The Green Room / November 2015

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Colorado State University / THE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS / VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 6 / NOVEMBER 2015

Sugary Spectacle An inside look at

HANSEL & GRETEL


WELCOME TO

THE GREEN ROOM Throughout the country, every monthly magazine’s editorial calendar is most likely marked “be thankful” for November. And yes, I’m the first one to wear my heart on my sleeve and have a propensity for sentimentality. However, while contemplating this intro to The Green Room, I bristled at the thought of “scheduled thankfulness,” and pondered how to genuinely convey my appreciation without being trite. Dan Goble

Director of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

Jennifer Clary Jacobs Marketing Director

Mike Solo

Publicity and Marketing Manager

I had a conversation with my co-worker about ‘feeling blessed,’ and while he said he wouldn’t normally use that phrase, we agreed that it seems essential for blessings to be ‘equal opportunity,’ not referencing material possessions, but experiences. This weekend, I was blessed by the chuckle I had with my daughter over her High School senior quote, the quality time I spent with a friend on Sunday evening, and this morning’s magnificent sunrise. I’ve been delighted, and in awe, of people who are eager to say what they are thankful for, even on Facebook where a-thankful-thought-a-day-for-a-month posts have begun. This morning, a post by a friend who has ALS put my point of reference on alert. “Yesterday was spent outside with my family, and I was actively thankful for the beautiful weather and my family all together working in the yard. Today I am thankful for [her husband and daughter] getting me ready for work. I am blessed with family and friends.” So, even though it might be expected this time of year, and I hoped to be more profound in saying it, quite simply I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to say thank you – to students, alums, patrons, donors, and employees alike – for being a part of our University Center for the Arts experience. We are thankful for you, hope to interact with you soon, and wish you a blessed Thanksgiving!

Sincerely, Jennifer Clary Jacobs, editor Please join us on Oak Street Plaza on Friday, Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m. for the annual Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony, with holiday music provided by CSU instrumentalists and singers until 6:15. At 6:30 p.m., the “switch will be flipped,” and thousands of strands of holiday lights will illuminate historic Downtown Fort Collins as CSU’s Presidential Pep Band wraps up the event. http://downtownfortcollins.com/events/downtown-holiday-lighting-ceremony

THIS IS YOUR UCA


TABLE OF TICKETS Online Sales: CSUArtsTickets.com Ticket Office: Griffin Lobby, University Center for the Arts (UCA) Spring 2015 Ticket Office Hours: M–F, 3:30–5:30 p.m., and 60 minutes prior to performances Information: (970) 491-ARTS (2787) / Email: CSUArts@colostate.edu Group rate: 15% off on ten or more tickets, applied at the time of purchase Tickets may be purchased, both online and at the UCA Ticket Office until 30 minutes after curtain. Print-at-home tickets are available online. All tickets are subject to a $1 ticket fee for both online and at-the-door purchases. At-the-door and phone purchases will incur a $3 processing fee per order. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended to avoid lines and the at-the-door fee. Purchase Policy: All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Seating after the start of any performance is at the discretion of the house manager. Photography and recording of performances are strictly prohibited. Food and beverages prohibited in all theatres. Parents with disruptive children may be asked to excuse themselves if the performance is disturbed without refund.

CONTENTS Sugary Spectacle................................................ 08 Faculty Notes....................................................... 12 Living Legend of Dance..................................... 14 Kodaly Teaching Workshop.............................. 18 Seems Fitting....................................................... 16 Medieval Music................................................... 20 Fall Dance Concert............................................. 22 But Why A Polka Band?..................................... 30 Profile: Chase Morin........................................... 33 Step on a Crack Photo Gallery......................... 34 Fall Workshops.................................................... 43 Nuevo Historias................................................... 44 Great Conversations.......................................... 46 In Review: The Lure of London........................ 49 Large Ensemble Photo Gallery......................... 50 Upcoming Events............................................... 57 Warhol Wednesday: Shaun Leonardo............ 61 EXECUTIVE EDITOR: JENNIFER CLARY JACOBS CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MIKE SOLO GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MARKETING ASST. SPENCER GILLARD COPYEDITOR: SANDRA SANCHEZ

SOCIAL MEDIA This is your UCA! Stay connected with the University Center for the Arts by connecting with us on social media. Facebook: facebook.com/CSU.UCA Instagram: ColoradoStateUniversity_UCA Twitter: @CSUUCA Tumblr: ColoradoStateUCA Youtube: YouTube.com/ColoradoStateUniv Flickr: flickr.com/photos/csulibarts

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: SPENCER GILLARD JENNIFER CLARY JACOBS RACHEL JOHNSON JEFF DODGE LAUREN SCOTT (UCA INTERN) STAR DONALDSON (UCA INTERN) PAMELA SHAPIRO (UCA INTERN) FOR ADVERTISING PLEASE CONTACT: JENNIFER CLARY JACOBS, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING jennifer.clary@colostate.edu / 970.491.3603

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Class Notes.......................................................... 49

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By Spencer Gillard and Lauren Scott

CSU Opera takes the stage this November with a fantastical, candy-coated performance of well-known fairy tale “Truly, it’s a masterpiece of the highest quality…all of it original, new, and so authentically German.” The composer Richard Strauss made that statement after conducting the premier of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and now over 120 years later, his words remain true. The Charles and Reta Ralph Opera Center at Colorado State University announces the opening of its fall opera Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck, directed by Tiffany Blake, with the CSU Sinfonia Orchestra, conducted by Mariusz Smolij and Adam Torres. Based on the classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, the opera tells the tale of two children who happen upon a mysterious Gingerbread house in the woods and are captured by a witch who wants to eat them. Written early in the composer’s life, Humperdinck’s sister asked if he would set parts of a children’s play about Hansel and


Gretel to music, and eventually the full opera came to be. The composer succeeded in telling the simple fairy tale in a musical treatment of remarkable sophistication, with captivating melodies and folk-like appeal. A beautiful version of the well-known story, this production is a wonderful first time opera experience, especially for families with little ones. For Dr. Blake, the production is not just about the music, but also emphasizes the “visual spectacle.” “I’m trying to have fun with it as much as possible and create something enchanting.”

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“Most of our audience has a strong familiarity with the story and its relatable characters,” said Dr. Blake. This familiarity allowed the director to shift the focus from simply telling the story to embellishing it into a world she describes as “fanciful and whimsical.”

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“[Hansel and Gretel] is different from what you think opera is,” said sophomore Emma Genell, who plays Hansel. “Dr. Blake creates a clear vision [of a] crazy, magical world.” “The tone and style of Humperdinck’s music is light and free, which enhanced and focused the direction of the production,” said Dr. Blake. And even though the story involves runaway children and an evil witch, that isn’t what the production team wanted to accentuate. “It’s supposed to be light-hearted, not serious or scary,” said Dr. Blake. From an actual edible gingerbread house, to woodland creatures dressed in full Victorian garb that could only belong at a “fancy party,” CSU’s take on Hansel and Gretel is as much about seeing as it is hearing. “[The costumes are] extremely loud and outlandish,” said costume designer Maile Speetjens, adding that they’re “alluring with bright, aggressive colors,” with the Witch getting her own special “splash of craziness.” “We did go sort of ‘candy-crazy’ with the whole design,” Dr. Blake concedes with a laugh.

Assorted Animal Masks by Siobhan Gleason

Hansel and Gretel will be showing on Nov. 6, 13, and 14 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in Griffin Concert Hall; tickets are available at CSUArtsTickets.com.


THE DEW FAIRY

by Maile Speetjens

by Maile Speetjens

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HANSEL

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FACULTY NOTES

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DR. ANGELA MACE CHRISTIAN, assistant professor of Music History, published her work on Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in the book of collected essays, Women and the Nineteenth-Century Lied. The book was edited by Aisling Kenney and Susan Wollenberg for Ashgate Press, and was released Oct. 2015. Dr. Christian’s chapter is titled “‘Der Jüngling und Das Mädchen’: Fanny Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, and the Zwolf Lieder, op. 9.” In this chapter, Dr. Christian focuses on three songs that Fanny Hensel published under her brother’s name in his op. 9; the discussion centers on the gendered implications of both this situation and the title of the publication, ties the choice of songs in this opus to the biography of the Mendelssohn siblings, and considers whether or not op. 9 can be considered a song cycle.


While I was previously unfamiliar with the talents of Wesley Ferreira as well as the composers whose works he recorded on Madison Avenue, I was delighted to hear this CD. In addition to the very fine clarinet playing, each selection on the recording is by an unheralded composer worthy of attention and who has an affinity for writing for our instrument. Mix in talented assisting artists such as Gail Novak (piano), Copper Ferreira (clarinet and bass clarinet) and the well-balanced Colorado State University Wind Ensemble (conducted by Christopher Nicholas), and you have a solid CD that I can heartily recommend to our readers... All in all, a fine CD and a wonderful representation of the excellent work being done at Colorado State University by Ferreira and his colleagues. I look forward to hearing him live!

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DR. WESLEY FERREIRA’S (assistant professor of Clarinet), recording “Madison Avenue” was favorably reviewed by Dileep Gangolli in the Sept. issue of The Clarinet magazine. Mr. Gangolli is the education, community engagement and development manager of the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra and is a clarinetist with the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Here is an excerpt from the review:

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“I am very appreciative and grateful to many people, particularly CSU for allowing me to pursue

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dance for many years”

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CSU dance director named one of Colorado’s

‘Living Legends of Dance’

By Julianna Cervi, CSU public relations intern Jane Slusarki-Harris, director of dance at Colorado State University, was one of five people recently honored for their contributions to dance in Colo.

Slusarski-Harris was nominated in March by Joan Brown and Sandra Minton, who are both on the dance library board. “I am very appreciative and grateful to many people, particularly CSU for allowing me to pursue dance for many years,” said Slusarski-Harris. “I have had the opportunity to work with different generations and it’s been fun.” This year marks her 28th year at CSU. The event was sponsored by the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library. For more information, including photos and videos, see the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library website.

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Since 2004, the annual “Legends of Dance in Colorado” honors individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to dance. Starting with the untimely death of Freidann Parker, co-founder of Colorado Ballet, the Carson Brierly Griffin Dance Library realized it was time to preserve the rich dance heritage of Colo. The library launched the award program and selects individuals to join the ranks of dance legends in the state each year. On Oct. 18, five individuals from different areas were celebrated for their contributions to dance in Colo. In addition to Slusarki-Harris, they were Garret Ammon, Monica Hill, Nancy Smith and Ingvar Sodal. The celebration was held in the Carson Brierly Giffin Dance Library at the University of Denver.

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T T F I S M A SE

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Honoring the past with an eye to the future is the theme as the CSU Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising opens in January in a beautiful new facility.

one overarching theme: the passion of our loyal supporters for the woven stories told by our clothing and textiles.”

THE EXHIBITIONS The grand opening has been set for Saturday, Jan. 30, from 2 to 5 p.m., 216 E. Lake St. in Fort Collins. Thanks to a lead gift from the Avenir Foundation and funding from other benefactors, the Avenir Museum underwent a significant transformation over the past several months. Located east of the University Center for the Arts, the museum renovated approximately 8,000 square feet in the current Avenir facility and added 10,000 square feet, allowing for two galleries, classroom and seminar space, a library, a conservation laboratory and expanded collection storage and management areas. “All of the inaugural exhibitions in the new Avenir galleries have seams connecting them, even though they are so different from one another,” said Doreen Beard, director of operations and engagement. “They are held together by

Four opening exhibitions feature the work or collections of just a few of the many dedicated supporters of the museum. Mr. Blackwell: “artist of subtle witchery” — This exhibition features the timeless creations of fashion designer Richard Blackwell, known as “Mr. Blackwell.” Blackwell’s relationship to the collection dates back to the 1980s, and he visited CSU twice to give lectures and meet with students. The Avenir Museum holds the world’s largest collection of Mr. Blackwell designs, and 13 of them will be on display in The Richard Blackwell Gallery. In addition to donating his original gowns, master patterns and personal scrapbooks, Mr. Blackwell and his partner, Robert Spencer, left a substantial estate gift to the museum, which funded state-of-the-art storage and named the gallery. Mr. Blackwell passed away in 2008 and Spencer in 2014.


TING

AVENIR MUSEUM honors supporters with opening exhibits by Gretchen Gerding, Director of Communications for the College of Health and Human Sciences

Tiny Bits and Pieces — Lucile Hawks (’58), donor and longtime supporter of the historic costume and textile collection, is also a talented quilter. This exhibition, in the hallway gallery space, features exquisite miniature quilts, which are part of the Avenir Museum’s permanent collection.

The Power of Maya Women’s Artistry — A traveling exhibition of contemporary work by the textile artists of Cooperativa de Alfombras de Mujeres Maya en Guatemala (The Maya Women’s Rug Hooking Cooperative of Guatemala) will be in the Avenir Gallery, located in Room 115 of the main University Center for the Arts. The work by this rug hooking cooperative highlights one avenue of the evolution of Maya textile and cultural history, while creating artistic and economic opportunity for women from the highlands of Guatemala. The traveling exhibition is funded in part by the Don and May Wilkins Charitable Trust, the Avenir Museum Education Exhibition Endowment and Cooperativa de Alfombras de Mujeres Maya en Guatemala.

“Lucile’s quilts are wonderful examples of historic as well as modern quilt patterns,” said Megan Osborne, curator of the Avenir Museum. “They have been invaluable teaching tools in the collection for many years, and there is something very fulfilling about being able to feature pieces created by an alumna.”

The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is part of CSU’s Department of Design and Merchandising in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

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Layers of Meaning: Color and Design in Guatemalan Textiles — This colorful exhibition in the Large Gallery of the new museum features traditional Guatemalan textiles, donated to the Avenir Museum by two longtime supporters: New Mexico-based textile and folk art collector and author Martha Egan and Mary Littrell, textile collector and former head of the Department of Design and Merchandising.

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The Colorado Kodály Institute, the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Colorado State University is hosting a Kodály Music Teaching Workshop with presenter Julie Swank on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The workshop contains pertinent instruction for teaching music to grade levels K-5.

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Join Julie Swank, a Kodaly inspired music educator, in a day of singing, playing, and music making. The day will begin with singing games, play parties, and movement activities for the music classroom, and participants will move, sing, notate, memorize, improvise, listen to, and reflect upon all types of folk and composed music. Time will be allotted for discussion and demonstration dissecting the pedagogy of the morning experiences and offering ideas on curricular tie-ins.

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CSU Music Education Area Presents a Kodály Music Teaching Workshop

The activities offered will feature the standard "bread and butter" ideas of master teachers and the "Swanky top three rules for a successful music classroom," all accented with tasty morsels of lesser known examples. Curricular ideas will span pre-K to adult, as well as both vocal and instrumental music. This workshop is geared toward any music educator interested in joyful music making and skill building in his/her classroom. Pre-service educators are welcome to join in play and movement. Julie Swank has taught music at all levels from pre-K to master’s level. She currently teaches band and musicology for grades six through eight at Northmont Middle School, near Dayton, Ohio. She is a graduate of Capital University and the University of Dayton with a Kodály certificate from the Kodály Center at Capital. She is a past-president of the Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America and has served as the archivist. She plays principal horn in the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra of Dayton, and is a frequent presenter at workshops and conferences throughout the United States.

The cost to attend the workshop is $40 for members of the Regional Organization of Colorado Kodály Educators (ROCKE) and $50 for non-members; there is a half day rate of $20. Registration is required and can be completed at rockeonline.weebly.com/workshops.


THERE’S A BAND FOR YOU AT CSU

CSU CONCERT BANDS

• A 114 Year Tradition • Scholarships for every student • Auditions for all sections: June 11

• A masterful blend of traditional and forward-thinking artistry • Three ensembles open to all majors • Scholarship Audition Days: Feb. 19, 20 & 27

Greetings from the bands at Colorado State University! CSU is committed to providing the highest level of artist experience for our music majors, while offering outstanding musical opportunities for students of all levels and abilities, regardless of major. There is a place for you in our band family, and we invite you to make Fort Collins home for your collegiate experience! Please contact us for more information about joining our outstanding concert ensembles and the much-loved CSU Marching Band. — Dr. Rebecca L. Phillips, Director of Bands

b a n d s . c o l o s t a t e . e d u

# c s u m u s i c

Dedicated to its land-grant heritage, the music faculty at Colorado State University are committed to promoting music and pedagogy of the highest quality, serving music education through actions that benefit the students, teachers, and citizens of Colorado.

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CSU MARCHING BAND

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Written by Spencer Gillard

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Unique: a word we use so often that perhaps we sometimes forget what it means. An adjective meaning the only one of its kind, or unlike anything else, we could interchangeably use words like distinct, individual, and special. On Nov. 10, Dr. Joel Bacon, Chair of Organ and Liturgical Studies and associate professor of Organ at CSU, along with organ and music history students, presents a unique evening of medieval liturgical music featuring organ and Gregorian chant. For the collaborative project, organ students will be joined on alternating pieces by an ensemble of ‘chanters’ or singers of Gregorian chants, assembled by, and including, Dr. Bacon. Liturgical organ music and Gregorian chant are some of the oldest notated music known to western civilization with some manuscripts dating as many as 1,000 years old. “I love this kind of music,” said Dr. Bacon. “It’s very freeing…unlike anything else we do in the music department,” adding “[this event] will be a mystique experience.”

Gregorian chant – early Christian church liturgy (customary repertoire of observances) – consists of a single line of melody with a flexible rhythm, sung to Latin words by unaccompanied, typically male, voices. The style of the music is uncomplicated and melodic allowing the audience (originally monks in a monastery) to pause and reflect in a peaceful atmosphere. While Gregorian chants have remained popular, even having a sort of resurgence in the late 20th century, it’s a rare and unique opportunity to hear such a performance outside of a religious setting. Unlike Gregorian chant, which has stayed essentially the same since medieval times, organ music has changed drastically. “Organ music from the Middle Ages is vastly different from what we think of today as organ music,” said Dr. Bacon. “For one, there were no pedals at the time and that changed the way the music was written, let alone performed.” For a distinct and tranquil experience, look no further than the Medieval Music Recital: a free evening of medieval liturgical music featuring organ and Gregorian chant.


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by

JENNIFER CLARY

Each semester, Jane Slusarski-Harris, director of Dance at CSU since 1988, along with her colleagues, dance professors Chung-Fu Chang and Carol Roderick, plan, design, and set original and established choreography and repertoire for the main dance concert. And even though the fall and spring dates come and go in the rhythm of the academic year, each concert makes its own imprint on the program and its patrons. It’s Slusarski-Harris’ inherent love for her art that, for 35 years, has inspired each presentation. “Dance is beautiful, powerful, physical movement that involves the body, mind, and spirit, yet each concert easily becomes its own unique artistic and cultural expression.” For Slusarski-Harris, it’s rewarding to watch the audience’s reaction to the live experience. “It’s inspiring to see people move with purpose as they communicate and help each other on stage and the audience senses when that all comes together.”

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Take a break from mid-terms and get swept away by the innovative and creative stories that will unfold through movement as the School of Music, Theatre and Dance presents the annual Fall Dance Concert on Nov. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

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ithin the dance program at CSU, that helpful attitude transcends concert preparation as about three dozen dance majors, faculty, and staff work together to create a daily atmosphere of dedication, collaboration, and passion. This ethic buoys Slusarski-Harris’ goal to deliver a dance education which enables graduates to have a successful and sustaining career in dance and related fields.

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“I tell my students to ‘go for it,’” exudes Slusarski-Harris. “But, be prepared to work really, really hard, be smart and be genuinely nice, and realize that you may have to do anything and everything in your career – be prepared to sweep the floors!”

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In addition to this level-headed thinking, another intrinsic component to the success of the program, and each concert, are special guest artists that work with students in master class situations during week-long residencies. For the 2015 Fall Dance Concert, members of the Verb Ballets Company, from Shaker Heights, Ohio, will perform on the concert and contribute to daily instruction. As a company, Verb Ballets strives to develop an appreciation for dance through performances and outreach programs that promote learning and nurture wellness. The company cultivates dance appreciation through community dance classes, school residences, senior movement classes, library programs, master classes and college course partnerships (verbballets.org).

A special moment in the concert will be the duet choreographed by CSU Dance Professor Chung-Fu Chang. Originally commissioned by Verb Ballets, the piece premiered in partnership with Martha Graham Dance Company's Lamentation Variation Project in Cleveland on Feb. 21, 2015. The project will culminate in 2016 with Verb Ballets' performance in New York City on a shared program with the Graham Company, and the CSU Dance program is excited to bring the piece to campus. "Lamentation Variation 2: The Veil" was an impassioned duet…set to music by Bach. Also somber in tone, the duet, performed by Stephaen Hood and a veiled Kara Madden, captured the emotional struggle of Graham's solo in outstretched arms and searching body movements," wrote Steve Sucato about the premier in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. As Slusarski-Harris’ dancers prepare for a week of intense dress rehearsals and master classes, culminating in three performances, the work ethic and technical knowledge the dance faculty instill prepares students to deal with the relentless physicality. And while the concert audience takes in the perfect combination of artistry and athleticism, Slusarski-Harris guarantees “inspiration, energy, enjoyment, and a darn good evening of live performance!”


STEPHAEN HOOD is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a B.F.A. in Ballet Performance. He has been studying dance and has trained at numerous ballet institutions such at Mid Atlantic Youth Ballet, Rock School For Dance Education, and the University of The Arts in Pa. as a Ballet Major. He has also trained in a vast amount of studies such as Horton, Balanchine, Forsythe and jazz dance. He was a principal dancer for the Mid-Atlantic Youth Ballet Company and company member for Ballet-Fleming. He has also been a guest artist in various companies such as Poetic Expression Dance Company and Carbon Dance Theater. He has also performed lead roles in ballets such as Coppelia, La Bayadere, and The Nutcracker. He is happy to have embarked on this journey with Verb Ballets and is excited to expand his mind as an artist. This is Stephaen’s second season with Verb Ballets.

LIENEKE MATTE grew up in the Bronx and received her early training at Ballet Tech and the School of American Ballet. She then Arts in New York. Lieneke went on to get a B.F.A in dance from SUNY Purchase College. She has performed in works choreographed by George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Nicolo Fonte, Paul Taylor, Nicholas Villeneuve, and Xiao-Xiong Zhang. Ms. Matte graduated summa cum laude and received the President’s

MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE MONDAY, NOV. 9 9-10:40 a.m. — Ballet Master Class by Lieneke Matte 11:10 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.— Modern Master Class by Stephaen Hood TUESDAY, NOV. 10 11:10 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. — Modern Master Class by Stephaen Hood WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11 9-10:40 a.m. — Ballet Master Class by Lieneke Matte 11:10 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. — Modern Master Class by Stephaen Hood FRIDAY, NOV. 13 9-10:40 a.m. — Ballet Master Class by Lieneke Matte

Award from the Conservatory of Dance. She is currently a dancer with Verb Ballets and performs throughout Ohio.

Cost: Registration Required: FREE/CSU Dance Majors; $15/all others Organizer: Linda Parent Phone: (970) 491-5562 Email: Linda.Parent@colostate.edu

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attended Fiorello H.La Guardia High School for the Performing

VERB BALLETS

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CSU STUDENT DANCER PROFILES Each semester, CSU dance majors contribute to the dance concerts through an outpouring of technique and artistry, and often, contributions of their original choreography. Two of the 2015 Fall Dance Concert participants shared some of their experiences, inspirations, and goals.

Emily Kaiser, sophomore

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Major/Minor: Dance major and business minor

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What inspired you to be a dance major? I danced for 14 years before dancing at CSU. I was inspired by all of the professional dancers that I worked with throughout the years, especially the faculty of L.A. Dance Magic, as well as all of my talented dance friends who shared my passion for dance. I love so many things about dance. I love how dance positively affects my life by allowing me to express myself, de-stress, disciplines me, improves my health, teaches me how to manage my time, expands my creativity, and creates long-lasting friendships.

Emily Kasier (RIGHT) and Lindsay Dighero (LEFT)

Interviews by

PAMELA SHAPIRO

What is your favorite part about the CSU dance program? My favorite part is the emphasis on ballet technique. We are lucky to have such a wonderful and wise professor [Carol Roderick]. I have learned so much since I started taking ballet here, and I have improved a great deal. What are you performing in the Fall Dance Concert? I will be performing in Professor Chung-Fu Chang’s modern dance, as well as a contemporary piece choreographed by student Kimberly Canfield. I also choreographed a contemporary piece that will be performed. What is your favorite part about the Fall Dance Concert? [The concert] gives us a chance to see the creativity that each of the student choreographers possess, like my favorite dance performance [in] last fall’s Senior Capstone Concert where I performed in two of the senior’s pieces that I enjoyed very much. What are your future goals? My goals are to open up my own dance studio so that I can choreograph dances and train dancers, as well as run my own business.


Madison Martinek, freshman Major: Dance

What inspired you to be a dance major? The thing that inspired me to dance is that I wanted to do something I loved for the rest of my life. Dancing is who I am. It defines me. I would not know who I would be without dance, so to study dance in my college career is amazing. Something I love about dance is that I know it is always there for me. Dance is like my safe place, my refuge. When I am having a bad day or something emotional is wrong, I can free myself through dance. What is your favorite part about the CSU dance program? My favorite part is the teachers. The program would not be what it is today without the helpful hands of the teachers. The teachers are all interested [our] own dance careers; they want to do anything they can to help you achieve what you want. It is very nice to know that each person is in the best interest of each teacher. It is also like our own little family here. All of the dance majors are with each other so much, we have grown into a family and I know I can count on anyone in the program.

What is your favorite part about the Fall Dance Concert? My favorite part right now is that I will be able to show my family and past dance teachers what I am learning here at CSU. I get to show them how I am growing as a performer. I love performing in general, so just the fact that I get to dance in the Fall Concert is amazing. What are your future goals? My goals are to be in a contemporary ballet company or a contemporary/modern company. I just want to keep performing. If I could choose any company at the moment, I would pick Cedar Lake contemporary ballet or Complexions contemporary ballet. Those are companies I would love to be a part of.

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What are you performing in the Fall Dance Concert? I will be performing about six pieces. I have Professor Chang's modern piece; Professor Roderick's repertory pieces: Snow Scene and Arabian Scene from The Nutcracker; an Improv dance for my Improv class; then two student choreography pieces which will both be contemporary.

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T HE UN IVE RSI TY C ENT E R F OR T HE ARTS THE GRE E N R OOM / I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5

>>>>> CO-PRESENTED BY THE LINCOLN CENTER AND COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY <<<<<

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A focus on Classical, Romantic, and contemporary repertoire

1/28 /1 6

||| 7 : 3 0 P. M .

GRIFFIN CONCERT HALL > UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS

lctix.com


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BY CHRISTOPHER VAN HOF, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF TROMBONE

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AND EUPHONIUM

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T

he School of Music, Theatre and Dance has a new ensemble making a big splash in the Northern Colo. music scene, but it is a bit of a head-scratcher: an 18-member polka band that is open only to brass instruments and drums. Neue Polka Colorado started in the fall of 2014 and has seen bookings increase tenfold for the recently-completed 2015 Oktoberfest season across the region. While it may seem an unlikely way for music majors to spend their time, my co-leader Dr. John McGuire, horn, and I have a very specific mission behind the band. The idea for the band germinated during a CSU faculty tour to central Europe in the summer of 2014. As John and I sat in the English Gardens in Munich, listening to the band and enjoying beer and pretzels, we both agreed that the traditional polkas and landlers were the perfect accompaniment to a warm day with good friends (and libations). Then, at another stop on the tour in Schladming, Austria, the proverbial lightning bolt struck. A town band from just down the road was playing a non-stop set of traditional marches and polkas with a truly dynamic band leader who also happened to be the baker of the town. We turned to each other simultaneously and knew we had to have a polka band at CSU. Subsequent train rides and airport waits during the tour helped us codify the band’s mission. What we noticed was that our brass students were not getting a lot of gig experience, with the exception of the occasional Christmas or Easter gig. The band would become a vehicle for bandstand experience-building, something both of us experienced over the course of our formative years as musicians. We also identified the strong brewing culture of Northern Colo., and Fort Collins in particular, and thought that—in spite of plentiful visits to local breweries—we never heard traditional BavarDr. Van Hof leads Neue Polka at the 2014 Longmont Oktoberfest


ian music to accompany our quaffable delights. So, in the spirit of building experience for our students and building stronger connections to our surrounding community, we booked a gig at what has become our “home brewery” in Fort Collins: Zwei Brewing (which brews primarily German-style beers, naturally). It is worth thanking Dr. Joel Bacon, Stuart and Sheron Golden Chair of Organ and Liturgical Studies at CSU, for helping us make the connection to Zwei, as he is friends with the owners/brewers and vouched for us before we had played a single gig. We were also able to tack on a day as the house band for the 2014 Longmont Oktoberfest.

The mission of the band – to both bolster the professional experience of its student members and to strengthen bonds between CSU and the community – is coming to fruition after this year’s successful Oktoberfest season. What began as a pie-in-the-sky idea between two traveling musicians has become a well-oiled polka machine, and the future looks bright for Neue Polka Colorado. We hope to see you at a gig soon. Prost!

Neue Polka at the 40 in the Fort Mountain Bike Race at Lory State Park in June.

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Since those first non-paying exploratory gigs, we have seen bookings for the band skyrocket, almost exclusively through word of mouth among the close-knit community of brewers in Northern Colo. This season, the band played all paid gigs (we do not want to promote playing for free among our students), and was incredibly busy. Starting with being the house band for both days of the 2015 Longmont Oktoberfest (hosted by Left Hand Brewing), followed by consecutive weekends at Loveland Oktoberfest (hosted by Grimm Bros. Brewing), a private event in Loveland, Oktoberfest at Fort Collins’ The Mayor Old Town (hosted by Prost Brewing of Denver), the Jammin’ Ram Run 5K (hosted by the CSU Music Therapy Student Association in support of Foundation Music School), a private party at Odell Brewing in Fort Collins, finishing with a Halloween party at Zwei Brewing.

The band plays a mix of traditional Bavarian and Austrian marches, waltzes, polkas, and songs. We also play tongue-in-cheek settings of music as varied as Britney Spears, The White Stripes, and the theme from the television show “MacGyver.” The students have become experts in the show we put on and are now able to start and stop tunes on a dime. The band has flexible instrumentation, with about 25 players on the roster but typically around 10-15 playing a gig. We sing, we do the twist, we have lots of fun, but we also put a high priority on being professionals. Student leaders are now beginning to lead entire sets, and we anticipate handing off booking and contracting to students very soon. We make sure to learn the ins and outs of how to act on the bandstand (no noodling before the downbeat!), how to interact with clients (firm handshake!), how to treat food servers and bartenders when the food is free (always tip!), and generally how to handle yourself in the real world (among many things: help set up/tear down, and always be “a good guy”).

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“The best part of my job, hands down, is the opportunity to collaborate with, and learn from, other students in rehearsals, performances, and even just in conversations about music, teaching, and life in general.�

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CHASE MORIN is a graduate conductor for the UCA here at Colorado State University. Morin answered some questions and talked about how his passion and dedication has granted him many opportunities.

Carolina. Conducting is the way that I channel my God-given talent in music and share that passion with others in an environment where musicians can collaborate to create music together. Do you have any advice for CSU students who hope to conduct one day, or make it in the entertainment industry? To those who aspire to pursue any career in music, I would simply say this: become the best musician you can be and find a way to connect with other people to share your passion.

Interview by

PAMELA SHAPIRO

The opportunities that I am afforded to conduct are a part of my teaching assistantship with the band program here at CSU. Last year, as a first year as a conducting student, I was able to conduct twice with the CSU Symphonic Band and once each with the Wind Symphony and Concert Band. In addition to similar conducting opportunities this year, I will also be organizing and conducting my own chamber recital at the end of next semester.

What inspired you/ made you want to conduct? My inspiration to study and develop my skills as a conductor stems from the passion I developed for music education as an undergraduate student and my time teaching band in my home state of South

I don't know that I necessarily have a 'favorite' type of music. I like to explore and discover new types of music, or new artists within a genre with which I'm already familiar. Currently, as I am doing a great deal of research on Paul Hindemith, I'm really enjoying his music and the music of his contemporaries.

What do you think is unique about the UCA and the music at CSU? One of the most unique, and I think really fantastic things about the UCA, is the opportunity to experience so many art forms in the same building! It's great to share a space with musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists alike. The music department here at CSU is top notch. Whether your focus is education, performance, composition, or therapy, because of an outstanding faculty and an abundance of opportunity to learn and connect to the larger musical community, your experience here at CSU is guaranteed to be rewarding.

One of my role models for conducting is of course my incredible teacher, Dr. Rebecca Phillips. Her skills as a musician and as a teacher are second to none, and it is truly magical to watch these skills come together on the podium during both rehearsals and performances. I am also continuously inspired by conductors like Leonard Bernstein, Gustavo Dudamel, and Carlos Kleiber.

What are some of the best parts of your job? The best part of my job, hands down, is the opportunity to collaborate with, and learn from, other students in rehearsals, performances, and even just in conversations about music, teaching, and life in general.

What are some of your goals for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance? My hope for the School, music department specifically, is that it will experience significant growth as more and more exceptionally talented and motivated students from Colo., and from around the country, choose CSU as their home, and the place that will provide them with the best opportunity to launch them into a successful and fulfilling career in music.

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What does your role as graduate conductor entail?

What’s your favorite type of music?

Who is your role model in terms of conducting?

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PHOTO GALLERY PHOTOS BY CSU PHOTOGRAPHER

JOHN EISELE

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CREW Directed by

LAURA JONES Set Design by

AMY GARLAND Costume Design by

JANELLE N. SUTTON Lighting Design by

EVEE HELMAN Sound Design by

COOPER ADAMS Makeup and Hair Design by

SIOBHAN GLEASON MOLLY LANGEBERG

CAST Ellie Murphy

CECILIA WEBBER The Voice In Ellie’s Head

FINOLA DOYLE Max Murphy

ANDREW JACQUES Lucille Murphy

CHASE MORRIS Frizbee

KOBY ADAMS Lana

KAYA RUDOLPH

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Stage Managed by

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— CSU THEATRE

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DAN GOBLE

PETER SOMMER

FROM BACH TO BEBOP

Nuevo Histories

SAXOPHONE

SAXOPHONE

November 2, 7:30 p.m.

November 9, 7:30 p.m.

Organ Recital Hall, UCA

Organ Recital Hall, UCA


S E R I E S

C O N C E R T S

featuring

featuring

Chris van Hof, Joel Bacon, Eric Hollenbeck, John McGuire, Margaret Miller, and Barbara Thiem, Michelle Stanley, Margaret Miller, and Barbara Thiem, Copper Ferreira, with special guests Chris Jussell, and David McArthur.

Bach’s Clavierübung III and Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major

November 16, 7:30 p.m.

November 30, 7:30 p.m.

Organ Recital Hall, UCA

Organ Recital Hall, UCA

CONDUCTED BY RICHARD FREY

ORGAN

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ENSEMBLE

JOEL BACON

FACULTY CHAMBER

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OboeRAMa 2015

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Guest Artist: JACQUELINE LeCLAIR Professor of Oboe at McGill University, Montreal, Canada Friday, NOV. 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Masterclasses, lectures/demos, Oboe Band (bring your instrument), and recital Registration Fee: $35 (early registration $30 by Nov. 1), includes t-shirt and lunch Register online: music.colostate.edu/workshops-camps University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St. Sponsored in part by the Lilla B. Morgan Memorial Fund.

m u s i c . c o l o s t a t e . e d u

# c s u m u s i c


FALL WORKSHOPS Kodály Music Teaching Workshop Special Guest Rhona Brink Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Instrumental Rehearsal Hall, UCA

Contact: rockeonline.weebly.com/ workshops. OboeRAMa Special Guest Jacqueline Leclair Featuring the CSU Oboe Studio Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. UCA OboeRAMa brings oboists together from ages 12-72 with all levels of playing experience. This year features guest artist Jacqueline Leclair from McGill University in Montreal. Join us a masterclass, participant Double Reed Band (perform with more oboists in one place, at one time, than you have ever before), and closing recital featuring Ms. Leclair and other special guests. Registration required: $30 by Nov. 1; $35 after Nov. 1. Contact: Andrew Jacobson at ajoboe@gmail.com.

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“Effective Lesson Transitions” – for classroom music teachers looking for new techniques, strategies, and repertoire – demonstrates ways to tie together music lessons activities for a smooth, meaningful experience. Ms. Brink (University of Houston) presents “(Just a Few of) My Favorite Things,” a buffet of stories, songs, games, movement and instrumental experiences, literacy transitions, and improvisation/ composition activities. Registration required: $40/ROCKE members $50/ non-members, $20/half day.

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Peter Sommer and Quartet present: Nuevo Historias The Virtuoso Series at Colorado State University continues with a dynamic concert by faculty Peter Sommer and his quartet featuring Eric Gunnison, piano; Kent McLagan, bass; and Marc Dalio, drums.

Sommer has been described as, “The possessor of a dark, gritty sound, clean, fast technique, and melodic ideas [with] a true understanding of the post-bebop style (…) In addition, he is fearless; this guy delivers.”

The concert will feature music from Sommer’s most recent release on Dazzle Recordings, Narrando Historias, as well as new compositions and improvisations with elements of swing and blues.

He has released three albums as a leader Sioux County (2006) on Tapestry Records, featuring his original compositions in duo with jazz piano legend Art lande, Crossroads (2008) on Capri Records, featuring a two-tenor frontline with the great NYC saxophonist Rich Perry, and Tremolo Canteen (2010) on Dazzle Recordings.

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After being inspired by a Mayan exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Sommer is excited to bring his take on the idea of, Nuevo Historias or ‘new histories,’ to the Colorado State University community.

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BY STAR DONALDSON

Bringing his own history to the stage, Sommer is accompanied by artists that he has known for years. This familiarity allows for more creativity and a little improvisation that Sommer believes audiences will really enjoy. “With this particular group, the fun comes from not knowing exactly what’s going to happen … [We] don’t play in the way that you would expect [us] to…in a good way,” Sommer explained. Peter Sommer and Quartet will perform in the Organ Recital Hall on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in a concert that is sure to provide some enlightening musical nuances for both the audience and performers. Tickets are available at CSUArtsTickets.com. ABOUT PETER SOMMER Since establishing himself among the Denver area’s elite jazz musicians, Peter Sommer has contributed his energetic tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to Avant garde and beyond at venues across the nation and around the world.

In the release of his newest album Narrando Historias, loosely translated, ‘narrated histories,’ Sommer was inspired by literature (Rainer Maria Rilke and Jack Kerouac), history and culture (ancient Mayan civilization) and odds and ends from family life. Sommer now performs recordings from the album and new compositions statewide. Accompanied by his quartet, Sommer is ecstatic to perform within his jazz community that he describes as “unique and well-rounded.” PETER SOMMER AND QUARTET MASTER CLASS Starting this fall, the Jazz Barn Series, sponsored by Jim and Wendy Franzen, went through a restructuring where guest artists now come to the UCA to work with Jazz students in a master class/Q&A situation. The clinics are FREE and open to public observation. As part of the Franzen-sponsored series, Peter Sommer and Quartet will work with the Jazz studio before their concert on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in Rm. 204.


“We don’t play in the way that you would expect us to… in a good way.”

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By Rachel Johnson / Assistant to the Dean for External Relations, College of Liberal Arts

The last decade has seen fires that are breaking all of the rules and burning hotter, brighter and faster than what was previously thought to be possible. Despite the immense amount of resources that are devoted to fighting these fires, they remain difficult to control. Given the evidence, Dr. Jason Sibold, assistant professor of geography in the Department of Anthropology, opened the night at Great Conversations by asking, “Should we rethink our relationship with wildfire?”

The relevance of timely conversation The changing nature of wildfire was the topic for the night at Great Conversations, a College of Liberal Arts speaker series featuring outstanding faculty who facilitate conversations about some of

the most engaging topics in the arts, humanities and social sciences. The series connects liberal arts to the wider community while raising awareness of faculty research and artistry at the university. The thought-provoking questions Sibold raised about humankind’s relationship with nature are just the first of many exciting topics this year as Great Conversations enters its 20th year. The Great Conversations speaker series was created in 1996 by Dean Loren Crabtree and community members. The idea for Great Conversations originated from the salon, a gathering that gained popularity in Italy and France during the 16th through 18th centuries. Salons were at the center of important philosophical conversations that took place leading up to and during the French Revolution. The often lively conversations were hosted in homes and played an integral role in the Age of Enlightenment. The 21st century Great Conversations in Fort Collins illustrate in wonderful fashion the nature of the liberal arts, which, as Dean Ann Gill describes, “are concerned with human beings’ relationships to one another, to social institutions, to cultures, and to the environment. In the liberal

arts, we ask questions about how humans create meaning, and we analyze culturally created meanings and their effects on behavior and understanding.”

Two decades of impact Like the salons of the past, the Great Conversations series is hosted in the homes of friends of the college. Community members gather to eat, drink and discuss important topics. The 20th anniversary event was hosted in the home of Gary and Carol Ann Hixon, longtime supporters of the College of Liberal Arts, and hosts of the first ever Great Conversations event. To honor the special occasion, John Gravdahl, professor of graphic design in the Department of Art and Art History, created a special poster to pay homage to the Hixons’ long-time support and dedication to the arts. Through membership proceeds, Great Conversations members sustain the program while benefitting the Ann Gill Faculty Development fund. The endowment provides funding for College of Liberal Arts faculty who are engaged in making a difference in communities through research, creativity and advocacy.

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High Park. Waldo Canyon. Black Forest. These fires elicit strong emotions in Colorado residents. As the state eases out of an unseasonably warm and dry late summer and fall, the western United States is still grappling with an incredibly destructive wildfire season.

The College of Liberal Arts celebrates 20 years of Great Conversations

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“We enjoy Great Conversations the most when we go home stimulated by the intellectual conversation,” said Dave and Paula Edwards, Great Conversations members for over 10 years. “Then there’s the bonus of knowing we are supporting faculty development in the College of Liberal Arts.” Having raised over $500,000 for the fund, the College of Liberal Arts is grateful to Great Conversations members for their unwavering support throughout the years. The memberships provide opportunities for College of Liberal Arts faculty to engage in research and artistry that ultimately benefits CSU students.

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A season worth talking about

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Gravdahl’s poster was presented as a gift to Gary and Carol Ann Hixon during the opening event of the 20th anniversary season of Great Conversations.

The 20th anniversary season of Great Conversations will include the following presenters: From Silver Screen to Stage: Creative Projection Technology Advancements in Live Performance Roger Hanna, Assistant Professor of Set Design Price Johnston, Director, Theatre and Dance October 29, 2015 The Arc of Exploration Robert Hernandez, Naturalist, Wildlife Ecologist, Editor, National Geographic November 18, 2015

For more information about Great Conversations, please visit the Great Conversations website. Those interested in membership can contact Assistant Director of Development Marilyn Bistline at Marilyn.Bistline@colostate.edu or (970) 491-4030.

Firefighters’ Literacies: Knowing, Communicating, and Risk Timothy Amidon, Assistant Professor, English February 9, 2016 Miracle in Fort Morgan: Immigrant and Refugee Integration in Rural Colorado Eric Ishiwata, Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies April 21, 2016 Summer Soiree Including entertainment from the CSU Dance Program June 16, 2016


Jeremy Holm, 1993, B.A. Performing Arts, Theatre, is a New York based actor who plays Mr. Sutherland on the U.S. hit Mr. Robot, as well as Nathan Green on House of Cards. jeremyholm.com

Since graduating, Cody Laun, ’10, B.M. Music Performance, has been seen on the stage of a number of regional opera companies, including Des Moines Metro Opera, Mississippi Opera, and Mobile Opera, and has had success in a number of large competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (regional finalist), and the national round of the Classical Singer Magazine competition. Cody is currently special assistant professor of voice at CSU, and now lives in Broomfield with his wife, Katy.

Chue Vue, ’10, B.M. Music Education and Performance, is the Orchestra and Choir director at Conrad Ball Middle School in Loveland, Colo., and a violist with Stratus Chamber Orchestra in Denver. He received his M.M. in Viola Performance from Arizona State University. Chue, who teaches private lessons in Broomfield, recently taught in St. Vrain School District and performed with Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.

To submit your Class Note, email Jennifer Clary Jacobs at jennifer.clary@colostate.edu

C OLORADO S TATE UNI V E R S I TY C O N CE RT O R CH E S T R A P R E S E N T S

IN REVIEW: THE LURE OF LONDON by Star Donaldson

London O the Lure of

conducted by Leslie Stewart

October 18, 7:30 p.m. / ORGAN RECITAL HALL Cost: FREE

featuring works of great British composers including

Henry Purcell | George Handel | Edward Elgar

n Sunday Oct. 18, The University Concert Orchestra took the stage in the Organ Recital Hall for their performance entitled, The Lure of London. Conducted by Leslie Stewart, the concert was one of the first collaborative efforts by woodwind, organ, and the theatre program held at the University Center for the Arts. The performance began with the orchestra performing light-hearted pieces that were reminiscent of an English countryside. As the concert moved forward, the orchestra was joined by by student organist Angela Fitzsimmons who created a full and rich sound that echoed throughout the hall.

Once Fitzsimmons exited the stage, the orchestra was joined again for another collaboration, this time with four theatre students: Cierra Amavisca ("Fairy"), Charlotte Clanton ("Puck"), Zachary Rickert ("Oberon"), Heather Salyer ("Titania") and Jack Krause (“Bottom"). The orchestra performed pieces from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare that were accompanied by the acting that would have traditionally gone with the music, so that the audience could experience the music the way it was originally meant to be enjoyed. The concert, overall, had a feeling of fluidity and light and airy musical flair. The accompaniments and collaborations that took place that night were not only a big hit with the audience, but with the student performers as well.

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Heston McCranie, ’09, B.M. Music Performance, Cello, currently lives in Atlanta, Ga., and is working on her Ph.D. in Music Education at Georgia State University. Heston teaches string techniques for the university as well as working on research projects on improvisation and creativity. In the fall, she began a position as the primary orchestra director for the Atlanta International School. In addition to teaching, she is performing with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and playing chamber music every chance she gets!

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LARGE ENSEMBLE PHOTO GALLERY

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PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CLARY

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Most of the large ensembles at Colorado State University have already performed once this fall, with many of them slated for a second concert before the semester’s end. Enjoy some performance and rehearsal photos of the University Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir, and Wind Symphony from the last two months.


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Andrew MacRossie, Saxophone Wind Symphony (TOP) Amber Hodges, Flute Wind Symphony (BOTTOM) Ben Justis and Matt Hollaway, Percussion University Symphony Orchestra (LEFT)


Amanda Tatara, Trombone and Euphonium Wind Symphony (LEFT)

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Concert Choir conducted by Ryan Olsen (TOP)

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N O V E M B E R 6 , 13 , 1 4 , 7 : 3 0 P. M .

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a children’s opera, by E N G E L B E R T H U

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CSUArtsTickets.com


A N D 8 , 2 P. M .

UMPERDINCK

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T HE UN IVE RSI TY C ENT E R F OR T HE ARTS THE GRE E N R OOM / I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5

First National Bank is located in room 272 next to the RamCard Office in the newly remodeled Lory Student Center, (970) 495-9450

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RamCard PLUS,

an artful combination of your university ID and First National Bank Debit Card, is also your library card, rec center card, Visa Debit Card

­— everything in one card.


Upcoming M U S I C

P E R F O R M A N C E S Parade of Lights Preview / FREE Thursday, December 3, 6 p.m.Starts on the corner of Mathews and Lake, UCA The CSU Marching Band returns for the 2015 9NEWS Parade of Lights, leading the annual event through the streets of downtown Denver on Friday, Dec. 4. Support the band during a hometown parade preview on the streets around the University Center for the Arts. Following the parade, come inside the Griffin Lobby for a hot drink and dessert, and stay for the Annual Holiday Spectacular.

Heinrich Baermann was one of the greatest clarinet virtuosos of his time, for whom many Romantic Era works were composed. The Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leslie Stewart, is joined by Copper Ferreira for Adagio for Clarinet and Strings, written by Baermann himself. The program opens with Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue, and concludes with Mendelssohn’s String Sinfonia. Jazz Combos Concert Monday, December 7, 7:30 p.m. Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

Graduate String Quartet Thursday, December 10, 7:30 p.m. Organ Recital Hall, UCA The string area welcomes its newest graduate string quartet to the stage. The members come from a variety of locations, and bring a passion for chamber music to the Fort Collins community. Wind Symphony Concert Symphonies of Winds and Percussion: Ticheli With CSU Faculty Eric Hollenbeck, Marimba Thursday, December 10, 7:30 p.m. Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

Jazz Combos I, II, and III feature student compositions and arrangements of modern tunes and modern takes on standard Jazz repertoire.

Continuing their season of “symphony celebrations,” this performance focuses on the symphonies of Frank Ticheli, along with works by Roger Nixon and Adam Silverman. Conducted by Rebecca Phillips, the Wind Symphony is joined by Eric Hollenbeck, marimba, in a unique collaboration on Silverman’s electrifying Carbon Paper and Nitrogen Ink.

Violin Studio Recital / FREE Tuesday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 9, 7:30 p.m. Organ Recital Hall, UCA

Symphonic Band Concert Mixed Media Friday, December 11, 7:30 p.m. Griffin Concert Hall, UCA

Violin students of Ron Francois perform a variety of pieces from the standard repertoire for violin.

The Symphonic Band kicks off the annual CSU Honor Band weekend with a program inspired by the world of film, theatre, and dance. This concert fuses together these various genres, and features multiple media with live music. An immersive audio/visual experience with a wide range of sounds and styles, this is a program not to be missed.

Woodwinds Studio Recital / FREE Wednesday, December 9, 5 p.m. Organ Recital Hall, UCA Students from woodwind area and the studios of Wesley Ferreira, Gary Moody, Michele Stanley, and Peter Sommer present classic and modern literature for chamber groups and soloists.

I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5 / T H E GRE E N ROOM T HE UN IVERS ITY C ENT ER F OR T HE ARTS

Concert Orchestra Concert / FREE From Muse to Creator With CSU Faculty Copper Ferreira, Clarinet Sunday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. Organ Recital Hall, UCA

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T HE UN IVE RSI TY C ENT E R F OR T HE ARTS THE GRE E N R OOM / I S S UE 4 , S EPT EM B ER 2 0 1 5


FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, CSU STUDENTS CAN ATTEND ANY MUSIC, THEATRE, OR DANCE PERFORMANCE*

FOR FREE.

charge ticket to all music, theatre, and dance department events at the UCA. Tickets are available in-person at the UCA Ticket Office, both in advance or at-the-door. A valid RAMCard must be presented for ticket redemption. Tickets are limited to one (1) per student for each performance/series of performances (i.e. multiple theatre or dance performances of the same show). Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Excludes Classical Convergence and community produced events.

For a full listing of events, visit uca.colostate.edu

I S S UE 4 , S EPT EM B ER 2 0 1 5 / T H E GRE E N ROOM T HE UN IVERS ITY C ENT ER F OR T HE ARTS

*RAMCard is your ticket to the UCA! Full-fee paying students (enrolled in six or more credits) can receive one (1) no-

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T HE UN IVE RSI TY C ENT E R F OR T HE ARTS THE GRE E N R OOM / I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5

Self-portrait campeon (Gatti 2) - pencil on paper, 30 x 22 in., 2011


THIS MONTH: SHAUN LEONARDO

Warhoelsday Wedn

Two Worlds, One Story He stands like a boxer, moves like a dancer, and speaks like a poet; when Shaun “El C.” Leonardo enters room, it’s hard not to notice him. The New York-based, multidisciplinary artist, who uses an array of varying mediums to tell his story of artist and athlete, spoke at length at two separate events hosted by the University Art Museum in collaboration of with the museum’s current exhibition Scrimmage: Football in American Art from the Civil War to the Present. Leonardo, who played football while simultaneously earing a Bachelors of Arts at Bowdoin College and went on to receive his Masters of Fine Arts at San Francisco Art Institute, focuses his art and creative work around masculine identity and male role models. Leonardo’s work strives to raise questions and spur discussion about hyper-masculine figures in our culture and perceived notions around iconic figures such as super heroes, athletes, and even historical figures. But this combination of art and athleticism wasn’t always clear to Leonardo.

“When I was in college, I didn’t think... I couldn’t even conceive of a way that those two worlds [art and football] could fit together,” said Leonardo. “But what I later found out, after I had stopped playing, I found that one didn’t have to compromise the other.” Fast-forward to today, and its clear Leonardo has found a place where those two worlds meet. The artist has been involved in over a dozen solo exhibitions and more than 40 group exhibitions since he began his work in 2006. With Leonardo, unpredictable is the predictable in his art, creating and organizing work ranging from staging wrestling events in full Luchador dress against invisible or blindfolded opponents; challenging semi-pro football players in full pads during mock practice drills in front of a live audience; painting larger-than-life self-portraits of himself as a superhero; creating and mounting painted plywood cutouts of muscular male figures; etching marble sculptures of club wielding warriors; and drawing charcoal renderings of prize fighters and professional wrestlers, just to name a few examples of his ever-evolving design and style. You can see a video of Leonardo’s live art event Bull in the Ring, 2008, a mock recreation of a practice drill now banned in college football programs, in Scrimmage at the University Art Museum in the UCA now through Dec. 18. The Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5 / T H E GRE E N ROOM T HE UN IVERS ITY C ENT ER F OR T HE ARTS

How an artist uses his physical involvement in sport to focus and channel his creative work.

Written by Spencer Gillard

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Self-portrait campéon (Anderson Silva)


NOVEMBER 6, 2015 FEBRUARY 5, 2016 9 A.M. – 4 P.M. $20 registration required Dance.colostate.edu or call (970) 491-2675

• Meet with faculty • Take master classes in modern and ballet technique • Audition for the dance major and dance scholarships • Tour the University Center for the Arts • Attend an informal dance performance by CSU dance majors

I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5 / T H E GRE E N ROOM T HE UN IVERS ITY C ENT ER F OR T HE ARTS

Join us for Dance Visit and Audition Day at Colorado State University

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Benton Spruance (American, 1904 – 1967) Shovel Pass, 1935, Lithograph on paper Private collection

August 28 to December 18, 2015

NOW OPEN For a complete list of programs, please go to ArtMuseum.colostate.edu 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Fall break (Nov. 21–28)


SPORTS TALK IN THE ART MUSEUM

a series of talks on sport and art, in conjunction with Scrimmage. / Thursdays, 4 p.m.

Talkin’ Gender: Sept. 10 Dr. Michael Oriard, visiting critic, professor emeritus, American Literature and Culture, Oregon State. On gender issues in football and football art. Talkin’ Race: Oct. 1 Dr. Albert Bimper, assistant professor, ethnic studies, senior associate athletics director for diversity, inclusion, and engagement. On African American athletes and the lack of representation in sports imagery and history.

Talkin’ Money: Oct. 29 Dr. Nancy Jianakoplos, professor, economics. On football economics, including controversies surrounding the status of collegiate players. Talkin’ Success: Nov. 12 Dr. Robert Gudmestad, associate professor, history. On football’s supplanting of baseball as America’s game. Talkin’ Back: Dec. 3 Linny Frickman, director, University Art Museum. On the art museum as a site for discussion of sports and cultural issues. More events for Scrimmage will be announced during the course of the exhibition. Visit ArtMuseum.colostate.edu for updates.

WATCH A VIDEO PREVIEW OF SCRIMMAGE

I S S UE 6 , N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 5 / T H E GRE E N ROOM T HE UN IVERS ITY C ENT ER F OR T HE ARTS

Talkin’ Tough: Oct. 15 Shaun Leonardo, visiting artist. On the artist’s performance and video work that question notions of masculinity as related to sport.

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Kick off the holiday season with our family-friendly and popular annual presentation! Featuring performances from the CSU Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, faculty soloists, and a visit from Santa, this charming evening of traditional, secular, and sacred holiday music is a celebration of community, and includes something for all ages to enjoy.

Join us early on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. for the Parade of Lights Preview around the UCA, followed by cookies and hot chocolate before the concert.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Holiday reception at 6 p.m. before the Dec. 5 evening performance

GRIFFIN CONCERT HALL, UCA Yout h ( under 1 8 ) $ 10 / C S U St u d e n t s N O CH A R G E / A d u l t s $2 0

photo by Kell Baldwin / www.kellbaldwin.com

w w w. C S UA r t sT i c k e t s . c o m


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