Kent Cyr joins the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as an assistant professor. Before joining Michigan Tech, Cyr worked as the coordinator of theatre, technical director and an assistant professor at York College. Cyr received his Master’s in Technical Production from Boston University and a bachelor’s from Indiana University.
He has worked on the PRAXIS II Subject Assessment in Theatre for the Educational Testing Service. Since 1991, he has worked in the industry.
Michael Christianson joins the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as an assistant professor. Before becoming an assistant professor, Christianson was a visiting assistant professor and director for the Superior Wind Symphony, Campus Concert Band, Huskies Pep Band and Chamber Ensembles. Christianson received his Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and his Master’s in Trombone Performance from Manhattan School of Music.
He has performed on Broadway in various shows including “The Book of Mormon,” “The Lion King,” “Mary Poppins” and “West Side Story.” He is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the College Band Directors National Association.
There will be a public reception for the student sculpture exhibit “Equal and Opposite” 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015, in Rozsa galleries A and B.
Art by students from many disciplines across campus will be showcased and students will be on hand to talk about their work. Small sculptures, larger installations, projection and sound come together in this show. Student work is part of Project Learning Lab, VPA’s alternative, immersive arts classroom.
Students in 2D and 3D Design courses (VPA) will display prototypes they designed to reduce bird-window collisions.
The prototypes will be on display now through Dec. 15 at the library-Rekhi Skywalk and the second floor of the library. Ten designs are showcased inside the library-Rekhi skywalk, a prime location where bird strikes occur on campus.
The work represents a STEM-STEAM art-science collaboration. Student designs re-envision large panes of glass to eliminate bird window strikes and the species deaths they cause. Lisa Johnson (VPA) hopes the display will be used as a jumping off point for further collaborations between art, science and engineering to address this problem with creative new technologies.
HOUGHTON — The only major symphony orchestra in the Keweenaw is refining its holiday tunes.
Michigan Tech University’s Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra held its first fall recital at the Portage Lake United Church.
“A great symphony orchestra where the vast majority of the musicians are engineers and scientist,” said the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra’s music director Joel Neves. “Yet they come together and make great music.”
Read more and watch the video at Upper Michigan’s Source, by Aleah Hordges.
HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech students are taking their creativity outside the classroom.
The university’s sculpture class is learning hands on in the Rozsa Gallery’s Project Learning Lab.
“In the gallery the students are able to really respond to the space,” said assistant professor Lisa Johnson. “They’re able to transform the space in almost any way they like and really get some hands on practice doing design and collaboration and visual arts all together.”
Read more and watch the video at Upper Michigan’s Source, by Aleah Hordges.
HOUGHTON — The snowflakes, the beloved Christmas music, the magical tale: Come to the Rozsa Center to experience the timeless Christmas tradition that is The Nutcracker ballet! Minnesota Ballet and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (with Joel Neves conducting) will present a fully-staged production, with live orchestra, of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting Nutcracker ballet at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, 2015.
The performance is presented with support by Minnesota Public Radio.
Student dancers from many area schools, including Houghton, Hancock, Baraga, Lake Linden-Hubbell, C-L-K, Michigan Tech, Gogebic CC and others will take the stage to create this magical Christmas fairytale with the Minnesota Ballet and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are on sale now: $25 for adults, $10 for youth.
Special for The Nutcracker performances only, a $55 “family package” includes two adults and two youth tickets. Additional youth tickets can be added on for $6 each. No charge for Michigan Tech students with a Student ID/ Experience Tech fee. Advance reserved seating is now available. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 487-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance.
Did you know that every fall, the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (KSO) performs more intimate, free (dontaion suggested), informal concerts at a local church?
The symphony continues their “Fall KSO Recital Series” tomorrow. The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, with Joel Neves, conductor, has been a mainstay of the Upper Peninsula arts scene for more than thirty years.
The KSO counts among its musicians Michigan Tech students, faculty, staff, community artists and guest professionals from throughout the Upper Midwest.
The Fall Recital Series continues at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the Portage Lake United Church in Houghton. The suggested donation is $5, taken at the door.
At the recommendation of the C2E2 Committee, David Reed, vice president for Research, announced the Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) awards. Kent Cyr received $5,000 for Media Server Equipment.
The Superior Wind Symphony will perform “Collecting Small Things” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 14, 2015, in the Rozsa Center.
The Superior Wind Symphony is the only Michigan Tech music ensemble composed entirely of non-music majors: chemists, engineers, physics and math majors make up the band. From bassoons to oboes, trumpets to saxophones, you’ll get to focus alternately on all of the wind and percussion families of instruments, while enjoying the prowess of the entirely non-music-major ensemble.
From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.
Among the performers from VPA is Aaron Christianson, Theatre and Entertainment Technology major.