A&E Arts Briefs 10/14

Mary Racette

High schoolers attend GVSU Brass Clinic

High school brass musicians were offered free advice and guidance from faculty and students at the GVSU Brass Clinic. The clinic took place in the Haas Center for Performing Arts on campus. 

After registration in the Louis Armstrong Theater, the clinic opened with a performance by GVSU’s Wind Symphony. Following the concert, students were separated into groups based off their instrument for a masterclass from a GVSU professor.  High school students were also given tips on experiencing and handling performance anxiety. To end the day, the Faculty Brass Quintet performed a concert at 5 p.m. 

Meet Anna and Elsa in Frozen Jr. 

Experience the thrill of Anna and Elsa’s adventures through Arendelle and newfound bond of sisterhood in the Civic Theater School of Civic Arts’ performance of Frozen Jr. Opening night is Oct. 18 and the show runs until Oct. 27. The theater is located downtown Grand Rapids. 

Elsa, played by Alexa Wollney, and Anna played by Mia Brown, star in the Grand Rapids Civic Theater’s adaptation of the popular 2013 Disney film. The show is open to all ages, especially children because it covers themes of acceptance, love and friendship. 

Faculty conducted Wind symphony concert

Students, staff and members of the public gathered at the Haas Center for Performing Arts for GVSU’s Wind Symphony matinee performance Sunday, Oct.13. At 2 p.m., Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts led the undergraduate-only wind ensemble onto the stage as they began their first performance of the semester.  

Soloists were featured, giving undergrads the opportunity to expand the key experiences which will help them in their career. The performance opened with John Mackey’s “Aurora Awaits”, followed by William Schuman’s “George Washington Bridge” and Elliot del Borgo’s “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”. The performance will wrap up around 3:30 p.m., concluding with the performances of “The Dream of Oenghus” composed by Rolf Rudin and “Prelude and Folk Dances” by Dmitri Shostakovich 

Guest Clarinetist performs on campus

Monday, Oct. 14., Professors Sookkyung Chon and Pablo Mahave-Veglia welcome guest performer Ron Samuels to GVSU’s campus at the Haas Center for Performing Arts. Samuels is a clarinetist from the Pittsburgh Symphony. The concert will begin at 7 p.m.

Samuels has been working with music education and performance for over thirty years. He is currently a member of Duquesne University’s faculty and often works as a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and Interlochen Arts Academy.