NDSU Opera presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience
February 1, 2019
Fargo, N.D. – NDSU Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera Patience Friday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. Patience is a pointed satire of the aesthetic movement, which flourished in mid-19th century England and the United States. “Art for Art’s Sake” was its followers’ motto. More than 135 years since its premiere, today’s audience will still relate to this brilliant parody of art and the meaning of love.
In this operetta, all the upper-class young ladies in the village rapturously caught up in aestheticism, have conceived an affection for two aesthetic poets — a “fleshly” poet and an “idyllic” poet. But the poets are both in love with Patience, the simple village milkmaid, who cares nothing for poetry or art. Patience learns from the ladies that true love must be completely unselfish–it must “wither and sting and burn!” The girls’ Dragoon Guard ex-boyfriends don’t see the point to aesthetics, but they are willing to attempt their own “transfiguration” into devoted followers to win them back.
The production is performed entirely by NDSU students. Many of the performers have recently received awards at regional events, including the Metropolitan Opera Council National Auditions, the 2019 MTNA competition, as well as the Minnesota and the North Dakota chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. The costumes are designed by NDSU student Alyish Hilkert, a Senior in Apparel Studies with Theatre Arts, under the supervision of Professor Rooth Varland.
The orchestra will be conducted by Professor Michael Weber, the staging is directed by guest director Frederic Heringes, and the event is produced by Professor Mariane Lemieux-Wottrich. Weber, Heringes, and Lemieux are collaborating on the NDSU opera production for the second consecutive year. Together, they presented last year the “Opera Wars”, featuring Mozart’s The Impresario and Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges. They are excited to bring Patience to our community this year, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s less performed work, a comical masterpiece worth discovering.
Both performances are at Festival Concert Hall located in NDSU’s Reineke Fine Arts Center, 12th Avenue North and Bolley Drive.
NDSU Baroque Festival at Peace Lutheran Church on Jan. 19, 20
January 14, 2019
Fargo, N.D. – The NDSU Challey School of Music presents Baroque Festival 2019 on Jan.19-20 with two concerts at Peace Lutheran Church, 1011 12th Avenue North in Fargo.
On Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., student musicians and soloists will perform works by Bach, Handel, Telemann, and Pergolesi. Admission to the student concert is free and open to the public.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m. with a faculty chamber concert, which includes the Baroque Festival Orchestra and Choir. Featured works include the double horn concerto by Christoph Graupner (Kayla Nelson and Erik Vigesaa), French lute songs by Annett Richter and guest artist Holly Janz, and Bach Cantata no. 51 performed by Mariane Lemieux, soprano and Jeremy Brekke, trumpet.
Tickets for the Sunday concert are available at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for seniors/students, and free for NDSU students with I.D.
NDSU Professor Inducted into the Titan Hall of Fame
December 5, 2018
Fargo, N.D. – NDSU Challey School of Music is pleased to announce Professor of Low Brass, Dr. Kyle D. Mack, will be inducted into the Dickinson Trinity High School “Titan Hall of Fame” on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018.
Mack’s first full-time teaching position brought him to Trinity High School in 1981-1983. He served as the Instrumental Music Director for grades 5-12 and founded the jazz program during that time. Mack also worked as the school’s tennis coach.
His parents, the late Howard L. Mack, and Eileen A. Mack (married to James Rouse), both grew up in the Dickinson area and were educators as well; both graduating from Dickinson State University.
Mack has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bismarck St. Mary’s Central High School where he attended high school from 1974-1977. Mack received his undergraduate degree in instrumental and vocal music from Dickinson State University in 1981; he later was inducted as a “Distinguished Alumni Fellow” in 2009. Earlier in 2018, Mack received the National Band Association (NBA) ND Outstanding Jazz Educator Award and became a member of the NDSU Quarter Century Club for his 25 years of service. He lives in south Fargo with his wife Sam, daughter Lauryn, and Baron von FitzWalter (a.k.a. Walter the cat).
Challey School of Music students win three awards at student auditions
November 30, 2018
Fargo, N.D. North Dakota State University students from the Challey School of Music, recently competed and placed in the Minnesota National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition held at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Twenty-six music majors attended the prestigious student audition competition, of the twenty-six, eight were awarded as semi-finalists, and three as finalists in their division. Student awards included two first place, and one third place awards. Four NDSU student pianists accompanied the auditions including Caleb Lawson, Hong Liang Andre Ng, Hannah Swanson, and Xiang Wei.
The mission of NATS is to “encourage the highest standards of the vocal art and of ethical principles in the teaching of singing; and to promote vocal education and research at all levels, both for the enrichment of the general public and for the professional advancement of the talented”.
Voice professors Dr. Mariane Lemieux and Dr. Robert Jones accompanied the students for the competition. Dr. Lemieux commented on the experience, “This kind of events brings the best out of our students. They prepare through our weekly performance class which gives them confidence when they perform in a competitive setting. Every singer gets comments from the judges which helps them to identify their strengths and weaknesses and helps them improve. The auditions are public so they also learn a tremendous amount by listening to all the talented singers from Minnesota colleges. It was very rewarding and affirming for all of us to have so many students advance and win awards.”
Additionally, many of the semi-finalists have lead roles in NDSU’s upcoming production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera Patience. It will be presented in Festival Concert Hall on February 15 and 17, 2019.
Below is a Q&A with two of our winners, Elijah O’Sullivan, tenor, junior in music education, and Tessa Hartl, soprano, senior in vocal performance.
Why was it a positive experience?
EO: NATS was a positive experience because it brings out a healthy desire to perform at a high level against other talented singers.
TH: Any opportunity to learn about how to improve my voice is a positive experience; placing is only a bonus.
What did you enjoy the most?
EO: I most enjoyed that some of my family was able to come and see me perform, fargo is too long of a trip for my great grandmother, and St. John’s is just right for her.
TH: I enjoyed performing the most, a true albeit predictable answer. I feel most at home on stage, and as an introvert, connecting with an audience through music is how I feel I best communicate with other people (talk to me off-stage, and you’ll quickly discover my verbal incontinence). I happen to have a stellar teammate, pianist extraordinaire Hannah Swanson, and she always makes performing a delight.
What was the greatest challenge?
EO: I think the greatest challenge that I face and I think others do is to not let the outcome or result of NATS define your talent as a musician, some of the greatest musicians I know have never placed at this competition.
TH:The greatest challenge was remembering to breathe, despite my stage fright trying to suffocate me. I learned that breathing becomes a voluntary function in the face of stage fright.
What did you learn?
EO: I learned, as I usually do every year, is that I’ll always have something that I can improve upon, regardless of outcome, but I am very grateful and honored to have received 1st place honors. Go Bison 🤟
TH: Honestly, I learned that I’d been working too hard when I sing, and that I can relax and trust that my voice will grow to be powerful in time.Below lists the full details of the awarded recipients,
Semi-Finalists: Lauren Craig
Erin Ehlis
Jacee Engels
Tessa Hartl – 1st place
Elijah O’Sullivan – 1st place
Brady Ritland
Angela Spidahl
Tyrie Williams – 3rd place
NDSU Challey School of Music presents holiday events: Madrigal Dinners and Handel’s Messiah
November 26, 2018
Fargo, N.D. The North Dakota State University Challey School of Music presents its popular series of Madrigal Dinners with performances on Dec. 6-8, and a special holiday concert of Handel’s Messiah on November 30 and Dec. 1.
The Madrigal Dinners provide a rollicking atmosphere of Renaissance dining and entertainment, with holiday music by the Madrigal Singers and NDSU Brass Quintet ensembles. Hosted in the Challey Atrium of the NDSU Reineke Fine Arts Center, the dinner consists of several courses with a main entrée of beef, chicken or vegetarian fare. Following the meal, the Madrigal Singers will present a short concert of Christmas carols and music of the season.
The dinners are offered Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 6-8, beginning at 6 p.m. and the performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $43 for both dinner and show. Contact the NDSU Box Office at (701) 231-7969 for reservations, or reserve online at ndsu.showare.com.
Conducted by Dr. Jo Ann Miller, more than 150 students in five choirs and the Baroque Festival Orchestra will present Handel’s Messiah, on Friday, November 30 and Saturday Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church located at 619 Broadway N. A holiday tradition throughout the world, Messiah combines Old and New Testament texts in one of the most memorable works of Western music, including the iconic Hallelujah Chorus.Tickets for the Messiah concert are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students and are available through the NDSU Box Office at (701) 231-7969 or online at ndsu.showare.com. Performance Location: Askanase Theatre is located in Askanase Hall, at the corner of 12th Avenue North and Albrecht Blvd.
Theatre NDSU presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream
October 19, 2018
Fargo, N.D. Theatre NDSU, the production company at North Dakota State University, presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare, on November 29 – December 1st, and December 5th-8th. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Askanase Auditorium in Askanase Hall.
It’s the heart of the 1980’s and it’s time to dance—at Athens High School’s senior prom, that is. Put on your leg warmers and sweatbands as Shakespeare’s beloved comedy takes a page from classic 80’s teen movies. This production is sure to be a wild, whimsical romp through the world of teased bangs for every generation.
Tickets for the show are $8 for students/children, $12 for seniors and $15 for adults. Tickets are available through the NDSU Box Office at (701) 231-7969 or online at ndsu.showare.comPerformance Location: Askanase Theatre is located in Askanase Hall, at the corner of 12th Avenue North and Albrecht Blvd.
Relevance Choral Symposium
September 11, 2018
Fargo, N.D. The NDSU Challey School of Music is presenting its third biennial choral symposium to be held October 12 & 13 of 2018. The theme for this symposium will be Relevance: Creating Community through the Choral Art and the symposium will be focusing on how choral music can enhance and strengthen a community – the community within the choir; within our local community; throughout the region and the country. Presentations from academics and choral musicians around the country will describe projects, programs, concerts, collaborations, etc. that have been successful in advancing diversity, inclusion, peace, empathy and acceptance.
Choral musicians have a huge opportunity and responsibility to shape our communities with what we do – performing beautiful music with meaningful texts that engage our choirs and audiences and teach our singers to be empathetic and more aware of the universality of the human experience. It is time that we advocate for our choral art as a significant force for good in the world. We observe, in our choirs, that as we build community through the music we love and commit to performing well, students accept all who are working toward the same goal – transgendered, autistic, diverse ethnicities, LGBTQ, emotionally challenged – anyone who loves to sing.
To meet the goals of the symposium, the NDSU Challey School of Music choral faculty, Jo Ann Miller, Michael Weber and Charlette Moe, searched for a choral work that would embody the focus and intent of the symposium. Considering Matthew Shepard, by Craig Hella Johnson, is exactly the type of choral work that tells a story, educates the audience and inspires dialogue about a major social issue.
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Five days later, when Matt passed away, the world was watching. Approaching the eve of the 20th anniversary, Craig Hella Johnson has responded with his first concert-length work, Considering Matthew Shepard.
Led from the piano by Johnson, Considering Matthew Shepard showcases the award-winning artistry of Conspirare’s singers with a chamber ensemble of renowned instrumentalists. This three-part fusion oratorio speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles seamlessly woven into a unified whole. Johnson sets a wide range of poetic and soulful texts by poets including Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. Passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard, newspaper reports and additional texts by Johnson and Browne are poignantly appointed throughout the work.
Please join us for the concert and stay for the talk-back with the composer, Craig Hella Johnson. This is a great opportunity for all of us to come to a better understanding of this social issue and a better feeling of acceptance and love within our community.
Theatre NDSU presents Late, A Cowboy Song by Sarah Ruhl
September 11, 2018
Fargo, N.D. Theatre NDSU, the production company at North Dakota State University, presents “Late, A Cowboy Song” by Sarah Ruhl, on October 11-13th, and October 17-20th. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Walsh Studio Theatre in Askanase Hall.
Mary is in love with Crick. They might live happily ever after until Mary runs into her old high school friend Red, a lady cowboy who “always wore a money clip instead of wearing a purse”. Red exudes the air of freedom—something Mary didn’t even know she lacked, and is now desperate to find.
Tickets for the show are $8 for students/children, $12 for seniors and $15 for adults. Tickets are available through the NDSU Box Office at (701) 231-7969 or online at ndsu.showare.com
Performance Location: Walsh Studio Theatre is located in Askanase Hall, at the corner of 12th Avenue North and Albrecht Blvd.
Theatre NDSU announces 2018-19 season
August 15, 2018
Fargo, N.D. – Theatre NDSU, the student performance company at North Dakota State University, announces the following line-up of four exciting and memorable productions for its 2018-2019 season. Tickets are available at ndsu.showare.com or by calling the NDSU Performing Arts Box Office at 701-231-7969. Contact the Box Office for reduced rates available with the Season Flexpass, providing four tickets for use in any combination to the shows.
LATE, A COWBOY SONG by Sarah Ruhl
October 11-13 and 17-20 @ 7:30pm | Walsh Studio Theatre
Mary is in love with Crick. They might live happily ever after until Mary runs into her old high school friend Red, a lady cowboy who “always wore a money clip instead of wearing a purse”. Red exudes the air of freedom—something Mary didn’t even know she lacked, and is now desperate to find.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare
November 29 – December 1st / December 5 @ 10:00am / December 6-8 @ 7:30pm | Askanase Auditorium
It’s the heart of the 1980’s and it’s time to dance—at Athens High School’s senior prom, that it. Put on your leg warmers and sweatbands as Shakespeare’s beloved comedy takes a page from classic 80’s teen movies. This production is sure to be a wild, whimsical romp through the world of teased bangs for every generation.
LIMINAL: a (re-imagined) folktale Devised by Theatre NDSU
February 14-16 / 20-23 @ 7:30pm | Walsh Studio Theatre
The ensemble at Theatre NDSU is proud to devise a new play for our audiences. This visually engaging new work mixes multi-media, folksong, fairytale, dance, and theatre to inventively tell the story of LIMINAL: a (re-imagined) folktale.
TUCK EVERLASTING Book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle.
Music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen.
Based on the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
April 4@ 7:30pm / April 5 @ 10am & 7:30pm / April 6 @ 2pm | Festival Concert Hall
In this charming musical for the whole family “good girl Winnie Foster” dreams of a life filled with adventure. She gets more than she bargained for when she meets the Tucks, a family that stumbled upon a secret that brought them the gift of eternal life. Join Winnie as she fights to protect the Tucks from those who would do anything to live forever.
Theatre NDSU announces 2018-19 season
August 15, 2018
Fargo, N.D. – Theatre NDSU, the student performance company at North Dakota State University, announces the following line-up of four exciting and memorable productions for its 2018-2019 season. Tickets are available at ndsu.showare.com or by calling the NDSU Performing Arts Box Office at 701-231-7969. Contact the Box Office for reduced rates available with the Season Flexpass, providing four tickets for use in any combination to the shows.
LATE, A COWBOY SONG by Sarah Ruhl
October 11-13 and 17-20 @ 7:30pm | Walsh Studio Theatre
Mary is in love with Crick. They might live happily ever after until Mary runs into her old high school friend Red, a lady cowboy who “always wore a money clip instead of wearing a purse”. Red exudes the air of freedom—something Mary didn’t even know she lacked, and is now desperate to find.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM by William Shakespeare
November 29 – December 1st / December 5 @ 10:00am / December 6-8 @ 7:30pm | Askanase Auditorium
It’s the heart of the 1980’s and it’s time to dance—at Athens High School’s senior prom, that it. Put on your leg warmers and sweatbands as Shakespeare’s beloved comedy takes a page from classic 80’s teen movies. This production is sure to be a wild, whimsical romp through the world of teased bangs for every generation.
LIMINAL: a (re-imagined) folktale Devised by Theatre NDSU
February 14-16 / 20-23 @ 7:30pm | Walsh Studio Theatre
The ensemble at Theatre NDSU is proud to devise a new play for our audiences. This visually engaging new work mixes multi-media, folksong, fairytale, dance, and theatre to inventively tell the story of LIMINAL: a (re-imagined) folktale.
TUCK EVERLASTING Book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle.
Music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen.
Based on the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
April 4@ 7:30pm / April 5 @ 10am & 7:30pm / April 6 @ 2pm | Festival Concert Hall
In this charming musical for the whole family “good girl Winnie Foster” dreams of a life filled with adventure. She gets more than she bargained for when she meets the Tucks, a family that stumbled upon a secret that brought them the gift of eternal life. Join Winnie as she fights to protect the Tucks from those who would do anything to live forever.