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A black background with the words "The Barons" in white letters in the center.
Music

Arts This Week: The Barons at Fridays After Five

You’re listening to WTJU Charlottesville. On Friday, July 11, The Barons will take the stage at Ting Pavilion as part of the Fridays After Five concert series. For this week’s edition of Arts This Week, we spoke to Peyton Alley, frontman of The Barons, who shared all the details about their upcoming performance and new album. My name is Peyton Alley. I’m the front man and rhythm guitarist for the band The Barons. I’d like to say we’re alternative rock, but we don’t necessarily try to fall into too many genres. We kind of try to mix it up a little bit.

https://www.wtju.net/arts-this-week-the-barons-at-fridays-after-five/

Two photos of Simone from her time on The Voice, both of her standing and belting into a microphone.
Music

Virginia Belle Takes on Knockout Challenge on ‘The Voice’

University of Virginia third-year student Simone Marijic’s journey on NBC’s singing competition “The Voice” came to an end Monday night as the member of the Virginia Belles lost in the knockout round to her Team Bublé teammate and friend Barry Jean Fontenot. “Thank you, Michael. I’ve learned so much and I’m very proud of myself,” Marijic said to coach Michael Bublé following the announcement Fontenot would be moving on in the contest.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/virginia-belle-takes-knockout-challenge-voice

Group of UVA students in the Hullabahoo a-capella group jumping in celebration at the top of the Rotunda.
Music

The Music Beat: UVA’s Hullabahoos Hit the Right Note – And Win Big

Peter Mildrew initially thought the email in his inbox offering up to $75,000 was a scam. As the then-president of the Hullabahoos, an all-male a cappella group at the University of Virginia, he was used to fielding gig requests paying far less. When a publicist working for Reser’s Fine Foods, a ready-made food company, reached out about a jingle-writing contest for college a cappella groups, Mildrew was skeptical.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/music-beat-uvas-hullabahoos-hit-right-note-and-win-big

An illustration from the exhibition signage, featuring the constellations of Taurus and Orion.
Architecture

‘Seeing Stars’: Exhibition Explores Early Observatories at UVA

Many in the University of Virginia community have taken the short journey to the top of Observatory Hill to visit the Leander McCormick Observatory, which was dedicated in 1885 and is still in operation. But how many are aware that two smaller observatories were constructed at the University and demolished by the mid-19th century? A new exhibition in the First Floor Gallery of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library explores the history of these little-known buildings.

https://library.virginia.edu/news/2025/seeing-stars-exhibition-explores-early-observatories-uva?mtm_campaign=em&mtm_kwd=sub

A photo of a young man jamming on a red electric guitar while singing into a mic, positioned in front of a full bookshelf.
Music

Arts This Week: Live Music in July at Book Club C'Ville

You’re listening to WTJU Charlottesville. On Saturday, July 12th and 26th at 8pm, Book Club C’ville will host live music performances set up in a local DIY space. For Arts This Week, we spoke to the band coordinator, John, who gave us all the details on what to expect this month at Book Club.

https://www.wtju.net/arts-this-week-live-music-in-july-at-book-club-cville/

Two trophies both in the shapes of silver microphones, sitting on a wooden table.
Music

WTJU Wins Six National and State Awards for Radio Excellence

June marks the start of summer 2025, as well as awards season for broadcasters. WTJU has just won six awards from the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters (VAB). “We have such a good team of volunteers, students, and staff at WTJU, and we live in such a vibrant place for music, arts, and culture. With those ingredients, we sure do make some tasty radio and podcasts,” said Nathan Moore, WTJU General Manager. “It is buoying to receive award recognition for a few examples of WTJU’s altogether terrific work.”

https://www.wtju.net/wtju-wins-six-national-and-state-awards-for-radio-excellence/

Image Captions Stele of the Nubian soldier Nenu, Egyptian, First Intermediate Period, dynasty 9–10, about 2100–2040 B.C. Painted limestone, Overall: 17 11/16 x 14 5/8 x 2 5/8 in., 31 lb. (45 x 37.1 x 6.7 cm, 14.06 kg). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Emily Esther Sears Fund. 03.1848. Photography © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Visual Art

The Fralin Museum of Art Announces Fall Exhibitions Opening in August Celebrating 90th Anniversary

The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia (The Fralin/ the Museum) today announced its fall exhibitions schedule featuring new scholarship surrounding the complex interactions between ancient Egypt and Nubia with The World Between, and the contemporary practice of empathy through disability with In Feeling. Having received the exceptional gift of modern Haitian art from Beverly and John Fox Sullivan in February, the slate includes Haiti’s Time, a selection from the collection. Internationally acclaimed artist Pélagie Gbaguidi responds to the paintings in this gift in her multi-media installation—the first of The Fralin’s Commission series. The four presentations open on August 30, 2025.

July 8, 2025
A digital image of a classroom with 4 tables, one with a theatre mask symbol, one with paint brushes, one with a laptop, and one with a pen and paper.
Visual Art

Arts on Grounds: Fun-Filled Fall Semester Courses

Picking classes every semester can feel like a lottery. But whether you are a first-year student looking to explore your options or a fourth-year wanting to take a fun elective, the good news is that the University offers a myriad of arts courses to take that are engaging and enlightening. No matter your major, arts classes can provide a creative outlet and introduce you to valuable new skills.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/06/arts-on-grounds-fun-filled-fall-semester-courses?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured

A collage of various photos from student experiences over the summer. Groups of theatre students pose together, a student teaching at an art museum is shown, and a student visiting paramount pictures is shown.
Drama

Students Use the Summer to Pursue Professional Arts Opportunities

Coast to coast, overseas and rooted on Grounds, three current students and one recent graduate have used this summer to unearth their places in the arts. The zeal among students in the University’s arts scene doesn’t fade over the three-month academic break — it carries itself into opportunities wherever they can be found. Discovering that creative careers often reach far from home and far from ideas of traditional artistic roles, these four shared how the arts have shaped their summers — and how their summers may shape their futures. For third-year Education and College student Carlin Lacques, that discovery reframed her perspective on what it meant to work in the arts.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/07/students-use-the-summer-to-pursue-professional-arts-opportunities?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured

A photo of William Dozier sitting in front of a wall of bookshelves. He is leaning slightly forward with his hands clasped in front.
Creative Writing

College Students Are Reading Less. This UVA ‘BookTok’ Influencer Wants To Change That

Professors across the country have noticed a troubling trend: College students are reading less than ever, and a recent study found many students enter college with challenges completing an entire book. The reasons why are complex. The rise of digital entertainment and the isolation of the pandemic have played a role, and studies show that 9- and 13-year-olds are reading for pleasure at historically low rates, which could contribute to the decline in college reading habits.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/college-students-are-reading-less-uva-booktok-influencer-wants-change

Jenna Pastuszek is shown singing into a standing microphone with her arms outstretched in front of her.
Drama

Jenna Pastuszek Wants You to "Get Happy!"

Bringing "Get Happy!" to the Virginia Theatre Festival this summer is not just a regular performance for Jenna Pastuszek — it is a homecoming. “As I was building my own professional career … I always thought about Charlottesville,” she said. “That is every U.Va. alum’s constant question of like, how can I get back there?” Pastuszek, an alumna from Class of 2010, will be paying homage to Judy Garland July 24-27 at the Ruth Caplin Theatre, singing the iconic performer’s uptempo medleys & ingénue ballads while also incorporating personal stories in a cabaret performance she has taken to over 10 states and 20 regional theatres.

https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025/04/jenna-pastuszek-wants-you-to-get-happy?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured

In a brightly lit room with white walls, many couples are learning to dance tango.
Dance

These Hoos Know How To Tango

Three scientists and a nurse walk into a room and start dancing tango. It might sound like the opening to a joke, but it’s actually the first Charlottesville Tango event of the season – and the University of Virginia community is well represented. Assistant professor of psychiatry David Acunzo, assistant professor of chemistry Jelena Samonina and emeritus professor of computer science Gabriel Robins, along with UVA Health nurse Cristina Ramirez, are devotees of Charlottesville Tango.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/these-hoos-know-how-tango