24 Feb 2012

Local students perform with Augustana Music Programs

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/20/2012)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Symphonic Band began its spring 2012 tour of the Pacific Coast on Friday, Feb. 17, stopping at two locations in Illinois before continuing to California, Oregon and Washington. To conclude the tour, the band will perform a home concert on Saturday, March 10, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.) on Augustana's campus.

Among the students peforming:

Grace Drenth, a junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in psychology.

Jen Youngs, a senior from Taylor Ridge, Ill., majoring in psychology and political science.

For this tour, director Dr. James Lambrecht has devised a program worthy of a band so grounded in history. The college's first ensemble was the Silver Cornet Band in 1874. This band enlisted as a unit in the U.S. Army during World War I, and mounted its first Augustana student ensemble international tour in 1928. Over the years, the Silver Cornet Band transformed into the Augustana Concert Band and the Augustana Symphonic Band, the college's premier touring band ensemble.

Read more: www.augustana.edu/x39204.xml

 

Students performed in Augustana College Four Choirs Concert

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Cantilena Augustana, Wennerberg Men's Chorus, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and the Ascension Singers were the four choirs that came together to perform one concert on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Augustana College.

The choirs include :

• Cantelina Augustana, directed by Sonja Hurty, adjunct professor of music, includes female students from all classes and majors who sing for pleasure.

• Wennerberg Men's Chorus, directed by Howard Eckdahl, fellowship instructor of music, consists of male students who sing for enjoyment and have an enhanced appreciation of choral music.

• Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, directed by Dr. Michael Zemek, assistant professor of music, is a select ensemble for women who want to develop advanced choral skills.

• Dr. Zemek also directs the Ascension Singers, a group made up of singers from both Cantelina Augustana and Wennerberg's Men Chorus.

According to Dr. Zemek, the Four Choirs Concert was an opportunity for students to share what they had been studying and preparing throughout the term with their families and the community.

From your area this includes:

Hannah Barney, a Junior student from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Business Administration-Marketing/Communication Studies.

Christine Harb, a First Year student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Samantha Kammerman, a First Year student from Milan, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Megan Keller, a Senior student from Taylor Ridge, Ill., majoring in Communication Studies.

Elizabeth Kuster, a Sophomore student from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Creative Writing.

Samantha McGreer, a First Year student from Illinois City, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Ingrid Schneider, a First Year student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Samantha McGreer, a First Year student from Illinois City, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Elyzia Powers, a First Year student from Silvis, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Anthony TouVelle, a First Year student from Bettendorf, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Ben Knapper, a First Year student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Jacob McManus, a First Year student from Reynolds, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Adam Bengfort, a First Year student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Guy Iaccarino, a Senior student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Music General and Anthropology.

Steven Ray Trent, a Sophomore student from Eldridge, Iowa, majoring in Geology.

Manisha Kumar, a Junior student from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine.

"At the concert, a wide variety of styles and time periods of choral music were shared, including global world music," said Dr. Zemek. "It's this variety of music and the inclusion of different types of choirs that made th Four Choirs Concerts unique and enjoyable to attend."

 

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/20/2012)(readMedia)-- After a two-week concert tour in Germany and Austria, the Augustana Choir will return to the Quad Cities for a home concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady Street, Davenport. Under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, the choir will present an a cappella choir concert, with works ranging from a Gregorian chant to a Haitian Nöel. The concert is open to the public, free of charge.

Among the students performing:

Kaleigh Wall, a Junior from Eldridge, Ill., majoring in Art.

Lauren Reid, a Senior from Sherrard, Ill., majoring in Business Administration- Marketing/Communication Studies.

Rickey Rector, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

The concert at St. Paul is the culmination of a 10-performance tour that intertwined "Alpha & Omega" works with four performances of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, as part of a festival to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this masterwork.

The "Alpha & Omega" concert program is divided into four sections. The first group is based on the triune God-Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer-and begins with American composer Howard Hanson's A Prayer of the Middle Ages. The second group of works is based on texts that deal with the Book of Revelation, including American composer and arranger Stacey Gibbs' Lord, If I Got My Ticket. In the third group, various cultures come to life through music, including a traditional Haitian folk song, Noél Ayisyen. The final group includes songs from the folk and hymm traditions, closing with Children of the Heavenly Father, a piece that has become a regular part of the Augustana Choir's tour programs.

Augustana College is known throughout the United States for the excellence of its choral tradition. The 70-member Augustana Choir is the school's premier choral ensemble. Founded in 1931, the Augustana Choir has performed internationally and in some of the United States' finest musical venues, including New York City's Carnegie Hall and the Chicago Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers nearly 90 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of approximately 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and services in our complex, ever-changing world.

24 Feb 2012

Gaetano Iaccarino Inducted Into Leadership Society at Augustana College

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Gaetano Iaccarino, a senior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in music general and anthropology, was among 38 students initiated into the Augustana Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society founded in 1914.

Dean of the College Dr. Pareena Lawrence spoke and congratulated the students at a ceremony held Jan. 14 at the Butterworth Center in Moline, Ill.

Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes students who do excellent academic work (above a 3.4 GPA) and demonstrate leadership in co- and extra-curricular activities. No more than 3 percent of a school's enrollment may be elected into the local circle. Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes and promotes accomplishments in the areas of academics, athletics, service, social and religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech, mass media, and creative and performing arts.

Omicron Delta Kappa was founded Dec. 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. Since its founding, Omicron Delta Kappa has initiated more than 300,000 members nationally. Augustana's circle started in 1962.

10 Feb 2012

Local high school students compete in Augustana online contest

By Keri Rursch

Good Fit T-shirt Photo Contest continues until Feb. 15

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/09/2012)(readMedia)-- Online voting continues until Feb. 15 for the People's Choice Award in Augustana College's Good Fit T-shirt Photo Contest, where potential first-year students are eligible to win one of five $1,000 scholarships to Augustana. For their photos, students must wear the Augustana T-shirt they received when visiting campus.

Students who have entered the photo contest from your area include :

Paige Ehrecke, from Long Grove, IA. Ehrecke is a senior at NORTH SCOTT HIGH SCHOOL and submitted a photo in the At Another College category.

Andrew Statz, from Davenport, IA. Statz is a senior at WEST HIGH SCHOOL and submitted a photo in the At Another College category.

Danya Tazyeen, from Bettendorf, IA. Tazyeen is a senior at PLEASANT VALLEY CMTY HS and submitted a photo in the At Another College category.

Go to www.augustana.edu/Goodfit and check out the creative photos and clever captions and cast a vote for your favorite. In addition to the People's Choice Award, other categories in the photo contest include : action shot, in a famous location, at another college and with an alumnus.

The Good Fit T-Shirt competition is a fun way Augustana can get to know the potential members of its incoming class while spreading the word about Augustana College at the same time.

"It's a way to get Augustana's name out in cyber-world as students share their photos and ask others to vote," said Meghan Cooley, director of recruitment communications and a 1999 Augustana graduate. "In some ways, it's like a global billboard as we have photos of students wearing their Augustana T-shirts in England, Greece and Belize, even at the Blarney Stone in Ireland."

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers nearly 90 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of approximately 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

08 Feb 2012

Christine Harb Performed in Augustana College's Winter Play

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/07/2012)(readMedia)-- Augustana College presented How I Learned to Drive, the story of a young woman's complicated relationship with her uncle, from Friday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Feb. 5. The play, written by Paula Vogel, premiered in 1997 and brought Vogel the Pulitzer Prize for drama one year later.

Students from across the Augustana campus worked together-both on stage and off-to produce this play, including Christine Harb a first year from Davenport, Iowa.

In this memory play, the main character, Li'l Bit, takes the audience on a journey conjuring up troubling events and people from her past, working to find answers to her life and a path for her future.

Guest director Dr. Jennifer Popple, who also served as an adjunct instructor of English and liberal studies at Augustana, wanted to direct the play ever since it premiered. She selected the play because it shines a light on something that is painful and devastating to a child, while showing a method for making one's way through it.

"To do all of this and still be extremely funny much of the time is a difficult thing to do, but Vogel's play accomplishes all of this and more," said Dr. Popple. "It has a beautiful message about how we can let our pasts shape, but not completely define, who we are going to be."

19 Dec 2011

Students perform in Augustana College's Lessons and Carols

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (12/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Augustana College, in Rock Island, Ill., will present the beautiful, traditional Christmas service Lessons and Carols on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Ascension Chapel inside Founders Hall (820 38th St.). This free, public event involves many students and honors Christ's birth through songs and Scripture readings.

The Lessons and Carols service is split between nine "lessons" - biblical passages that chronologically lead to Jesus' birth - and carols performed by the student groups and the audience.

Among the students performing:

Ingrid Schneider, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Angie Cummins, a Junior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Psychology.

Kaleigh Wall, a Junior from Eldridge, Iowa, majoring in Art.

The Handbell Choir, which is open to all Augustana students, will perform prelude music for the service and accompany the singing of Silent Night. The Handbell Choir is directed by Larry Peterson, campus ministries' director of music.

The Chamber Singers is a highly selective choral ensemble, which performs under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, professor in music and director of choral activities. They will perform an assortment of traditional and lesser known Christmas hymns, including a few with audience participation. One selection will be performed by the Augustana Men's Chamber Ensemble, under the direction of student director Cameron Carrara.

14 Nov 2011

Local students studying at Augustana College will perform in an upcoming opera

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (11/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Opera@Augustana will present Paul Hindemith's

Christine Harb, a Undecided major, is a First Year at Augustana. Harb is from Davenport, Iowa.

Kaleigh Wall, a Art major, is a Junior at Augustana. Wall is from Eldridge, Iowa.

Elyzia Powers, a Undecided major, is a First Year at Augustana. Powers is from Silvis, Ill..

The opera's libretto is by American playwright Thornton Wilder, after his play of the same name. Wilder captures a series of Christmas dinners celebrated by the Bayard family over 90 years and blends them into a one long meal. The tender story follows four generations as they experience birth, death, growth and loss.

"When I listened to it, I found a story that focuses on family during the holidays," said Dr. John Pfautz, director of Opera@Augustana. "It gives us insight into 90 years of a family's holiday dinner, allowing us a glimpse of family traditions, continuing patterns from generation to generation, and lasting family values."

Playing the second-generation father of the Bayard family is Dylan Hinrichs '13, a vocal music education major from Sterling, Ill. One of 11 Augustana students featured in the opera, Hinrichs appreciates the storyline's complexity. "There are a lot of hidden messages lying under the surface of the plot," he said. "Many of the underlying themes are quite controversial and up for different interpretations."

Hinrichs is no stranger to the stage as a performer or as a director. A member of the Augustana Choir and the Augustana Chamber Singers, Hinrichs played Gunther in the Truce of Carols opera last season. He directs a children's choir and performs with an adult church choir. Last summer, he directed a musical for middle-school students.

"The most challenging part of The Long Christmas Dinner is the music," he said. "Hindemith is a 20th-century composer who incorporated several contemporary musical styles, which can be difficult for singers."

The challenging musical score helped convince Dr. Pfautz to present this particular opera. "Pedagogically, it's appropriate that Opera@Augustana presents repertoire that teaches something to the performers as well as the audience. I'm so pleased with how the students have risen to the occasion."

25 Oct 2011

Area Schools Participate in Augustana Choral Ensembles

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/25/2011)(readMedia)-- Augustana College choral ensembles' work with local and regional high school choirs culminate in two separate concerts this week. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

From your area this includes:

Kaleigh Wall, a Junior from Eldridge, Ill., majoring in Art.

Lauren Reid, a Senior from Sherrard, Ill., majoring in Business Administration- Marketing/Communication Studies.

Rickey Rector, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

On Thursday, October 27, at 7 p.m., the Treble Choir Outreach Concert will feature Augustana's Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and the UT Singers of United Township High School. The concert will be held in Ascension Chapel (639 38th St.) on the Augustana campus.

United Township High School Choral Director Juliet Minard, a 1998 alumna of Augustana, is excited to bring her women's group to the college and share this experience with the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and director Dr. Michael Zemek. The two choirs will work together during the afternoon with both directors, preparing two joint choir selections for the evening concert.

Dr. Zemek believes both ensembles "have something to learn from one another...by listening to one another and ultimately performing together, we hope to grow and expand our understanding of how choral music can be used to bring people together in meaningful ways." He sees this as a great opportunity for members of the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble to model not only treble singing but also the value of singing in a choral ensemble. He hopes the United Township students leave "challenged and inspired to higher levels of musicianship and the desire to continue singing beyond high school."

On Friday, October 28, at 8 p.m., the Augustana Choir Fall Honors Choir Concert will feature the Augustana Choir under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, in addition to the Plainfield North High School Concert Choir and Lake Zurich High School Concert Choir. The concert will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.). The two high school choirs will spend the day working on choral music and technique with Dr. Hurty and Dr. Zemek as well as rehearsing with the Augustana Choir.

The evening concert will offer a diverse and eclectic program of choral music. The selection "In Remembrance," to be sung by the combined choirs, was programmed in memory of the 9/11 tragedy and its 10th anniversary this fall. The Augustana Choir will include an improvisation as part of its program-an offering that has become signature to the group. Hurty is "excited about trying this new format of combined performance and outreach" and looks forward to working with these top high school choirs from the region.

14 Oct 2011

Augustana students performed in first orchestra concert of the season

By Keri Rursch
ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/13/2011)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Culver, will open its season with the inventive Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 104, called the "London Symphony." The concert will take place on Saturday, October 15, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave). The Rachmaninoff concerto will feature Dr. Mary Neil, professor of music at Augustana, on piano.

The Augustana Symphony Orchestra is a full-size orchestra of approximately 75 members.

From your area this includes:

Anne VanSpeybroek, a Junior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in Music Performance- Instrumental.

Ashley Finley, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Music Education Instrumental.

Nick Kendell, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Lindsey Sikorski, a First Year from East Moline, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Adam Bengfort, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Abigail Jones, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Biology/Environmental Studies.

Peter Wiese, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Neuroscience/Mathematics.

Student-musician Tim Christiansen, a senior from Park Ridge, Ill., enjoys the orchestral part. "Rachmaninoff was infatuated with and mesmerized by orchestral textures-varying interactions between the orchestra and soloist. Sometimes they agree, disagree and dance with one another," said Christiansen.

Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto is one of his enduringly popular works and helped him gain fame as a concerto composer. This work was well received from its first performance and served as a sign that Rachmaninoff was no longer suffering from depression that had lasted several years.

Joseph Haydn composed 104 symphonies, the "London Symphony" being his last, and became known as the "Father of the Symphony" for his contribution to the development of this particular musical form.

Dr. Culver finds this Haydn symphony progressive for its time. "It is a transparent symphony-it requires great concentration and the full orchestra to be attentive to details," Culver said.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

03 Oct 2011

Augustana students performed a disaster relief concert

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (09/29/2011)(readMedia)-- More than six months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the people of Japan are still trying to rebuild their lives. To reverently remember and show sympathy for the Japanese people, members of the Augustana College Symphonic Band performed a disaster relief concert on Saturday, September 24.

Free will donations were collected at the concert. Donations totaled $1,550, and funds raised will be distributed through the American Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan.

"It is easy to forget about such disasters, yet much of Japan is still uninhabitable-much remains to be done," said Augustana's Director of Bands James Lambrecht, who has programmed select musical works related to Japan in order to expose the students and Augustana community to Japanese musical culture.

From your area, the students involved included:

Anne VanSpeybroeck, a Junior from Rock Island, Ill. majoring in Music Performance.

Jennifer Youngs, a Senior from Taylor Ridge, Ill. majoring in Psychology/Political Science.

Gaetano Iaccarino, a Senior from Davenport, Iowa majoring in Anthropology/Music.

Grace Drenth, a Junior from Davenport, Ill. majoring in Psychology.

"This was a celebration of music, and it was also a meaningful gesture to the people of Japan that Augustana College is committed to helping those in need-no matter where they live." said Augustana senior Gaetano Iaccarino, Davenport, Iowa.

Augustana's music department shares a special connection with Japan. Lambrecht departed for his second guest residency at the prestigious Musashino Academia Musicae, Tokyo, only two days after the concert. While in Japan, Lambrecht will conduct the Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble with music programmed in response to the devastating events.

For more information, please contact Keri Rursch, director of public relations, at kerirursch@augustana.edu or (309) 794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ration 11:1. Augustana continues to do what is was always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in out complex, ever-changing world.

18 Feb 2011

ON A MISSION TO SUPPORT TO SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES

By Keri Rursch

Operation Military Kids plans day of support and fun for local military families

The volunteers associated with Operation Military Kids (OMK) of the Greater Quad Cities believe military families deserve a break from the stresses of everyday life; and that's why the local OMK collaborative is hosting Exploring Egypt: Military Family Day at the Putnam Museum & IMAX.

While there is no way to repay military families for the sacrifices of service, OMK organizers are planning to give families a meaningful yet fun way to spend time with other military families.

Military Family Day at the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theater will be Saturday, Feb. 26, starting at 10:30 a.m. At a cost of just $3 per family member, military families will enjoy a private showing of "Mysteries of the Nile" at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and special hands-on sessions.

The afternoon sessions will give military families the opportunity to:

-          Prepare to reunite with returning service members

-          Engage in activities that allow families to better understand the culture of Egypt (where their loved one may be/may have served)

-          Explore the museum and its most popular exhibits

During the day, military families will also be able to learn about community resources, including tools provided by the USO of Illinois, American Red Cross, Army Community Service and others.

Who qualifies as a military family? "If you consider yourself impacted by military service, you're welcome to attend," says Diane Baker, planner of this event and youth development educator with the 4-H Military Programs.

"This event gives military families a chance to support one another," adds Baker. "And it gives the community a chance to show support too."

The Quad-City community is not alone, communities across the country plan similar events. In 2009, over 150,000 youth participated in experiences conducted by state OMK teams in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

OMK is the U.S. Army's collaborative effort with America's communities to support children and youth impacted by deployment. Regardless of whether families are experiencing deployment for the first time, the second time or another in a series of multiple deployments, OMK's goal is to connect military children and youth with local resources in order to achieve a sense of community support and enhance their well-being

To attend Military Family Day at the Putnam Museum & IMAX, military families need to RSVP online - www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland.

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