Visual and Performing Arts News

Category: Music

Jazz Studies Minor Michael Tarske Plays Music for the Cubs

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Michael Tarske is a senior electrical engineering technology major, but he’s also a talented trumpeter and arranger minoring in jazz studies during his time at Michigan Tech University.

Tarske has played in just about every instrumental ensemble at MTU. He has worn stripes with the Huskies Pep Band and tuxedos with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, and has screamed high notes with the Jazz Lab Band and the Workshop Brass Band.

This past weekend, Tarske made the leap to the professional level after being called to play trumpet with the Chicago-based Four Star Brass Band. The gig? Wrigley Field, playing for the Chicago Cubs.

Fans of the Cubs heard Tarske’s high notes ring through the stadium as part of the band’s performance before and after the Cubs’ 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, August 17.

MTU’s Jazz Studies program and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as a whole would like to congratulate Michael on this milestone!

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Don Keranen Jazz Awards 2024-25

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Each year, excellence in Jazz is recognized by way of the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Scholarship. Three students are chosen by their peers in recognition of improvement, excellence, and leadership. Our award winners this year include The Jazz Lab Band’s drummer Nico Chua, Trombonist from the Workshop Brass Band Ethan Deur, and Tenor Saxophonist from the R&D Jazz Band (who also plays bass in the Jazz Lab Band) Aidan Conrade. 

These students all showed leadership, dedication, and excellence, this year. We are grateful for them, and wish them continued success in the coming years. 

Director of Jazz Studies, Adam Meckler
Jazz Faculty, Drew Kilpela
Nico Chua playing the drums

Nico is a second year mechanical engineering major. He has been playing instruments since he was very young and has played drums for over a decade now. He got into the Lab Band at Michigan Tech as a first year and continues to play in this group as well as a few groups with other Tech students. 

Ethan Duer smiling

Ethan Deur is a fifth year Human Factors major and has spent all five of those years as a part of the Workshop Brass Band. He’s been playing trombone for almost 14 years, and would love to play more in the future. Outside of music, his hobbies include playing video games and spending time with his friends.

Aidan Conrade on Sound board

Aidan Conrade is a graduating Sound Design major with a minor in Music Composition. They have been participating in the MTU Jazz department and working on projects with the Visual and Performing Arts department for five years now. Since joining music at Tech, they have played in every ensemble in the Jazz department and have helped run the Video Game Music Ensemble, a fully student-led group of musicians who get together weekly in campus to arrange their own favorite game music to play together. In their free time, if they’re not doing something music related they are exploring the outdoors or working on creative projects!

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Michigan Tech Concert Choir tours New Zealand

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On May 1-15, 2024 the members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir participated in a successful tour of New Zealand. They traveled through Auckland, Rotorua, Hamilton, Wellington, Hanmer Springs, Christchurch, Queenstown, and Dunedin; traveling from the far north to the far south of the country. They were fortunate to have beautiful weather for the trip, with a lot of sunshine and temperatures much like we experience now in the Keweenaw. 58 individuals traveled in the group: 47 performers (including the conductor and pianist) and 11 friends. The youngest choir member was 16 years old and the oldest was 82 years old. Travelers included 17 Michigan Tech students, 2 Houghton HS students (one will be a freshman at Tech in the fall), 6 faculty, 4 retired faculty/staff, 7 choir alumni, and 22 community members.

The choir performed to audiences in lovely venues in each of the major cities. Proceeds from each concert were donated to local charities:

Auckland: St. Matthew-in-the-City Anglican Church
Hamilton: Exchange with the Hamilton Civic Choir (held on the campus of the University of Waikato)
Wellington: St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church
Christchurch: The Philip Carter Family Concert Hall at The Piano
Dunedin: St. Paul’s Cathedral (Anglican)

Highlights of the tour included visiting the extinct caldera of Mt. Eden (Maungawhau) in Auckland, exploring Hobbiton (near Rotorua), crossing the Cook Strait, seeing the Southern Lights in Christchurch, feeling the mountain air in Hanmer Springs and Queenstown. The choir experienced beautiful vistas, wonderful food, welcoming audiences, and warm sunshine.

Director Jared Anderson said, “I am so proud of how the choir performed in each concert on the tour. They sang with great heart and really represented the university well to each audience. I am also especially grateful for the ways that the members of the choir remained positive through long travel days and the usual obstacles experienced in a travel group of this size. It is a trip that will remain in our memory for a long time. I am also grateful for the support of the College of Sciences and Arts and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts along with many donors who helped to underwrite some the expenses of the trip for the students. Through donor generosity, each student received significant support that was applied to their travel fee. We look forward to traveling again in the future.”

Choral singers performing

Members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir perform in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Lake Pukaki with Mount Cook in the background.

Lake Pukaki with Mount Cook (highest point in New Zealand) in the background.

Southern Lights (Aurora Australis)

A view of the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) from downtown Christchurch, New Zealand.

Choral rehearsal with choir on stage and conductor standing in audience

The Michigan Tech Concert Choir rehearses for a performance at The Piano in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and the Hamilton Civic Choir.

Members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and the Hamilton Civic Choir.

Students posing by rock sign at Waiotapu

Members of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir at Waiotapu (Rotorua, NZ)

Hobbit home

Bilbo Baggins’ home at the movie set for The Hobbit.

Michigan Tech Concert Choir and audience at St. Matthew-in-the-City.

Michigan Tech Concert Choir and audience at St. Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland, NZ.

Michigan Tech Concert Choir standing in rows

Michigan Tech Concert Choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Students posing atop Maungawhau with downtown Auckland in the background.

Students from the Michigan Tech Concert Choir pose atop Maungawhau in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Don Keranen Jazz Awards

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Each year, excellence in Jazz is recognized by way of the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Scholarship. Two students are chosen by their peers in recognition of improvement, excellence, and leadership. Our award winners this year include one of the drummers from R&D Jazz Band, Eira Techtmann, and The Jazz Lab Band’s lead trumpeter Michael Tarske.

These students all showed leadership, dedication, excellence, and improvement this year. I am grateful for them, and wish them continued success in the coming years. 

Director of Jazz Studies, Adam Meckler

Eira is a drummer, percussionist, and videographer/photographer for Michigan Technological University. They play in a total of 5 bands, including the R and D Jazz Band and Video Game Jazz Ensemble. With drumming influences from Jojo Mayer, Max Roach, and JD Beck, they try to play with a mix of traditional and new jazz whenever they can.

Michael Tarske is a Trumpeter that has been playing Jazz since High School. At Michigan Tech he is an Electrical Engineering Technology major with interest in automation. He started his music journey at Tech by sitting in on an R&D Big Band rehearsal and quickly found interest in the Jazz program. Regardless of where the future takes him, Michael plans to keep Jazz music a prominent part of his life.

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Tomorrow: KSO, Michigan Tech Choirs Closing Rozsa Season with ‘Mosaic for Earth’

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by Michigan Tech Music | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Tech Choirs, conducted by Jared Anderson (Visual and Performing Arts), will close the 2023/2024 Rozsa Season tomorrow (April 20) at 7:30 p.m. with the spectacular Great Lakes premiere — and second performance ever — of Dwight Bigler’s “Mosaic for Earth.”

Over 150 local musicians will gather on the Rozsa stage for this awe-inspiring performance by the KSO and Michigan Tech Choirs. The concert will also feature the Houghton Area Children’s Chorus, prepared by Hillary Arundel, and guest soloists Soren Schmidt, Lara Neves, Kathryn Summersett and Drake Dantzler.

Throughout the 100-minute concert, audiences can expect to be swept away by breathtaking visual scenes designed to accompany the music. Together, they showcase the beauty of our planet and our responsibility to protect it.

Concert Details:

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New Music in the Mine Presented by Michigan Tech Music

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Hard hats are required — and provided — to hear this exciting new music by contemporary composers in the Quincy Mine hoist building. This annual sell-out show will contain some of the best music you haven’t heard yet! View Digital Program in advance.

Here is this year’s lineup:

THURSDAY
Pat Booth, saxophone
conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers
Adam Hall, cello
Adam Meckler, trumpet
Stephen Rush, piano

FRIDAY
conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers
Susie Byykkonen, flute
Michael Christianson, tuba
Adam Hall, cello
Stephen Rush, piano

CONTENT GUIDANCE | instrumental and vocal new music; hard hats required
PRESENTER | Michigan Tech Music
VENUE | Quincy Mine No. 2 Shaft Hoist House
DURATION | Approx. 45 min
TICKETS | Pay As You’re Able ($20 Full Ticket Fee) What is this?
SEATING | General Admission

About

Michigan Tech Music has a long history of high-quality music ensembles open to students from all majors on campus. Its composition program, bands, orchestra, jazz, and choral ensembles expose students, faculty, and the community to the artistic and communicative values of music and the power it has to change lives. Each group performs regularly in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and in venues in the community.

Living composers, unusual instruments, and unique spaces are all at the forefront of the bold, delightful, and innovative experiences the Keweenaw has come to expect from New Music at Michigan Tech. Led by Dr. Libby Meyer, New Music invites you to experience concerts, workshops, speaking events, and masterclasses by some of the greatest living composers and classical musicians.

Libby Meyer is a composer whose work reflects the natural rhythms and patterns of the world around her. Her music, including chamber, orchestral, choral, wind symphony, film, dance and theater, has been commissioned and performed throughout the United States. An avid equestrian, kayaker and distance runner, Libby currently resides in Michigan’s beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula with her husband Evan, a Pyrenees Mountain dog, a secretive cat, and thousands of honeybees. She holds a DMA in Composition from Northwestern University and is a Teaching Professor in Music Theory/Composition at Michigan Tech University. Listen to recordings of Libby’s work.

Sponsors

Support for this event provided by the Janet Locatelli Fund, the Visual and Performing Arts Department, and its supporters. View current donors to the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Pay As You’re Able Ticketing

The Visual and Performing Arts Department believes that the foundation of an equitable and inclusive arts culture requires making events financially accessible to all. So, we are offering Pay as You’re Able ticketing for all of our Michigan Tech Music and Michigan Tech Theatre events. Learn more.

Accessibility

Accessible Parking
There are accessible parking spaces in the Quincy Mine parking lot.

Accessible Entry
The 1984 Hoist House is accessible by an ADA-compliant ramp, and a lift is available to access the 1918 Hoist House, where the performances will take place.

Print and Digital Programs

Digital Program
The full program will be available online at least one day in advance for all devices and is compatible with most screen readers.

Limited Print Program
Print programs containing limited show information will be available at the door.

Large-Print Program
A large-print version of the limited print program is available in advance online. A limited quantity is printed and available at the door.

Additional Information

Box Office Information
Accessibility Services
Parking Information​
View All Upcoming Events
Volunteer at the Rozsa
Donate to support events like this

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Listen to IPEC’s New Podcast Episode Featuring Libby Meyer

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by Kendall Belopavlovich, Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture

In October’s episode of “IPEC Presents,” our guest and Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) executive committee member Libby Meyer (VPA) discusses her work as a composer, her guilty pleasure musical choices, and what it means to co-create with the world around us.

Meyer is a dynamic, insightful and well-rounded artist whose perspective on the world inspires us to deepen our relationships — and to liberate our idea of stealing to create.

Now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Listen now.

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Vienna-Prague-Dresden | Led by Lisa Gordillo, Mary Cyr, and Kent Cyr

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Temple of Tyn Prague
Temple of Tyn at Old Town Square in Prague (Courtesy of: Denis Poltoradnev-Unsplash)


Imagination. Creativity. Local and world histories. Art. Theatre. Music. Design. Michigan Tech’s first arts-focused study abroad is an immersive experience. Students from many campus majors are taking part: from Theatre and Sound Design, Humanities, and Chemistry, to Biomedical and Environmental Engineering. The trip focuses on art, theatre, architecture, and culture, with a special emphasis on the Prague Quadrennial, one of the largest theatre design events in the world. Students explore world heritage sites, study works of art in museums and galleries, attend performances, and reflect on local/global history, culture, and connection. The trip is open to all majors and is designed for students whose interests benefit from creativity and new perspectives – in other words, everyone. Follow us on the trip blog and on Instagram.

St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral rises above the Vitava River in Prague (Courtesy of: William Zhang-Unsplash)
Prague Astronomical Clock
Prague Astronomical Clock (Courtesy of: Jack Hunter-Unsplash)
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Don Keranen Jazz Awards

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Director of Jazz Studies, Adam Meckler, has announced this year’s student recipients for the Don Keranen Endowed Scholarship Awards.

Each year, excellence in Jazz is recognized by way of the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Scholarship. Three students are chosen by their peers in recognition of improvement, excellence, and leadership. Our award winners this year include R&D Bass Player Jay Jamison-Sawicki, Workshop Brass Band Harrison Harland, and Lab Band Lead Tenor Saxophonist Liam Cacioppo.

These students all showed leadership, dedication, excellence, and improvement this year. I am grateful for them, and wish them continued success in the coming years.

Director of Jazz Studies, Adam Meckler

headshot for bio

Michael “Jay” Jamison-Sawicki is a First-Year majoring in a Bachelor’s in Power Distribution Engineering at Michigan Tech. He discovered his love of Jazz, however, his Senior year of High School where he was recruited by the Jazz/Honors Band at Summit Academy North. Ever since his time there, he’s played bass in the Research and Development Big Band at MTU, picking up multiple skills and learning valuable musical lessons that continue to further bolster his musicianship.

headshot for bio

Harrison Harland is a second year at Michigan Tech, and a double major in Accounting and MIS. Harrison started playing bass guitar 3 years ago and the MTU jazz program has been an excellent first experience in both jazz music and performing live music! To Harrison, playing music is all about sharing cool ideas and spreading good vibes the whole way!

headshot for bio

Liam Cacioppo is a saxophonist that has been playing for 12 years. He is from Ingleside, Illinois but frequent trips to the Upper Peninsula made him become familiar with Tech and its extreme winters. While being an engineer takes up most of his time, he always tries to find some time to continue playing jazz. Alongside playing jazz you could find him skiing, taking a walk around, or wearing a sweater.

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