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Tech's Musical Road Warriors

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:39:33 -0500

A bus full of Michigan Tech students traveling hundreds of miles to perform is not out of the ordinary—if the travelers are athletes. But would you expect that bus to be full of musicians?

Michigan Tech’s Jazz Lab Band just returned from a regional tour they’ve done every year since 1969. This year, they played in Iron Mountain, Mich., and Suring, Freedom, Pulaski, Sun Prairie, Stevens Point and Rhinelander, Wis., all in just four days.

Michael Irish, director of the 18-piece ensemble, commented, “to give you an idea of how hard our kids work, keep in mind that [professional] bands only do one . . .

Actors Flying High at Michigan Tech

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 10:21:11 -0500

Michigan Technological University's visual and performing arts department is sending its actors flying in its latest production, Stealing Fire. Literally flying.

“The first challenge is to keep it safe,” Director Christopher Plummer, associate professor of sound, says during a recent rehearsal. Actor Paige Borel is strapped into a harness, going through their paces, some airborne. “And it actually means different types of rehearsals," Plummer goes on to say,"the emotional intensity of covering the story; the technical rehearsals, including sound and lights; and the everyday flying systems set-up, which has to be checked each time.”

In the story, created by the faculty, . . .

Engineers Make Great Artists: Rozsa Center Makes A Case for the Arts

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:41:52 -0400

Engineers and artists live in different worlds, right? Wrong. Just look at Leonardo da Vinci, who not only painted the Mona Lisa, but drew plans for the first helicopter.

Michigan Technological University’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) are partnering in a marketing campaign that makes a case for why the arts are integral to the mission of Michigan Tech.

“This year we’re looking at arts on the Michigan Tech campus a little differently,” says Susanna Brent, Rozsa Center director. “We’re trying to start a conversation about what art means in a university . . .

Celebrate! Forty-five Years of Jazz at Michigan Tech

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:42:12 -0400

A forty-fifth anniversary is a great reason to celebrate, and the jazz program at Michigan Technological University intends to party hearty. In fact, the celebration they have planned is so big, they’re using a couple of venues and several bands to do it right.

It all starts on Friday, March 23, at 8:00 p.m. with the Off ‘Dem Jam Session at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Hancock.

“It’ll be an informal jam session,” says Mike Irish, director of jazz studies and head of the festivities. “A local band, Captain Woody Bopper and the Pirates of Groove, will begin the night, and after a . . .

Renowned Composer to Direct Students at Michigan Tech Honors Band and Choir Festival

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:02:40 -0400

Eric Whitacre, one of the most popular and performed composers of our generation, will lead student musicians from Michigan Technological University and high schools across the Upper Peninsula at the Michigan Tech Honors Band and Choir Festival on Friday, Oct. 21. He will also give a free, public lecture on Thursday, Oct. 20. Both events will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan Tech.

Whitacre's visit is virtually unprecedented, both for the students and the community. “Having the chance for our students, as well as high school students from around the UP, to . . .

Parade of Nations Set for Saturday, Sept. 18

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:10:50 -0400

This Saturday, Sept. 18, Michigan Technological University will hold its annual Parade of Nations. The event, celebrating its 21st year, features representation from more than 80 nations and cultural organizations by students, staff and faculty from both Michigan Tech and Finlandia University.

This year, the parade’s theme is “Many Nations—One Heart.” Parade participants will will march through the streets of downtown Houghton and Hancock while displaying the flag of their nation and wearing traditional dress.

The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at Hancock Middle School and will conclude at Dee Stadium in Houghton. Following the parade, the public can enjoy . . .

“Proof”: Perfect for Tech

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:25:05 -0500

Some plays were meant to be performed for a university--and university town--audience. “Proof” is that play.

An old math professor passes away and leaves behind 103 notebooks of mostly nonsense, and his daughters and former student must sort through those and other messy matters.

Along the way, the play explores academia, familial and professional relationships, and decisions everyone must make at some time in their lives.

In one scene, the professor reminisces about hanging out at the bookstore at the beginning of fall term, observing the students and wondering what great ideas they might discover, or not.

And, in a final twist, one of the . . .

VPA plays receive Kennedy Center/ACTF honor

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:54:52 -0500

The two one-act plays recently produced by Michigan Technological University's Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA)—“The Bald Soprano” and “The Lesson”—have been selected to be performed at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. The Region III festival will be held at Saginaw Valley State University from January 5 to 9, 2010.

The two Eugene Ionesco plays were evaluated along with all other plays entered since January of this year in the four-state region of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Judges selected the most outstanding eight performances of the year to be presented at the January festival.

“It's immensely unusual for a school with . . .

Messiah will put the campus, community in the holiday mood

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 01:51:06 -0500

On the night of the first full rehearsal of Handel's Messiah, two student Concert Choir members and I fought the cold wind as we found the stage entrance of the Rozsa Center.

They were going to warm up their voices; I was going to warm up.

The Messiah will be performed Saturday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Seeing the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra in their street clothes was a bit shocking, but when they ran through sections of Handel’s Christmas oratorio, they transported the few of us watching to another place. A good place.

The trumpets sang out . . .

Native American Speakers’ Forum, Spirit of the Harvest Powwow Oct. 23-24

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:04:46 -0400

Michigan Technological University will showcase Native American culture next week at its 14th Annual Speakers’ Forum Friday, Oct. 23, followed on Saturday by the Spirit of the Harvest Powwow.

In addition, the 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year, Crystal Shawanda, will give a concert Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rozsa Center. For more information or to buy tickets, go to the Rozsa Center website.

Speakers’ Forum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, Rozsa Center

The Speaker’s Forum begins at 10 a.m. with a talk by Jessica Koski, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. She completed . . .