GV faculty to participate in Arts at Noon

The Grand Valley State University Brass Quintet, comprised of four GVSU professors and a visiting performer from Forest Hills, Mich. will perform a short concert for the Arts at Noon series on Feb. 27 at the Cook-DeWitt Center. Alex Wilson teaches trumpet at GVSU, where he received his Bachelor’s degree. Richard Britsch, a French horn professor, has also held the title of Principal Horn of the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1990. Mark Williams served for 22 years in the United States Air Force Band Program before joining GVSU faculty for trombone in 2008. Paul Carlson is currently touring the country with Dallas Brass as well as being an assistant professor of tuba and euphonium.

Concert band to hold concert

The GVSU Concert Band will perform their first concert of the semester this week, including pieces by Richard Strauss, Leonard Bernstein and Frank Ticheli. The band will be joined by the GVSU Faculty Brass Quintet for one piece and music education student Zac Thompson will conduct a selection after the intermission. While the concert band is largely composed of music majors, many non-music majors participate to broaden their musical talent. The band aims to share historical music with its listeners and challenge its members through new music. Associate professor of music John Martin, who also directs the marching band, will conduct the concert band on Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre. The concert is free to attend.

Pianist Stephanie Wu to give masterclass

Professional pianist Stephanie Wu will perform a guest recital and masterclass open to all GVSU students on March 12. Wu began her piano education with her mother, later performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at 12. She has appeared as a soloist with more than eight orchestras and regularly collaborates with other musicians. With Bachelor and Master degrees in Piano Performance, Wu has taught at more than four schools, including Ohio University and The Juilliard School. She currently teaches at Geneva Conservatory of New York, where she has been for nine years. The masterclass and recital will take place in the Sherman Van Solkema Hall, with the masterclass at 9 a.m. and the recital at 7:30 p.m.

GV Language Department looking for student talent

The Modern Languages and Literatures Department is calling for interested students to perform poems and songs in a language of their choice for an International Water Celebration performance. Selected poems and songs should focus on water. Interested students should contact language professor Isabelle Cata at [email protected]. The deadline to register is Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. and can be done by emailing [email protected] with the selected language. The performance will take place April 3 at the Cook DeWitt Center at 6 p.m.