News and Events
The UW-Eau Claire Music & Theatre Arts Department presents more than one hundred concerts and recitals annually featuring large and small student ensembles, faculty ensembles, solo faculty recitals, student degree recitals, guest artist recitals; five mainstage plays; an active opera theatre ensemble; a one-act play festival; touring theatre; Danceworks, and several special events such as the nationally-recognized Jazz Festival and Viennese Ball.
Check here often for upcoming events on the Performing Arts Calendar; the Faculty and Department News page for an introduction to new faculty and other news; the Alumni News page for alumni highlights; and the latest Alumnotes newsletter. In addition, see more highlights below.
Upcoming Events
Master Class
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
4:00 p.m.
Phillips Recital Hall
Guest Artist Recital
John Savage, flute
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Phillips Recital Hall
All Events Free & Open to the Public
Sponsored by the UW-Eau Claire Academic Affairs Professional Development Program and the Department of Music & Theatre Arts.
Dance Master Class
Mon., Feb. 9, 2009
6:00-7:30 p.m.
McPhee 105 (Dance Studio)
UW-Eau Claire
Free and open to the public.
Artists Series Performance
Tues., Feb. 10, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Kjer Theatre
UW-Eau Claire
Contact the University Service Center 715.836.3727 for ticket information.
Hubbard Street 2 is a vibrant company of young dancers performing a repertoire full of excitement and high velocity. The second company of the ever-lively Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, HS2 performs fresh new works by some of the nation's most promising young choreographers.
Official Website: www.hubbardstreetdance.com/hs2_home.asp
Guest Artist Recital
Tenly Williams, oboe
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Phillips Recital Hall
Master Class
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
10:00 a.m.
Phillips Recital Hall
All Events Free & Open to the Public
Sponsored by the UW-Eau Claire Academic Affairs Professional Development Program and the Department of Music & Theatre Arts.
Tenly Williams is a member of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, principal oboist of the Steamboat Springs Orchestra, and founding member of the Mountain Music Ensemble. Her career has included positions with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony, as well as performances with the Austin Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras.
March 25-27, 2009
“I am indeed fortunate that my career takes me all over the country, which enables me to hear many wonderful ensembles. This allows me to distinguish which choral ensembles are truly the most outstanding. In 2007, while serving as Artist‑in‑Residence at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, I discovered such outstanding ensembles and I was astounded by the excellence of the choral department. In order to become a part of this established tradition, recently I have dedicated three of my works to The Singing Statesmen. So impressed with this template of excellence, I have collaborated with Gary R. Schwartzhoff, Director of Choral Activities, to produce a CD of my choral works. I’m honored that in the future this CD will feature the ensembles of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and that it will showcase my works. I’m confident this collaboration will proffer a benchmark of choral excellence for ensembles across the country to observe and aspire to emulate." James Mulholland
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band performed a halftime show during the Green Bay Packers season opener against the Minnesota Vikings Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
-
Jazz Ensemble I Performs Nationally
UW-Eau Claire's Jazz Ensemble I, directed by professor of music Robert Baca, was invited to perform at several national events.
-
Minneapolis KBEM Jazz Festival
-
International Midwest Band Directors Conference
-
New York Brass Conference
-
MENC National Conference
-
MENC Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota State Conference
-
Blugold Marching Band Performs for the Pope
The Blugold Marching Band entered St. Peter's Square
in Rome on New Year's Day. (Photo by Andrei Strizek '05)
The UW-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band, directed by associate professor of music Dr. Randal Dickerson, received a special invitation to perform for Pope Benedict XVI and an estimated crowd of 100,000 people during the pope's 2008 New Year's Day blessing in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
See the University News Bureau story on the trip to Italy.
-
Jazz Students Perform in China
Pictured, from left, are Bob Baca and students
Sean Carey, Ben Herpel-Dobay, Scott Currier,
John Raymond and Jeremy Boettcher.
(UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson)
Five University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire jazz students and Robert Baca, UW-Eau Claire director of jazz studies, performed in China in November as part of Jinan University's centenial celebration.
See the full University News Bureau story on the trip to China.
Outstanding Graduate
- David Columbus Billingsley , B.A. in music, liberal arts
(Photo by Rick Mickelson)
What's next: Working as dean of student affairs at the LoveWorks Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts in Golden Valley, Minn., before attending graduate school at the University of South Florida in fall 2008.
David Columbus Billingsley has a gift, and while he's honed it during his time in UW-Eau Claire's music program, he's also spent plenty of time sharing it. (See the full article by the UW-Eau Claire News Bureau.)
Awards
Gary Schwartzhoff,
Choral Director
- Gary Schwarthoff Receives State Award
Gary Schwartzhoff, professor of music and director of choral activities at UW-Eau Claire, has been selected for the Outstanding Church Musician Award by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association. He received the award Jan. 12 in Madison at the organization's state convention.
"It's an honor to be recognized by my peers for this award," Schwartzhoff said. "My lifelong work in church music has been a rewarding experience involving the four churches I have been privileged to serve as director of music."
See the full University News Bureau story on the Award.
- Concert Choir Receives Award
UW-Eau Claire Concert Choir conductor Gary Schwartzhoff received the choir's special award from Michele Capasso, president of the Fondazione Laboratorio Mediterraneo, in the Palatine Chapel of the Royal Palace of Naples during the choir's recent Italy tour. (F.L.M. photo)
