 26 talk by liturgical arts and architecture scholar Dr. Denis McNamara on “Elements of Beauty in Architecture: Ornament, Decoration, and the Column.”

All upcoming presentations are open to the entire University community and the general public at no cost and will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the J.C. Williams Center’s Tony and Nina Gentile Gallery (December 5 performance is 8:00 p.m., Christ the King Chapel).

Monday, September 26, 6:00 p.m.

“Elements of Beauty in Architecture: Ornament, Decoration, and the Column,” by Dr. Denis McNamara, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College.

Monday, October 17, 6:00 p.m.

Musical Performance

“Chamber Music at Franciscan Performing String Quartets of Beethoven and Brahms” by Members of The Pittsburgh Symphony: Kelsey Bluementhal, violin, Marta Krechkovsky, violin, Andrew Wickesburg, viola, and Karissa Shivone, cello.

Monday, November 7, 6:00 p.m.

Recital: “Poems from Love Like a Conflagration and The World as We Know it is Falling Away” by poet and author Jane Greer.

Monday, November 21, 6:00 p.m.

Musical Program: “Annum per Annum: Music for the Mass” by Schola Cantorum Franciscana with Director, Adjunct Professor of Sacred Music, and Music Director for Archangel Gabriel Parish in Pittsburgh, Dr. Vincent Rone.

Monday, December 5, 8:00 p.m.

Musical Performance in Christ the King Chapel

“Gustav Holst’s St. Paul’s Suite” featuring the Franciscan University Chamber Orchestra with Stanley Konopka, Director of Franciscan University’s Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Principal Violist with the Cleveland Orchestra.

The series is sponsored by the Center for Beauty, the Henkels Family Fund, and the Fine Arts Society. The Center for Beauty aims to help people to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of beauty as a living truth in its ability to touch, instruct, and move them to desire the Transcendent. The center also seeks support Franciscan University and its local community in the production and presentation of that which is beautiful in the areas of visual arts, music, drama, and literature.

For more information and video on demand of some presentations, go to franciscan.edu/monday-arts-and-culture-series.