Category: Music

The Michigan Tech Jazz Lab Band did well in the Eau Claire Jazz Festival held April 22-23 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The Jazz Lab Band took third place in the College Big Band category. With a score of 86.5, the Jazz Lab Band finished just behind second-place University of Wisconsin-Madison Jazz Ensemble (87.750). UW-Madison’s Jazz Orchestra won the College Big Band Category with a score of 92.

Two Michigan Tech ensembles opened the festival on the morning of April 22. MOMENTUM, an ensemble of horns, vocal and rhythm section opened the day at 8 a.m. followed by JAZTEC, a seven-piece combo that specializes in contemporary jazz, funk and original styles.

Under the direction of Mike Irish (VPA) director of Jazz Studies, the Jazz Lab Band is a big band comprised of up to 20 musicians from throughout the country and features a broad repertoire of music ranging from the Big Band Era to contemporary jazz and original compositions.

Join the choirs of Michigan Tech as they present the final Rozsa event of the season, a concert entitled “Songs of the Earth.”

The concert celebrates Earth Day with music inspired by nature or includes themes relating to the natural world.

The Michigan Tech Concert Choir will perform music from Haydn’s “Creation,” paired with a setting of poetry of George MacDonald, titled “Communion,” by René Clausen.

Other selections include American folk-songs “Sourwood Mountain,” “Black Sheep” and “Shenandoah.”

Music by contemporary composers Jeff Cobb and David Evan Thomas provide variety to the program with the setting of the tongue-twister “Esau Wood” and Emily Dickenson’s description of a storm, titled “An Awful Tempest.”

ConScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers will premiere a new work by Elizabeth Meyer (VPA), titled “To What Listens,” for choir, trombone, piano and percussion.

Other selections include two choral soundscapes, “Tundra” by Ola Gjeilo and “The Whole Sea in Motion” by Dale Trumbore.

Another set, titled “Flower Songs,” will feature the music of Chen YI, John Clements and Carlos Guastavino.

The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets for “Songs of the Earth” are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee.

Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online or in person at the Central Ticket Office in the Student Development Complex.

From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

Michigan Tech, the Keweenaw Celebrate Earth Day

Today, April 22, 2016, marks the 46th anniversary of Earth Day. It was established in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, in response to massive oil spills and growing environmental hazards from industrial pollutants.

Earth Day is an international observance with more than 192 countries working together to find solutions for our world. From education in the schools on green solutions to Adopt a Highway programs, there is something each of us can do to join the campaign to protect the planet.

Michigan Tech is presenting the Rozsa Center season’s final concert titled “Songs of the Earth,” a musical presentation inspired by nature at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (April 23).

Read more at Tech Today, by Mary LaDoux, Student Writer.

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra returns to the Calumet Theatre to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 2016, at the Calumet Theatre.

The KSO performs orchestral music inspired by several of the Bard’s plays, including “The Tempest” (Sibelius), “Hamlet” (Berlioz), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Mendelssohn) and “Romeo and Juliet” (Berlioz and Prokofiev).

Music Director Joel Neves (VPA) says “the KSO is excited to perform at the historic Calumet Theatre for the first time since 2011. The music of Shakespeare is dramatic, expressive, colorful, inventive — the perfect companion to his plays. Our concert will be a revelatory experience for those who enjoy the fusion of music and literature. I look forward to sharing this with our patrons.”

Tickets are on sale now, $19 for adults, $6 for youth, no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticket Office in the Student Development Complex or at the Calumet Theatre Box Office.

From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

49 years of great jazz and counting. Join Jazz Studies Program Director Mike Irish and the Michigan Tech Jazz ensembles for the 17th Annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2016, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

The R&D Big Band will perform “Little Sunflower” with the addition of interesting sound effects and a woodwind quintet. The Jazz Lab Band will feature vocalists Kattie Riutta and Kevin Rocheleau singing “Used To Rule The World” and “Diggin’ On James Brown,” respectively. The Jazz Lab Band will perform a classic composition from the library of the Buddy Rich Big Band entitled “Groovin’ Hard” written by Don Menza. In a more contemporary style, the R&D Band will funk-out on the Tower of Power classic “Soul Vaccination.”

In 2003, Jay Keranen developed an endowed award program in his father’s name. Two $500 amounts are awarded for Outstanding Jazz Musician and The Most Improved Jazz Musician. This year’s recipients will be announced during the evening’s concert.

Tickets for the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticket Office in the SDC or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Note that the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.

From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

“Pageantry” is an evening of music created for large celebrations! From the music of Charles Gounod and John Philip Sousa to John Mackey and Winton Marsalis, come listen to music designed to make you feel the grandness and the thrill of important occasions.

Never been to a Superior Wind Symphony concert? It is the only Michigan Tech music ensemble composed entirely of non-music majors: chemists, engineers, physics, even math majors, make up the band.

Come to the “Pageantry” concert this at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9 in the McArdle Theatre, and enjoy the show.

Tickets for “Pageantry” are on sale now, $13 for adults, $5 for youth and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at 7-2073, online, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the SDC or at the McArdle Theatre door the evening of the performance.

From Tech Today, by Bethany Jones.

Join the choirs of Michigan Tech as they present a concert to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

“Music for a Sacred Space,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2016, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lake Linden.

The concert will feature the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and conScience, the Michigan Tech Chamber Singers performing sacred choral music performed in its natural habitat, the local treasure that is the magnificent space of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

The repertoire will range from “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes” by John Rutter, to “Unclouded Day” arranged by Shawn Kirchner. Free will donations in any amount are welcomed.

From Tech Today, by Visual and Performing Arts.

Keweenaw Listening Society is a semi-regular gathering centered around listening to and discussing some of the most interesting and important albums ever recorded. All Michigan Tech/VPA students, faculty, staff and their friends, families and their snacks are welcome to join us. Attendance is free, no RSVP needed.

Our next event is at 7:15 p.m. tomorrow (March 1, 2016) in Walker 210. We will be listening to legendary prog and hard rockers starting in the 70’s and progressing through to today. We will listen to the entirety of Tool’s “Aenima” and discuss its innovative production techniques.

Also join us at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 in Walker 210 for an evening focused on Native Tongues Hip-hop and its evolution into backpack rap and other genres. We will listen to Digable Planets’ “Blowout Comb” in its entirety.

Finally this semester, join us at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 in Walker 210 for Detroit Techno, Krautrock and the Birth of EDM, where we will listen to Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” in its entirety.

Events typically last between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half hours and always include a range of listening and discussion, including at least one full album.

All are welcome to attend (though keep in mind, not all material presented will be suitable for young children — these are typically events featuring adult content). If you can only attend part of the time slot, you are still welcome to join us when you are able. More information can be found on Facebook.

From Tech Today, by Josh Loar, VPA.