Valencia College Humanities Speakers Series

Valencia College Humanities Speakers Series The Valencia College Humanities Speaker Series brings today's most relevant speakers and performers to our students and the community.

FREE CONCERT: "Morrison Jazz Hotel"WHEN: February 25, 2026 ~ 6:30 PM w. Food Trucks starting at 4:30 PMWHERE: Valencia C...
02/24/2026

FREE CONCERT: "Morrison Jazz Hotel"

WHEN: February 25, 2026 ~ 6:30 PM w. Food Trucks starting at 4:30 PM

WHERE: Valencia College East Campus Performing Arts Center and adjacent parking lot for the food.

The Valencia East Campus Humanities Speakers and Performers Series is thrilled to bring back The Bobby Koelble Band performing inspired jazz renditions of the classic songs of 60s rock legends: The Doors. Infamous frontman, Jim Morrison, was able to shock and thrill audiences with trippy lyrics and wild stage antics, but only because he was backed by brilliant musicians: Ray Manzarek's inspired keyboards and Robby Krieger's exceptional guitar skills, backed with the percussive precision of John Densmore on drums, gave us some of the most memorable music from the psychedelic era of rock music. Bobby Koelble (legendary local guitarist and UCF Jazz Professor) returns to once again reinvent the classics of rock music—earlier appearances at Valencia featured "When Jimi Met Miles" [2020] (the music of Jimi Hendrix filtered through the jazz lens of Miles Davis) and "Jazzy Soul" [2023] (the music of the Beatles performed by jazz musicians with Valencia's own Michelle Mailhot on vocals). Bobby Koelble now returns with a new incarnation of his band to give The Doors the same jazzy treatment--don't miss: "Morrison's Jazz Hotel".

Pre-concert Food Truck Extravaganza in the adjacent parking lot begins at 4:30, courtesy of Student Development!

The Valencia College Humanities Speaker Series will host a talk with American history professor and author, Dr. Serena Z...
02/03/2026

The Valencia College Humanities Speaker Series will host a talk with American history professor and author, Dr. Serena Zabin (Carleton College), on her book: "The Boston Massacre: A Family History" which explores the many social ties between British soldiers and Bostonians who lived amongst each other for two years before that fateful night in winter, 1770, when five citizens were shot and killed by the British troops who had been their neighbors. Come listen to the untold and deeply personal stories surrounding the event that helped spark the American Revolution. Q&A afterwards with the author.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 7 PM --Free and open to the public

Zoom: https://valenciacollege.zoom.us/j/99686735619

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series--it is time for the first events of the '25-'26 year!ANCIENT POMPEII ...
10/11/2025

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series--it is time for the first events of the '25-'26 year!

ANCIENT POMPEII ~ NEW DISCOVERIES
w. art historian/restorer, Felicia d'Amora.

Join us this Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 11:30-12:45 PM via ZOOM for an inside look at new discoveries made by archeologists in their ongoing excavations at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was destroyed but also preserved by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Felicia d'Amora will talk to us live from Italy via Zoom. Event is free and open to the public so invite your friends. There will be time for Q&A after the talk:

https://valenciacollege.zoom.us/j/93660191343

"WHAT IS A CASTLE?" w. James WrightMARCH 25 (TUESDAY) 7 PMZoom: https://valenciacollege.zoom.us/j/98107244973The final e...
03/16/2025

"WHAT IS A CASTLE?" w. James Wright
MARCH 25 (TUESDAY) 7 PM
Zoom: https://valenciacollege.zoom.us/j/98107244973

The final event for the Humanities Speaker Series this season will be a zoom talk from across the pond—British buildings archeologist, James Wright, will explore the many myths and misconceptions surrounding medieval castles. (Like, have you ever heard the claim that castles always had stairs spiraling in a certain direction to provide advantage to the sword-fighting defenders?...yeah, total nonsense!...and the origin of that myth is itself bizarre, but I'll let our speaker tell you the story).

Wright specializes in climbing around England's old buildings and either confirming, or, more often than not, debunking romantic fantasies about iconic medieval structures. Join us for an engaging discussion of the complexities of medieval English castles which were built for far more than holding off besieging armies.

Event is free and open to the public.

Hello Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series--we have a double-header for you next week! First we have a pair of talk...
02/20/2025

Hello Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series--we have a double-header for you next week! First we have a pair of talks from this year's keynote speaker, Yale scholar Valerie Hansen, a specialist on the Silk Road and how medieval cultures intertwined with each other. Dr. Hansen reads more dead languages than most humans know how to speak--come listen to her insights on how medieval cultures interacted with each other!

Valencia College-East Campus (701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail)

I. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2:30 PM, in 8-101: The Year 1000: When Vikings Went West to the Americas and East to the Ukraine

and

II. Thursday, Feb. 27, 1 PM, in the Performing Art Center: The Three Silk Roads: Desert, Grassland, and Maritime: What Historians Learn from Treasures and Trash

Both talks are free and open to the public.

If you are a student of Valencia College, you can also get a free copy of her book, "The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World--and Globalization Began" by visiting the East Campus Humanities Department (building 6, room 118) and requesting a copy (while supplies last).

And...we also have a fabulous concert...see next post!

...And because we are a very busy Humanities Series, we also have an amazing concert with a unique guitar virtuoso:Ian E...
02/20/2025

...And because we are a very busy Humanities Series, we also have an amazing concert with a unique guitar virtuoso:

Ian Ethan Case
Thursday, Feb. 27, 7:30 PM
Valencia College East Campus Performing Arts Center

Come and be amazed at a guitarist who specializes in 18 string, double-neck guitar compositions in the tradition of Michael Hedges and Andy McKee, performed in front of a photonic symphony of lighting effects and accompanying musicians.

Need a foretaste? Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TlsJCqf5NM

Concert is free and open to the public--no ticket required, just show up. There will be a merch table and an opportunity to meet Ian after the show.

You do not want to miss this!

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series! After a bit of a hiatus, we are back with our first pair of events ...
01/29/2025

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series! After a bit of a hiatus, we are back with our first pair of events for Spring '25 ...and it's all about CHEESE!

Join us for a lively discussion by Ned Palmer, cheesemonger, author, and philosopher, on the role of cheese, humanity's first processed food, in the development of history and culture.

THE DELICIOUS HISTORY OF CHEESE (ZOOM LECTURE)
THURSDAY, FEB. 6, 1-2:30 PM

LINK: https://valenciacollege.zoom.us/s/93664166159

Valencia students can get a free copy of his book, "A Cheesemonger's History of the British Isles" while supplies last by visiting the East Campus Humanities Dept. office, building 6, room 118.

And once you have learned about the origins of cheese, how about a hands-on workshop in which you learn to make it yourself? The Valencia culinary school at the Downtown campus will host a cheesemaking event with Chef Todd the following week--space is limited, so contact Dr. George Brooks ([email protected]) to sign up.

CHEESEMAKING WITH CHEF TODD:
THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 1-2:30 PM, DOWNTOWN VALENCIA CAMPUS, UNION WEST 536.

TONIGHT: Shadow Puppet Musical Theater! Descolonizarte Teatro will perform "Casos Y Cachos Llaneros"--farcical tales fr...
02/27/2024

TONIGHT: Shadow Puppet Musical Theater! Descolonizarte Teatro will perform "Casos Y Cachos Llaneros"--farcical tales from the Venezuelan/Colombian plains--in Spanish with English subtitles. Afterwards, Q&A with the author, Jhon Moreno Riaño. Valencia College East Campus Performing Arts Center, 7:30 PM. Show is free and open to the public

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series and fans of the arts at Valencia College. MASTER MUSICIANS WEEK is c...
02/22/2024

Greetings Friends of the Humanities Speaker Series and fans of the arts at Valencia College. MASTER MUSICIANS WEEK is coming as part of Arts Week on East Campus. We are hosting two of the four concerts next week, but encourage you to check out all the really varied offerings we have this year:

Mon [Feb 26]: Orlando Choral Ensemble performs Helena

Tues [Feb 27]: Teatro Descolonizarte performs Shadow Puppet Musical Theater drawn from the folklore of the Columbian-Venezuealan plains

Wed[Feb 28]: Latin Fusion from two great masters, Clarice and Sergio Assad

Thurs [Feb 29]: Calum Graham--one of the finest fingerstyle jazz guitarists you will ever hear!!

All events are generously funded by East Campus Student Development and are free and open to the public--spread the word and bring your friends.

All show are in the Performing Arts Center of Valencia College East Campus and all begin at 7:30 PM.

Rosa Incaica returns to Valencia College East Campus this week for an afternoon concert this Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 2 PM...
02/11/2024

Rosa Incaica returns to Valencia College East Campus this week for an afternoon concert this Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 2 PM in the Bldg. 3 Atrium. Come hear our favorite Argentinian musical duo: Pablo González Jazey (classical guitar) and Annelise Skovmand (vocals) perform the music of the great Argentinian guitarist and composer, Eduardo Falú, honoring the centennial of his birth.

Have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ-WYET0ZYQ

Music majors, and all aspiring musicians, are invited to a workshop with Rosa Incaica before the concert (1-1:50 in 3-126)

The Humanities Speakers & Performers Series is back!Our first event for Fall '23 welcomes Homeric bard, Joe Goodkin, ret...
09/12/2023

The Humanities Speakers & Performers Series is back!

Our first event for Fall '23 welcomes Homeric bard, Joe Goodkin, returning to Valencia to perform his epic folk song cycles, "The Blues of Achilles" & "The Odyssey"--students of ancient humanities, mythology, and all fans of good music and compelling storytelling are invited. Event is free and open to the public.

"The Blues of Achilles" ~ (West Campus) Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1-2 PM in the Atrium of Bldg. 5

"The Odyssey" ~ (East Campus) Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1-2 PM, in 5-111 (the room behind the cafeteria)

JAZZY SOUL ~ The Bobby Koelble Jazz Band plays musical variations of the Beatles!April 5 (Wednesday) 5-7 PMFriends, as t...
03/29/2023

JAZZY SOUL ~ The Bobby Koelble Jazz Band plays musical variations of the Beatles!

April 5 (Wednesday) 5-7 PM

Friends, as the Spring semester winds down it is time for the final event of the '22-'23 season of the Humanities Speakers and Performers Series. The concert that was postponed due to the late season hurricane last Fall is now rescheduled, once again on the Outdoor Stage of Valencia College East Campus (north side, behind the new A&E building. This is a free concert by a superb group of musicians, including local guitar legend and UCF Jazz Professor, Bobby Koelble, who never disappoints. Second best bit of good news is that there will be FREE FOOD from local area food trucks (while it lasts, so get there early...food starts at 4:30).

Event is free and open to the public. Music and food provided by the generous funding of East Campus Student Development. Reply with any questions or just to share your excitement!

Address

701 N Econlockhatchee Tr
Orlando, FL
32825

Telephone

+14075822721

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