Chamber Music and Flute Studio Recital Wed. April 25th
DURANT, Okla. – The SE Department of Music presents the Spring 2012 Chamber Music Class and Flute Studio Recital. Featured chamber groups include the SE Brass Quartet, the SE Flutes, a flute trio, a flute quartet, a flute and clarinet duo, and solo flutists. Featured works include music by Faure, Telemann, Mozart, Vivaldi, Duke Ellington, Henry Purcell, Muczynski and more. The recital will be held in the SE Fine Arts Recital Hall on Wednesday, April 25th at 7:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
Musical Arts Series presents Rose Ensemble April 23
DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s Musical Arts Series will present The Rose Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
This will be the final performance of the season for the Musical Arts Series.
Founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Jordan Sramek, The Rose Ensemble revives the ancient with vocal music that stirs the emotions, challenges the mind and lifts the spirit.
The Saint Paul, Minn., group tours internationally with a repertoire spanning 1,000 years and 25 languages, including new research into Middle Eastern, European and American vocal traditions.
The Ensemble received the Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence in 2005 and was the first-prize winner at the 2007 Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain (part of the European Choral Grand Prix).
The Ensemble has released nine recordings.
“There will be a special reception and presentation honoring our sponsors and donors for this season at 7 p.m. in Fine Arts Room 116,” said Dr. Jeri Walker, Donna Massey Professor in Music Education.
“We will go from the reception to our final concert of the season. Please join us in thanking the Mid-America Arts Alliance, Southeastern, Oklahoma Arts Council, Red River Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Steger Piano Institute, Donna Massey Music Education Support Fund, Cherokee Telephone and local friends and donors.”
Arts and Sciences presents BrainStorm Research Week April 16-21
DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s School of Arts and Sciences will present the second-annual “BrainStorm Research Week’’ Monday-Saturday, April 16-21.
The event is designed to highlight outstanding achievement in student and faculty research throughout the School of Arts and Sciences.
Numerous sessions, ranging from performances of Theatre at Southeastern and the Department of Music, to special lectures and research poster presentations, will be offered throughout he week.
Special guest artists in residence during portions of the week include internationally-renowned choral conductor Craig Hella Johnson and prolific, award-winning composers Carter Pann and Joel Puckett.
One of the week’s highlights will be Friday’s 11 a.m. “2012 National Elections – Roundtable’’ discussion, led by Dr. Alistair Maeer, professor Bruce Johnson, Dr. Richard Pearlstein and Dr. Shannon McCraw. This event will be in the auditorium (room 213) of the Glen D. Johnson Student Union.
“BrainStorm” will feature 17 lecture presenters and 57 poster presenters. Subjects will include free speech, designing a Homeland Security curriculum in American higher education, hazardous material training, photojournalism, graphic design, news media contributions to political attitudes, theatre, communication, problem solving with creative thinking, occupational safety and health, small businesses, and faith in film.
For a complete listing of times, dates and locations, please go to http://homepages.se.edu/brainstorm/
Southeastern Chorale to present Concert
The Southeastern Chorale, under the direction of Stacy Weger, will be featured in concert on April 17th, 2012 at 7:30 PM in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. The concert titled “The Road Home”, features music from the American church experience. This music will range from Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony tunes to gospel and spirituals. Many familiar tunes such as Amazing Grace and Precious Lord, Take My Hand will be heard. Additional music from now more distant sources will be included, such as music from the Shaker sect. The Chorale is exploring this distinctly American music in preparation for their inaugural tour to Europe later this year.
Admission is free and open to the public. For more information please contact the Department of Music at 580-745-2088.
Southeastern Symphonic Winds to present Go Blue! on April 19
DURANT, Okla. – The Southeastern Symphonic Winds – Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s premier instrumental ensemble – concludes its 2011-2012 concert season with a performance of “Go Blue!” on Thursday, April 19 in Montgomery Auditorium. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
The program features music written in the past five years by composers affiliated with the University of Michigan. The concert will feature two composers-in-residence at Southeastern, working with students on performances of their pieces: Carter Pann, who is on the faculty of the University of Colorado; and Joel Puckett, who is on the faculty at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. Both of these composers received their doctoral degrees in composition from the University of Michigan.
These are two fascinating and extremely successful composers in the art music world,” said Southeastern’s Director of Bands, Dr. Jacob Wallace. “Despite studying at the same school with many of the same teachers, their music sounds remarkably distinct. Dr. Pann’s music is exceptionally colorful and virtuosic, while Dr. Puckett creates works that have a unique atmospheric quality. They’re two of the people who are going to shape the world of classical music for the next several decades.”
Each of the composers will have two of their works for wind band performed on the program.
Also featured will be Southeastern’s instructor of flute, Julee Kim Walker. She will perform on Dr. Puckett’s flute concerto, titled “The Shadow of Sirius.”
“The piece is atmospheric and extremely musically challenging for the soloist,” said Wallace. “Ms. Walker is an absolutely dynamite player, and she is going to perform beautifully on the concerto.”
Opening the concert will be Michael Daugherty’s brass fanfare “Asclepius.” Daugherty is currently on the faculty of the University of Michigan.
This program is a part of the School of Arts and Sciences BrainStorm Week, and is made possible through the generous support of Southeastern’s Cultural Scholarship and Lectureship Fund.
The Southeastern Symphonic Winds is a performing ensemble consisting of Southeastern students and is open to qualified students in all disciplines pending competitive audition. For more information, please contact the Department of Music at 580-745-2088 or Dr. Wallace at 580-745-2084.
Craig Hella Johnson to be featured in concert
DURANT, Okla. – Grammy nominated conductor Craig Hella Johnson returns to Southeastern Oklahoma State University this month as guest artist for BrainsStorm, the research presentation week held by the School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Johnson has previously visited the campus to create a collage concert for the Southeastern Chorale, and in residency with his choir Conspirare. Craig appears this time to conduct workshops with music and theatre students, and to present a concert including these performers. The concert, titled “Music and Words – A Soul’s Conversation” will be presented on Monday, April 16th, at 7:30 PM in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Craig will lead the concert from the piano which will include readings, choral works, soloists, and audience participation. Tickets are free to this event but must be picked up in advance from the music office, Fine Arts Building 120. Seating is limited.
Renowned as one of the most influential voices in choral conducting in the United States, Craig Hella Johnson brings a depth of knowledge, artistic sensitivity and imagination to his programs. Founder and Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-Nominated choral ensemble Conspirare, Johnson has assembled some of the finest singers in the country to create a world class, award-winning ensemble committed to creating dynamic choral art. In addition to his work with Conspirare, Johnson also serves as Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival, an annual event that draws musicians and critical praise from around the country.
Johnson was Artistic Director of San Francisco-based Chanticleer from 1998-1999 and has served as guest conductor with several ensembles including the Taipei Male Choir, the Berkshire Choral Festival, the Austin Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque. Johnson has been honored with several awards including the 2011 Citation of Merit from international professional music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon and the 2009 Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal, an award given by Chorus America. Johnson was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame in 2008.
A composer and arranger, Johnson works with G. Schirmer Publishing on the Craig Hella Johnson Choral Series. His works are also published by Alliance Music Publications.
A native of Minnesota, Johnson studied at St. Olaf College, the Juilliard School, and the University of Illinois and earned his doctorate at Yale University. As the recipient of a National Arts Fellowship, Johnson studied with Helmuth Rilling at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany.
For more information, contact the Southeastern Oklahoma State Department of Music at 745-2088.