Each semester, the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, the Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery and the Columbia Theatre for Performing Arts offer students and faculty a variety of entertainment through music, theater and art.
“Southeastern’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts is a priceless resource for the entire campus and surrounding community,” said Dr. Kenneth Boulton, head of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. “Students and faculty have repeated opportunities to experience some the best talent in the country right here on campus. It is my belief that exposure and participation in a vital program of arts education improve student learning and thereby produces more enlightened citizens.”
The first major event of the fall semester is the Southeastern Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop of John Bucchino’s “It’s Only Life,” which has been cast and is currently in rehearsals.
“As always, most of the major Department of Fine and Performing Arts events in the fall are held in conjunction with Southeastern’s Fanfare celebration,” said Boulton. “Among these, the Southeastern Opera/Musical Theatre production of John Bucchino’s ‘It’s Only Life,’ scheduled for Sept. 19 and 20 at the Columbia Theatre, is surely not to be missed.”  
However, there is much more in store for the Southeastern community. Fanfare, in Oct., is approximately a month-long celebration of the arts in Hammond. During Fanfare, there will be many lectures, concerts and other performances available to students and faculty for free or discounted price.
A new addition to Fanfare this year will be “Octuba-Fest,” a series of concerts featuring low brass instruments. According to Dr. Brian Gallion, music professor, performances will include student solo recitals, a studio recital ensemble and a guest artist master class, all to occur in Pottle Music Building throughout Oct.
“Octuba-fest was created in 1974 by a tuba player named Harvey Phillips,” said Gallion. “It was done in honor of his tuba teacher Bill Bell. The purpose of the events is to give positive exposure to the often neglected and overlooked instruments and players. Other events created by Mr. Phillips include an event called Merry Tuba Christmas in which we also participate. That concert will take place sometime in Dec. in downtown Hammond.”  
Also as a part of Fanfare, the Southeastern Wind Symphony will perform its major concert of the fall on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Theatre.
“The Southeastern Wind Symphony will perform a concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy,” said Boulton. “Dr. Hemberger has selected a wonderful and fitting variety of music composed at various periods of time for different presidents throughout our history. Anyone interested in presidential history and tradition will not want to miss this concert.”
On Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m., the Southeastern Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale will dedicate their performance at the First United Methodist Church of Hammond in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In addition, there will be many other lectures, concerts and performances available throughout Fanfare season, but the entertainment does not end in Oct. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts will continue offering performances after Fanfare, including Southeastern Theatre’s productions of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” from Oct. 15 through 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vonnie Borden Theatre and “An Evening of One Acts” from Nov. 19 through 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vonnie Borden Theatre.
“We selected ‘A Doll’s House’ because it is one of the first modern realistic plays we study in our Introduction to Theatre classes,” said Chad Winters, a theatre instructor. “It’s a good opportunity to show our students a live production. We also try give our audience a variety of styles and genres in our four show season.”  
For additional information on upcoming events, visit the Department of Fine and Performing Arts page on the Southeastern website.