Updates and reflections from Wesleyan's Center for the Arts in Middletown, Connecticut
On Monday, December 4, 2017 an evening of great gospel music featured the Wesleyan University Ebony Singers conducted by Marichal Monts ’85 at the Crowell Concert Hall.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Sunday, November 19, 2017 the Wesleyan Concert Choir, under direction of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Nadya Potemkina, presented a concert featuring both a cappella and accompanied selections from classical and modern choral repertoire.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Crowell Concert Hall, members of Roomful of Teeth led a short workshop on belting that included the technique (what it is and what it’s not) and how to do it healthily. They also led participants in some belting exercises, including supportive feedback and coaching.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Crowell Concert Hall, the GRAMMY Award-winning vocal project Roomful of Teeth performed “Dumas’ Riposte” by Toby Twining MA ’06, Caroline Shaw’s “Partita for Eight Voices,” William Brittelle’s “High Done No Why To,” Judd Greenstein’s “Run Away,” Caleb Burhans’ “Beneath,” and Merrill Garbus’ “Quizassa” with the Wesleyan Concert Choir.
The group is dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. Through study with masters from vocal traditions the world over, the eight-voice ensemble has continually expanded its vocabulary of singing techniques. Since 2009, the group has forged a new repertoire without borders, collaborating with Rinde Eckert, Glenn Kotche, and the Silk Road Ensemble, among other artists.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Friday, October 13, 2017 at the Crowell Concert Hall, a post-concert conversation with jazz singer Somi, moderated by Visiting Assistant Professor of Performance Studies Katie Brewer Ball took place. Somi is highly regarded as both a scholar and artist. She discussed her work in Performance Studies, her Dreaming Zenzile piece, and The Lagos Music Salon project.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the Russell House, Brooklyn’s Ashcan Orchestra, the voice of composer/tinkerer/packrat P. Spadine, a revolving performance ensemble, made their Connecticut debut with a collection of works for handbells, water glasses, musical saw, slide whistle organ, automated carillon, violin, toy piano, harp, percussion, and voice. Interspersed with the ensemble pieces was a set of interludes for solo performer, presented together for the first time. Among the interludes was the world premiere of ‘atlas did not blink, and felt a whole’ for grand harp.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Saturday, September 30, 2017 as part of the 41st annual Navaratri Festival at Wesleyan, Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan and his sister Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi performed as a violin duo, blending tradition and innovation, and mesmerize the audience, bringing each raga—a pattern of notes used as a basis for improvisation in Indian music—to life. The siblings share an extraordinary coordination and almost telepathic understanding. The duo was accompanied by Sangita Kalanidhi Trichy Sankaran on mridangam and Shri Tripoonithura Radhakrishnan on ghatam.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Saturday, September 9, 2017 A family-friendly celebration of Middletown’s Main Street and the new Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, the Main Street Stroll featured music, street performers, specialty workshops, free admission at Kidcity Children’s Museum, and much more.
Inspired by Fete de la Musique (also known as World Music Day), the sixth annual The MASH festival highlights Wesleyan’s student music scene, with multiple stages on campus featuring everything from a cappella ensembles to student, faculty, and alumni bands.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Sunday, April 9, 2017 the Wesleyan Music Department hosted the annual meeting of the Connecticut Percussive Arts Society, featuring an exploration of the world of percussion with Wesleyan ensembles including the West African Drumming Ensemble, Taiko Drumming Ensemble, Korean Drumming Ensemble, and WesWinds, as well as several visiting ensembles from other Connecticut colleges and universities, including Sacred Heart University, Western Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, University of Connecticut, and Bedford Middle School. This Day of Percussion was part of the 16th annual Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra Weekend.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
On Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Wesleyan University Crowell Concert Hall, acclaimed percussionist and composer Eli Fountain presented an evening of music alongside a formidable cast of fellow jazz musicians including Warren Smith, Professor of Music Jay Hoggard, Bryan Carrott, Bobby Sanabria, Reggie Nicholson, Lyndon Achee, and Patience Higgins, as part of the 16th annual Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra Weekend.
Photos by Sandy Aldieri of Perceptions Photography. Click here to view the full album on Flickr.
