Gallagher Bluedorn hosts Spectrum Project Spring Concert

LAUREN MCGUILL Staff Writer

Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center hosted the Spectrum Project spring concert last weekend on Sunday April 16 at 2 p.m. The Spectrum Project performance combined art, music, movement and drama for children with differing abilities from all over the Cedar Valley. The children ranged from ages 5 to 19, and the Spectrum Project’s staff included students from UNI, Allen College and Hawkeye Community College who work with the children.

Jamie Knox is a junior at UNI studying vocal music education and was one of the dance instructors for the project. Knox had been working with the Spectrum Project children all semester to choreograph and teach dances. This was Knox’s first time being a part of the project, and it was also the first in person performance since 2019 because of the COVID-19 virus. 2020’s performance was made into a movie called “Play! The Movie,” which is available on https://www.spectrumproject. org. and the 2021 and 2022 shows were held online. “Due to the past few years being online, not many of the students on campus have had the opportunity to see or help with it so I am very excited that we are bringing this back to in person!” said Knox.

Abby Wendland, a freshman studying instrumen - tal music education, at UNI also helped create this year’s Spectrum Project performance. Wendland is the music director who has been working with the children’s music portion of the show, and picked the music that each group would perform to.

With 2023’s show being in-person for the first time in four years, the performers,