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The Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Northwest Missouri State University will host multiple guest musicians during a series of lectures and recitals in March.
“When we bring in guest artists for recitals, we are looking to expand opportunities for our students and the community to experience high-quality performances by performers who may not usually visit Maryville,” said Dr. Rachel Day, the chair of Northwest’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts, who specializes in vocal performance and will present a faculty recital on March 28, titled “Old Friends, Revisited,” featuring composers she encountered during her musical studies in high school and graduate school.
“By bringing these artists to campus, we make available performances that otherwise would require travel to attend. By doing this, we enrich both the community and demonstrate to our students what professional careers and performances look like.”
The guest performances are supported by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council. Each event is free and open to the public.
Details about the upcoming recitals are provided below. For more information, contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 660.562.1326 or fparts@mygril-yaoyao.com.
David Vining
Vining, a trombonist will give lectures at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, titled “Introduction to Body Mapping,” and at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, titled “The Truth About Breathing,” in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building.
Coming from Northern Arizona University and founder of Mountain Peak music publishing company, Vining is devoted to offering innovative, healthy teaching methods for all musicians. He has served on the faculties of the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and the University of Kansas. Currently a member of the Flagstaff Symphony, Vining has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony, Kansas City Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Dr. William Sutton
“He brings a wealth of knowledge and many years of not only trombone pedagogy but music pedagogy to campus, so we’re very excited about that,” Dr. William Sutton, a Northwest assistant professor of music, said. “His experiences, because they’re so diverse and well rounded, will positively impact the music area as a whole.”
Duo LoW, formed by Sutton and Dr. Ling Lo, a music faculty member at the University of North Dakota, will perform works for euphonium, trombone, tuba and piano.
Their program will include Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” with narration throughout.
Northwest will host an evening of musical theater magic at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in the Charles Johnson Theater with Rion Towery taking his audience on an unforgettable journey from the golden age of show tunes to today’s hits.
The performance will feature beloved favorites from legendary composers, such as George Gershwin, Lerner and Loewe, and Stephen Sondheim, seamlessly blended with show-stopping numbers from contemporary sensations like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eric Idle and more.
Rion, celebrated for his contributions to theatre as a performer, director, choreographer and theatre educator, brings a dynamic stage presence, promising delight for musical theater enthusiasts of all ages. Highlights will include iconic songs from “Crazy For You,” “My Fair Lady” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as well as hits from modern favorites like “Hamilton,” “Rent” and Disney’s “Tarzan.”
Dr. Anthony Olson (left) will be joined by Joseph Tomasso (center), Eva Peng (right) and others for a celebration of Georg Philipp Telemann. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)
At 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30, in the Charles Johnson Theater, Northwest Professor of Music Dr. Anthony Olson will play the harpsichord during “A Baroque Celebration: The Genius of Georg Philipp Telemann.”
He will be joined by soprano Eva Peng, flutist Rebecca Dunnell, oboist Joseph Tomasso and cellist Brenda Allen.
“The program will be all music by Georg Telemann, who is one of the most prolific composers of the first half of the 1700s,” Olson said.
Telemann’s output includes more than 3,000 compositions, ranging from operas and cantatas to concertos and chamber music. Telemann was known for his ability to blend different national styles — German, French and Italian — into his music, making it both innovative and accessible. His works were published and admired throughout Europe, and his influence extended to future generations of composers, including his friend J.S. Bach.
Northwest will host multi-instrumentalist composers Nation in conjunction with the Four-State Honor Choir Invitational on Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the Charles Johnson Theater, Nation will give lectures and perform some of its original music with cover songs.
Jocelyn Hagen and Timothy Takach comprise Nation as married, Minnesota-based composers who have written for bands, orchestras, choirs and solo acts. Takach and Hagen are pioneers in composing, entrepreneurship, coaching youth and adults, and leading ensembles in the spirit of collaboration. They bring a uniquely special partnership of lifelong learning while guiding participants through a collective and creative journey, modeling healthy, accessible and honest pedagogy for developing singers.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for schools in this pocket of the country and our students to be able to get to work with two of America’s premier composers – two premier living composers who are just knocking it out of the park,” Adam Zrust, an assistant professor of music, said.
