Congratulations to world-renowned double bassist Milton Masciadri, a professor in the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music, has been named a University Professor – an honor bestowed selectively on UGA faculty who have had a significant impact on the university in addition to fulfilling their normal academic responsibilities.

HHSOM alum and Broadway performer Tituss Burgess, who will appear at the Morton Theatre in Athens on February 13, will speak to local high school and UGA students tomorrow, Friday February 12 at 4:30 p.m. at the Morton Theatre. Students interested in music and theatre can come and pick-up some inside knowledge from an alumnus who has made it on Broadway. For more, contact the Morton Theatre at www.mortontheatre.com.

Tonight's Second Thursday Concert at Hodgson Hall in the Performing Arts Center promises to be a night to remember. Celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth continues with tonight's Schummaniad, an exquisite evening of poetry, song and chamber works. Tickets available here.

Today kicks off a big week of musical offerings, both performances and lectures, at the Hodgson School of Music.

• 4 p.m. Willson Center Visiting Artist Sylvia Plyler speaks on "The Lieder of Robert Schumann" Edge Recital Hall
• 8 p.m. Guest Artist Recital: Ben Pierce, tube, and Anatoly Sheludyakov, piano

Plus... catch a Q & A with HHSOM Director Dale Monson in Columns.

Next week in the Hodgson School of Music demonstrates the wealth offerings our program has for just about everyone - classical, jazz, voice, bassoon as well as several special events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the conductor Robert Schumann.

The week's events begin with a lecture by Willson Center Visiting Scholar Sylvia Plyler, below, professor of Opera at the University of Cincinnati, on Monday at 4 pm in Edge Hall. Dr. Plyler's lecture on the Lieder of Robert Schumann is free and the public is invited to attend.

Thursday February 4, 2010, 8 p.m., Hodgson Concert Hall, free.

The University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Mark Cedel, conductor, will perform with the winners of the Annual Concerto Competition.

The winners are:

The Mendelssohn movement from the Gajal Trio recital in January is now available on Youtube.

While much of the faculty of the Hodgson School goes down to Savannah this week for the GMEA conference to connect with colleagues, alumni and future students, it's a good time to mention the eminent return of a Hodgson School alumni.  Broadway star Tituss Burgess, a graduate of Cedar Shoals High School as well as UGA, returns to Athens on Feb. 13 to kick-off the Morton Theatre's Centennial Celebration.

Tituss Burgess…One Night Only! February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Morton Theatre in downtown Athens.

Tonight in Ramsey Concert Hall at the UGA Performing Arts Center, associate professor of violin Michael Heald, with Jana Hanchett on piano, will play sonatas by Poulenc, Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn. The free program begins at 8 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. Meanwhile, our friends and colleagues at University Theatre will begin a run of Neil LaBute's 2001 The Shape of Things in the Cellar Theatre at the Fine Arts Building tonight at 8 p.m..

A full slate of music scheduled for today at the Hodgson School of Music:

UGA Student Woodwind Chamber Music; 3:35 pm in Edge Hall.

Richard Deane, Horn Recital.  Deans will be accompanied by Jean Martin-Williams, Stephen Slater, & Eric Davis on horns & Tim Whitehead on piano, performing selections from Paul Hindesmith's Sonatas; 6 pm in Ramsey Hall.

Michael Becker, Trombone Recital. 8pm in Ramsey Hall.