MCTC Choirs present A Spring Choral Concert May 4

Minneapolis Community and Technical College will present a Spring Choral Concert featuring the MCTC Concert Choir and Vocal Ensemble Friday May 4 at 7:30 pm in the Whitney Fine Arts Theater, 1424 Yale Place, on the MCTC campus in downtown Minneapolis. The concert, directed by Dr. Elizabeth Pauly and accompanied by Christopher Wolter will include compositions and arrangements by Eric William Barnum, Nick Page and Rollo Dilworth.  Songs will be sung from all over the world, in languages ranging from Mandarin to French.  The choirs will be joined at this event by special guests Thomas Reimer, percussionist and Julie Johnson, flutist. A reception in the Fine Arts lobby will follow immediately after the concert. Light refreshments will be served.  Children are welcome.  Admission to this concert is free, but the choirs ask that you bring a non-perishable food donation that you may deposit in the marked bins outside the theater.  Food donations will go to the Hennepin County Emergency Food Network. 

MCTC Music Department Fine Arts Festival Events 2012

Collaborations Concert: April 18^th, Noon -2:00 T- Building, skyway by the coffee stand. A meeting of musicians at MCTC, students participating in the applied music program are invited to “play a song or two” with their peers and faculty members. MCTC instrumental students study a variety of instruments including; guitar, bass, voice, percussion, keyboards, accordion, woodwind and string instruments. The student musicians are joined by members of the music faculty and guests.

Open Concert and Master Guitar Class with guest artist Dean Magraw: Thursday April 19 Noon-1:30, Multi Purpose Room Helland Center. This is an unique opportunity for all at MCTC to hear a performance by renowned guitarist Dean Magraw and to experience how his insights inspire guitar students. Dean Magraw’s life as a guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer reveals an artist uniquely consistent in his ability to rise to the highest level of musical expression in a dazzling array of contexts.
Dean’s passion transcends all perceived musical boundaries, yet the vital essence of his distinctive style is ever present, whether he’s performing and recording as a solo artist, leading his own ensembles such as the experimental jam band Eight Head, or collaborating with such notables as Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, South Indian vocalist and vina virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker, epic songstress and storyteller Ruth MacKenzie, Irish supergroup Altan, radio and film celebrity Garrison Keillor, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, and countless others.

Ensemble Concert, Monday April 23 at 7:30 PM Whitney Fine Arts Theater. From “classical” to modern form and many styles in between, the various will take you on “a musical survey”. The groups include chamber music and the jazz ensembles. Musical direction and context is provided by the vestal Yolanda Williams. 

Music Student Recital: Thursday April 26 at noon, Whitney Fine Arts Theater. This event showcases the musical talents of MCTC students participating in the applied music program.

Music Faculty Recital: May 1, 7:30 PM Whitney Fine Arts Theater. Featuring the diverse knowledge and skills of the MCTC Music faculty and joined by special guest artists. This event presents a sampling of the vast skills and styling of the creative faculty members.

Spring Choir Concert, May 4 at 7:30, Whitney Fine Arts Theater. Showcasing the MCTC College Choir and Vocal Ensemble, the concert, directed by Dr. Elizabeth Pauly and accompanied by Christopher Wolter will include compositions and arrangements by Eric William Barnum, Nick Page and Rollo Dilworth.  Songs will be sung from all over the world, in languages ranging from Mandarin to French.  The choirs will be joined at this event by special guests Thomas Reimer, percussionist and Julie Johnson, flutist.

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Yale Women's Slavic Chorus in Twin Cities

The Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus brings the Slavic women’s vocal tradition to Minnesota on their
2012 spring tour. Traveling from Yale University, the Chorus joins musicians around the Twin
Cities to celebrate the state’s vibrant Slavic heritage.
Since 1969, the student-directed chorus has showcased the Eastern European women’s vocal
tradition, from the village folksong to the choral masterwork. The Slavic Chorus strives to maintain
the distinctive vocal techniques, striking rhythms, and surprising harmonies that make Slavic folk
music unique and exciting for listeners.
The Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus has performed on the concert stage across the country, and trains
with masters of traditional vocal technique in the United States and abroad. In recent years, the
group traveled to Croatia and performed in the Igra Kolo Folk Festival, and to Bulgaria, where they
studied vocal technique under master-singer Kremena Stancheva of the Bulgarian State Female
Vocal Choir.
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Tour Schedule
Monday, March 12 – Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus with Brass Messengers
7:00
The Ritz Theater
345 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis
Tickets: $12, preorder at www.ritzdolls.com
Touring from Yale University, the Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus joins local favorites the
Brass Messengers for a raucous celebration of everything Balkan. From Klezmer dance
music to Bulgarian love songs, these groups join forces to showcase the evolving tradition of
Eastern European folk music.
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Tuesday, March 13 – Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus
7:00 pm
St. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church
515 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Admission: Free
Touring from Yale University, the Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus sings songs from across
Eastern Europe. Presenting haunting songs of longing and joyful dances of youth, the Slavic
Chorus celebrates the vibrant Slavic vocal tradition.
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Thursday, March 15 – Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus and Orkestar Bez Ime
7:30 pm
Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar
308 Prince St. Saint Paul, MN 55101
Admission: Free
Touring from Yale University, the Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus joins local favorites
Orkestar Bez Ime for a celebration of everything Balkan. From Klezmer dance music to
Bulgarian love songs, these groups join forces to showcase the evolving tradition of Eastern
European folk music.
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Saturday, March 17 – Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus and Minnetonka Chamber Choir
2:00 pm
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, MacMillan Auditorium
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
Admission: Free
Touring from Yale University, the Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus joins the Minnetonka
Chamber Choir to showcase Western and Eastern European traditions of women’s singing.
These choirs join forces to present an afternoon of musical exploration, from haunting
folksongs and joyful dances to great classical works for women’s voices.
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Saturday, March 17 – Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus
7:00
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Archangel Michael Hall
956 Forest Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55106
Tickets: $10 general/$5 students and children

Touring from Yale University, the Yale Women’s Slavic Chorus sings songs from across
Eastern Europe. The Slavic Chorus celebrates the vibrant Slavic vocal tradition, from
haunting songs of longing to joyful dances of youth.

Normandale Community College Presents Concert Choir and Vocal Ensemble Concert

The Normandale Concert Choir and Vocal Ensemble will be presenting a concert of madrigals and more! Featuring works by Morley, Farmer, P.D. Q. Bach and Eric Whitacre.

Wednesday February 29th at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is free - performance in the Lorenz Auditorium on the Normandale Community College Campus.

Lunchbreak Choir Member Craig Hergert's Essay on the Beatles

The Minneapolis Star Tribune just published MCTC Faculty member (and Lunchbreak Choir member)'s terrific essay on the 48th anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is a great article, despite the fact that we now have it in writing that your choir director did not really know it all at the age of five. Check it out at: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/138965084.html

Winter Blues? How about a little singing to take them away?

Join MCTC music faculty members Liz Pauly and Sarah Greer along with the MCTC Choirs for a session designed to help chase away the winter blues. By the time you leave this session you will have learned several fun songs made to be sung in community, participated in group improvisations, and learned some breathing, posture and stretching exercises to help calm and relax your winter-weary body.

Singing for Stress Relief

Time: 10:30-11:45

Location: F2700

Date: February 23, 2012 - Student Success Day

This event is presented as part of Student Success Day on the Minneapolis Community and Technical College campus. 

Great Concert at First Unitarian March 11

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis will be presenting a fabulous concert on March 11. Some of our former MCTC choir members will be participating in this event as well. Check it out!!!

Carlson School of Management Flash Mob, Deck the Halls

Mark Fideldy plays "A Mighty Fortress"

Another organ performance by MCTC Choir bass Mark Fideldy.

Mark Fideldy on YouTube

Great organ performance by MCTC Choir bass Mark Fideldy.

Eric Ericson conduz "The Real Group"

A match made in heaven.

Let Music Fill the Air!

This is the opening piece of the Minnesota Chorale's Bridges concert, performed this past November at the SPCO.

MCTC Choirs present An Early Winter Concert Dec 9

Minneapolis Community and Technical College will present an Early Winter Concert featuring the MCTC Concert Choir and Vocal Ensemble Friday December 9 at 7:30 pm in the Whitney Fine Arts Theater, 1424 Yale Place, on the MCTC campus in downtown Minneapolis. The concert, directed by Dr. Elizabeth Pauly and accompanied by Christopher Wolter will feature the choirs’ characteristic blend of European art music with folk and traditional music from across the globe.  Pieces include compositions and arrangements by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, Monte Mason, Harry Belafonte, and Giovanni Croce among others.  The choirs will be joined by guest artists percussionist Thomas Reimer and flautist Donna Hryniewicki.  A reception in the Fine Arts lobby will follow immediately after the concert. Light refreshments will be served.  Children are welcome.  Admission to this concert is free, but the choirs ask that you bring a non-perishable food donation that you may deposit in the marked bins outside the theater.  Food donations will go to the Hennepin County Emergency Food Network. 

Minnesota Chorale presents InChoir: Messiah Sing-a-Long

MESSIAH SING-A-LONG

Minnesota Chorale and soloists, 

Kathy Saltzman Romey, director

Lynn Trapp, organist

Sunday, December 4, 2011, 6:30-8:00PM

St. Olaf Catholic Church

215 S 8^th Street, downtown Mpls.

(free parking in the Energy Ramp at 3^rd Ave & 4^th St)

In this citywide event, everyone is invited to fill the air with the sounds of George Frideric Handel’s most famous creation, the much loved oratorio, Messiah.  Bring your own score or borrow one here. Come to sing-a-long with members of the Minnesota Chorale or just come to listen

Freewill offering taken. Reception follows.

Bernice Johnson Reagon on the Power of Collective Singing

Bernice Johnson Reagon, founding member of Sweet Honey in the Rock was interviewed on MPR's midmorninging today. She is a wonderful singer, scholar and teacher and has influenced many of us. This is an interview well worth your time.

Minnesota Chorale Presents Bridges: Join the Dance!

Breaking News - This just in! Would you like a discount on your tickets? Here's how: Go to https://mnchorale.secure.force.com/ticket Choose the date you wish to attend. Once the next window opens up, enter the number of tickets you want at the adult rate (full price). The next window that appears has a field for discount codes; enter the word singer. This will reduce the adult price from $20 (+$2 handling) to $15 per ticket. Join the Dance!, this year's Bridges program, focuses on Minnesotans with physical disabilities. Clients of the Courage Center--Minnesota's largest provider of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities--will be paired with Chorale singers in the creation and performance of choreographed works, set to music sung by the Chorale. Under the direction of Chorale artistic director Kathy Saltzman Romey, these sure-to-be memorable performances will feature the premiere of a new work by composer Mary Ellen Childs, commissioned for this program. Dancers from the Dance Exchange of Takoma Park, Md., will lead singers and dancers in the creation of these works, using the Dance Exchange’s nationally acclaimed methods in developing community-based art. Founded in 1976 by choreographer Liz Lerman, the Dance Exchange has extended the frontiers of dance, specializing in community residencies that explore significant social and personal issues through dance. About the Bridges Program The Chorale's Bridges series, begun in 1994 to build musical and social bridges to diverse populations, has been acclaimed as a national model for choral outreach programs. Bridges is a series of musical initiatives that harness the richness and diversity of the global choral repertoire to engage cultural communities and raise awareness of pressing social needs. Each year, the Chorale identifies key program collaborators, whether a community, an organization, an artist, or some combination of these. It then identifies appropriate occasions and venues, locates or commissions suitable repertoire, and tailors a range of outreach, education, and performance activities to accomplish the goals of the program. The cumulative results of more than a decade of Bridges programs include a widening of the audience for choral music in the Twin Cities and a web of organizational and individual connections centered on music but reaching far beyond it. Two public performances are scheduled: Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Music Room, SPCO Center Hamm Building, Third Floor 408 St. Peter Street St. Paul, MN 55102 Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4:00 p.m. St. Richard's Catholic Church 7540 Penn Ave. S. Richfield, MN 55423 Tickets are $20 ($15 for seniors, students, and VSA) and may be purchased online or by calling the Chorale at 612.455.2100. This will be a lovely program - the music is just great - Mary Ellen Child's piece is delightful, and we'll be singing a wonderful piece by Jocelyn Hagen called "On My Dreams" that your director hopes to program for Vocal Ensemble in the not too distant future. Other pieces include Bob Chilcott's arrangement of U2's MLK and Frank Ticheli's Earth Song. I really encourage as many of you to come as possible - it will be a really wonderful experience.

Minhua Chorus 20th Anniversary Concert

This looks like a fun and interesting concert.

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis Presents: Requiem by Bob Chilcott

Date: Sunday October 30th, 2011

Time: 10:30 A.M.

Place: First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis 

900 Mount Curve Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55403

What: The FUS Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Sterling, music director Barbara Brooks; Soloists: MCTC Faculty member Debra Gilroy is the soprano soloist, Donald Barbee is the tenor soloist.

Why you want to be there: The music will be stunning, and several of your MCTC choir colleagues will be performing in this event.

LET'S DO THE TIMEWARP AGAIN!!!

You've heard rumors, you've held your breath, you've tried to stop thinking about it because it would just be too great if it were really true, and too sad if it weren't, but yes... yes... yes - The MCTC Theatre Department will be producing The Rocky Horror Picture Show early this winter!!!

Veteran director Justin Kirkeberg (Artistic director and founder of Candid Theater) is excited to be working on this project, and is looking for singers (he notes that it wouldn't hurt if you can dance a bit, and hey, who can't do the Timewarp?)

Auditions are coming soon - here are the details:


Auditions
All auditions will be held in the MCTC Whitney Fine Arts Theater, 1424 Yale Place
Wednesday November 16th 7-9PM
Thursday November 17th 7-10PM
Friday November 18th 4-6 PM
Saturday November 19th 12-1 PM

Callbacks:
Saturday November 19th 1-4 PM

If you are audition for a choral part only please audition on Thursday
the 17th from 7-10 or Saturday the 19th from 12-1

Please come prepared to sing a contemporary rock/pop song acapella and
dress for movement.

Rehearsals:
December 19th- Feb 7th
Monday-Thursday 6-10 PM (some Fridays as needed)
Saturday 12-5PM
Rehearsal schedules will be determined by demands of role offered

Performances
Feb 8-10th at 7PM
1 & 7 PM on the 11th


This is an opportunity not to be missed! And for a little inspiration, here's a clip from the 1975 film:

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

This video of Jobs' commencement address to Stanford University graduates in 2005 is, to me, moving and inspiring.