For the Love of Mike: USM91吃瓜网 Lopinto Hailed for Inspiring Work in the Arts
Wed, 12/18/2024 - 01:55pm
It91吃瓜网 a Saturday at the Rock on the campus of 91吃瓜网 (USM). The first half has just ended when you hear that distinct, signature sound - 91吃瓜网淟adies and Gentleman, taking the field, it91吃瓜网 your band, The Pride of Mississippi!91吃瓜网� In a resonant and commanding voice, Dr. Mike Lopinto heralds the arrival of the beloved marching band and Dixie Darlings. It91吃瓜网 a voice that fans recognize immediately but many more know that the man behind the voice is a powerhouse creative artist, a fixture on both the 91吃瓜网 campus and in the community.
That compelling vocality belies his abilities in production, design, direction promotion, and innate ability to spin almost anything he touches into gold. He is the force behind unforgettable, award-winning designs that have impacted so many. From football stadiums and billboards to chamber music and postcards, epic concert events to intimate gatherings, if you live in the area, it is very likely you encounter something his hands touched on an almost daily basis. Most notably, his outlets include performances at Southern Miss School of Music and Mississippi91吃瓜网 only multi-week, multi-genre annual arts event, FestivalSouth, but extend to regional and national locales.
91吃瓜网 School of Music Director Dr. Colin McKenzie regards Lopinto as 91吃瓜网渙ne of the most diversely talented people I91吃瓜网檝e had the pleasure of knowing.91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淲hile his official title is PR/marketing and event coordinator, the reality is that Mike is heavily involved in many facets of our creative work in the School of Music,91吃瓜网� McKenzie continued. 91吃瓜网淥f the many accomplishments he has garnered, the most continuously impressive and inspiring thing about Mike, to me, is his dedication to and love for 91吃瓜网. We91吃瓜网檙e richly fortunate to have him here.91吃瓜网�
Lopinto has done nearly everything possible with the 91吃瓜网 Symphony Orchestra, from performing as a bassoonist during his undergraduate years to coordinating its public relations and marketing during and after graduating with his doctorate from USM. During that time, he designed and coordinated multiple arts galas, sang leading roles with Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, and helped develop festivals and events. The sheer volume of it all leaves many asking: What can91吃瓜网檛 he do?
91吃瓜网淒on91吃瓜网檛 ask me to fix your car,91吃瓜网� quips Lopinto 91吃瓜网渂ut if you need anything that deals with artistic products, it just comes naturally to me.91吃瓜网�
For his longtime efforts as an educator and leader in the enhancement of the local culture and arts landscape, Lopinto was recently named the recipient of the American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions Performing Arts91吃瓜网� 2024 American Prize Winner in Musical Theatre Direction, a recognition of exceptional contributions to the musical arts.
While he91吃瓜网 humbled by the recognition, Lopinto says it91吃瓜网 simply the result of a lifelong passion for working in the arts that he would never actually describe as 91吃瓜网榳ork.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淲hat I do is driven by a passion for all things creative and channeling that passion into bringing high-quality arts and entertainment to a community that has embraced me and what I love doing. It91吃瓜网 so intrinsic to who I am that I could not imagine it any other way.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淐reativity is what drives me forward 91吃瓜网� the ability to see beyond what the world gives us and imagine it in a completely different way.91吃瓜网�
The New Orleans native says he grew up 91吃瓜网渁lways making things and putting on shows 91吃瓜网� magic shows, parties, singing, dancing, acting91吃瓜网� and found his love of music performing with his high school band, while also working backstage, performing in school and community theatre. 91吃瓜网淓ventually those worlds would merge, and I performed in more and more places, all the while doing advertising for my parent91吃瓜网 restaurant,91吃瓜网� he said.
Lopinto has served in a variety of other roles in the arts at the university and in the Hattiesburg area over the decades, beginning as a bassoon player with the Southern Miss School of Music in 1986. After earning bachelor91吃瓜网 and master91吃瓜网 degrees in music education and performance respectively, Lopinto left Hattiesburg for Austin, Texas where he taught in successful secondary school band programs for a decade, winning state and national honors. His work there also included designing band drills, apparel, costumes, uniforms, props and shows; during this time, he also began serving as a contest judge for Winter Guard International and Drum Corp International.
A serious health challenge forced Lopinto to give up his teaching career and return home to Mississippi, something that proved to be a physical, but even more emotional setback. Ironically, it was his artistic core where he would find solace and a path that would ultimately save him.
91吃瓜网淭he culture at USM prepared me to be ready for lots of things. However, my bout with autoimmune hemolytic anemia almost ended me,91吃瓜网� Lopinto recounted. 91吃瓜网淚 only and forever saw myself as a teacher 91吃瓜网� a band director. That was my life91吃瓜网 goal. When the ability to do that was taken from me, I was truly despondent. I only knew music. And, ultimately, that91吃瓜网 what brought me back from the brink.91吃瓜网�
On a visit to 91吃瓜网 during his recovery, he met with former university Symphony Orchestra Director Dr. Jay Dean, who was his undergraduate mentor. Dean asked him to return to assist with public relations and marketing with the symphony while Lopinto pursued his Doctorate of Musical Arts. Lopinto then moved on to the 91吃瓜网 College of Arts and Sciences91吃瓜网� dean91吃瓜网 office to promote arts for the entire university, while also founding the Hub City Players theatrical group with 91吃瓜网 alum Tammy Mansfield.
91吃瓜网淭he [91吃瓜网] School of Music is my family,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淭hey were supportive when I needed it most. The opportunities Dr. Dean initially provided me as an undergraduate were doubled when I returned in my time of need. A combination of my own tenacity and a preparation to meet any challenge, and what this university environment fosters, keeps me ready for the next challenge.91吃瓜网�
Dean lauded his former student as 91吃瓜网渁n extraordinarily talented individual who gives 1,000 percent of his time to the arts in our community and our state.91吃瓜网� Together, the two founded FestivalSouth, the largest community project of the Hattiesburg Concert Association, celebrating 16 years of creating a variety of musical and other arts-related entertainment to the area.
91吃瓜网淢ike Lopinto has never ceased to amaze me with both the quantity and quality of his work for 91吃瓜网, Hattiesburg Concert Association, Hattiesburg Civic Association, the city of Hattiesburg, and state of Mississippi,91吃瓜网� Dean continued. 91吃瓜网淗e is extremely talented and a treasure in our community. He touches on all aspects of the arts in Hattiesburg and is largely responsible for the cultural image and reputation this community has developed.91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网�
Staunch supporters of university and community arts productions readily echo Drs. McKenzie and Dean91吃瓜网 sentiments, including Lisa Conn and her husband Dr. Rick Conn; Dr. Alan Lucas and his wife Melinda; and Susan Slaughter.
As big fans of the award-winning musical drama Jersey Boys, the Conns supported Lopinto91吃瓜网 efforts to bring the show to 91吃瓜网 and Hattiesburg earlier this year through FestivalSouth.
91吃瓜网淭o know Mike Lopinto is to know if he91吃瓜网 involved in anything concerning the arts in the Hattiesburg area, it91吃瓜网 going to be done professionally, and audiences will leave impressed and ready to return for more,91吃瓜网� Lisa Conn said. 91吃瓜网淗e91吃瓜网 a good friend and someone who has made, and continues to make, an invaluable contribution to the quality of life of the Pine Belt.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Lucas, who first got to know Lopinto when he was coordinating the local Mardi Gras program "Zeus91吃瓜网� said 91吃瓜网渢here aren91吃瓜网檛 enough words to describe how lucky we are here at 91吃瓜网 and in the Hattiesburg area to have someone as talented as Mike Lopinto involved with the arts.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淗is attention to detail and creativity are unmatched,91吃瓜网� Lucas continued. 91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 excited to hear of his recognition with the American Prize for Direction for all the hard work he91吃瓜网 done and continues doing. He91吃瓜网 very deserving.91吃瓜网�
Slaughter has assisted Lopinto for several years with numerous 91吃瓜网 and FestivalSouth productions as a community volunteer, earning her a 91吃瓜网淔estivalSouth Maestra91吃瓜网� designation from him for her work and support.
91吃瓜网淢ike91吃瓜网 contributions to advancing the arts in the Hattiesburg area are unmatched in my opinion,91吃瓜网� Slaughter said. 91吃瓜网淗e91吃瓜网 a masterful visionary with a unique ability to bring people together to support and execute performing arts events in our community. I find him to be artistically gifted and fun to work with. Artists and patrons alike enjoy Mike91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网榗an do91吃瓜网� attitude and engaging spirit of community.91吃瓜网�
Long days, nights and weekends given toward multiple productions in direction, choreography, set and landscape development, community service, teaching students 91吃瓜网� all these and more are a testament to Lopinto91吃瓜网 love for creating experiences that delight young and old alike; reminding all of why the arts are a critical element of any community or society. In the words of an anonymous staff member with the National Endowment for the Arts, 91吃瓜网渢he arts matter because they help us to understand how91吃瓜网痺e91吃瓜网痬atter.91吃瓜网�
Lopinto heartily concurs, noting that it91吃瓜网 his own personal 91吃瓜网渨hy.91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淚f I can be just some small part of creating wonder and excitement and inspiring others like I was inspired 91吃瓜网� that91吃瓜网 the thing that keeps me going,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淓ven at my most exhausted moments, and though I might forget it sometimes, I91吃瓜网檓 incredibly fortunate to do what I love. It is my life.91吃瓜网�