The play runs from April 23 through May 26.

Award-winning actress Shirley Knight stars, and David Schweitzer directs.

The production includes a video system, 60 LED panels and 11 projectors. Larson is involved in the production process through The Culture Project.

An artful show

The Student Art and Design Show is on display at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan Technological University.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Stacey Kukkonen.

Both the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Concert Choir finished their 2011-12 concert seasons on Saturday, April 14 with a joint concert, Dona Nobis Pacem. The concert, which ran for a little less than two hours, was divided into three parts. In the first part, the KSO performed Camille Sant-Saëns’ “Bacchanale” and Claude Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” under the direction of Dr. Joel Neves. In the second, the Concert Choir performed Jonathan Dove’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells” and Concert Choir founder Milton Olsson’s “Moments” under the direction of Dr. Jared Anderson. Following an intermission, the KSO and Concert Choir combined under Dr. Anderson for the featured performance of Dona nobis pacem, with Lara Neves as mezzo-soprano and Nathan Herfindalh as baritone soloists.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha. Note: The captions and photos for Joel Neves and Jared Anderson are switched.

An exciting two days of music at Michigan Tech

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra rehearses Friday at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts for its concert with the Michigan Tech Concert Choir at 7:30 p.m. today at the Rozsa.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Stacey Kukkonen.

Dona Nobis Pacem. “Grant Us Peace”

The main piece of the upcoming Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Tech Concerts Choir concert has a rich history behind it. Vaughan Williams, the composer, wrote this song based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. Both men served the wounded in war, Williams in the trenches of World War I and Whitman in a Washington D.C. hospital during the American Civil War.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha.

Orchestra, Choir Present “Dona Nobis Pacem” and More

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Choir will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams” war cantata, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 14, in the Rozsa Center.

Conductor Jared Anderson states, “Vaughan Williams’ orchestral colors and lush instrumentation make this piece a real pleasure to perform. We are excited to have two first-rate soloists join us in this monumental work. The singers and instrumentalists from Michigan Tech have been working very hard to make this performance an experience to remember.”

Soprano Lara Neves and baritone Nathan Herfindahl will join in the performance of this gripping portrait of warfare and heartfelt plea for peace.

Read more at Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

Tim Nielsen reports that he remembers most of the names of the people pictured.

Read more in the TechAlum Newsletter – From the Email Bag.

A standing ovation met Enz as he stepped from the conductor’s stand, as were two bouquets to add to that given him already by the concert band. Small speeches of great thanks were given right before the symphony burst into a well-known pep band melody in farewell. Enz stepped up to the stand to conduct them for possibly the last time. Nicholas Enz will pursue his doctorate in conducting at Ohio State University this fall.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Abigail Dillon.

Director Nick Enz to Conduct Anticipated Spring Revels Concert

With a portion of the soundtrack from the Original Star Wars Trilogy being performed by the Superior Wind Symphony, it was easy for him to point out examples of how the music is played is just as important as what note is played when. Each piece has its own “note shape” that evokes certain emotions. For “The Battle in the Forest,” a piece from Return of the Jedi, the sound of the music was to be crisp, each note sharp like an explosion, the entire song rhythmically driven. In contrast “The Imperial March” has an ominous sense to it, lent by the drawn out notes.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Abigail Dillon.

“Superior Winds: Spring Revels,” Saturday in the Rozsa

The Rozsa Center and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts present “Superior Winds: Spring Revels,” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31.
The event will showcase an evening featuring the music of John Williams, from the original Star Wars Trilogy, and a new arrangement of a work by renowned contemporary composer Eric Whitacre. There will be performances by both the Superior Wind Symphony and the Campus Concert Band, conducted by Nicolas Enz, director of bands.

Read more at Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

Artist Susanne Kilpela, winner of the Best of Show award in the three-dimensional category at the Great Lakes Showcase exhibit, is pictured here with her porcelain sculpture, “Temporal Touchstone,” in the Rozsa Gallery during the opening reception March 12. Kilpela also won a third place award in the 3D category for her piece “Communciation Issues.” (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

Read more at Keweenaw Now.

Lecturer Susanne Kilpela (VPA) received two awards at the recent Great Lakes Showcase at the Rozsa Center: Two of her porcelain creations earned best of show in 3–D and third place in 3–D. In all, 14 artists received awards.

The three sword fights in “Twelfth Night” are something Helsel is particularly proud of, as she brought in Zev Steinberg – a “fight coordinator” from Chicago – to work with the cast for two days in the art of stage combat. In rehearsing the fights, 30 seconds of fighting took an hour and a half to stage, according to a press release.

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Zach Kukkonen.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s comic story follows Viola, a young woman who has been shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Illyria; in the process she has lost her twin brother, Sebastian.

The Tech Theatre would like to welcome everyone to come out and see the performance in McArdle Theatre, Thursday – Saturday, March 22-24 & 29-31, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday Matinees, March 25 & April 1, 2:00 p.m.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Mandy Barbul-Couch.

Both the R&D Big Band and the Jazz Lab Band were joined by two guest artists, both from the Twin Cities area. One of the two, Gus Sandberg, is a native of Chassell. He has a degree in music performance (saxophone) from the University of Wisconsin – Stephen’s Point, and has played with groups such as the Jack Brass Band, Mike Sterling, and the Irresistibles, and Dr. Mambo’s Combo. The other, Scott Agster, is a trombonist who studied for both bachelor and master’s degrees in music at the University of North Texas. He was worked with The Jack Brass Band, Salsa del Soul, and Tom Hunter and the Blues Frenzy.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha.

45 years of jazz

See the photo at the Mining Gazette, by Stacey Kukkonen.

Reminder: Celebrate 45 Years of Jazz at the Rozsa

Alumni will play a big role in the festivities, and a reception for them will follow the concert. “We’ve got alums from all over coming back,” Mike Irish, director of Jazz Studies, said. So far, the oldest will be Tim Nielsen ’76, and the youngest will be Andy Kurzeniewski ’10.

Read more at Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

Annual Memorial Concert is fast approaching

Right now, the Michigan Tech jazz bands are putting the finishing touches on their performances for the upcoming annual Don Keranen Memorial Concert, just like every year. This year, however, is not just like every year: the jazz program is celebrating its 45th anniversary.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode, by Nick Blecha.

Celebrate! Forty-five Years of Jazz at Michigan Tech

A forty-fifth anniversary is a great reason to celebrate, and the jazz program at Michigan Technological University intends to party hearty.

It all starts on Friday, March 23, at 8:00 p.m. with the Off ‘Dem Jam Session at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Hancock.

The forty-fifth anniversary concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Rozsa Center. It will also be the twelfth annual Don Keranen Memorial Concert.

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Dennis Walikainen.