SMAT Spring 2022 Events Newsletter

School of Music, Art, and Theatre SPRING 2022 EVENTS NEWSLETTER

WELCOME BACK! After a successful and touching series of music, art, and theatre events, we invite you once again, in person, to our beautiful campus! We continue to host a variety of events and projects rooted in building community while incorporating our 20212022 theme of “sustainability.”

Spring highlights include compositions by alumni Ky Nam Nguyen (C’19), whose pieces will be performed by our choirs and “carbon neutral” orchestra; The Falling and The Rising, an opera to be performed at the Edge Theatre in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood; an art exhibition by faculty member, Nnenna Okore; and a collaboration by art and theatre departments to tell “big stories on small stages” using toy theatre.

Guided by student learning, engagement, and success, our exceptional faculty continue to walk alongside our students, presenting exceptional creative output. We invite you to join us, and we look forward to seeing and talking with you!

Sincerely, Dr. Rebecca Ryan Interim Dean of the School of Music, Art, and Theatre

For the most up-to-date event and safety information, please visit our website by scanning the QR code or visiting: www.northpark.edu/smat-events.

Live streamed and video released events may be viewed on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/ NPUschoolofmusicartandtheatre.

Additional exhibition information may be found on our gallery website: www.carlsontowergallery.org.

SPRING 2022 EVENTS OPERA—FARAMONDO VIDEO RELEASE FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 7:30PM

EXHIBITION: NNENNA OKORE JANUARY 21–MARCH 4 OPENING RECEPTION ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 4:30PM-6:30PM CARLSON TOWER GALLERY

HYMN FESTIVAL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 7:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

PERFORMANCE AWARDS FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 7:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

JAZZ CONCERT SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

SPRING CHORAL CONCERT APRIL 1, 7:30 PM FRIDAY, ANDERSON CHAPEL

Designed for a digital platform, graduate students present a new, 90-minute version of Handel’s early opera “Faramondo.”

Nnenna Okore is an artist–researcher–teacher who uses artistic practice, pedagogy and social engagements to address ecological issues. As an internationally acclaimed art practitioner, Okore has been involved in numerous participatory art projects and exhibitions designed to produce dialogue, artmaking and an awareness of current environmental issues. Working largely with ecobased materials, Okore uses food-based bioplastic materials to create delicate works of art that engender dialogue about waste reduction and sustainable practices in artmaking.

“A Light to Enlighten”: Featuring the University Choir, Women’s Chorale, and Chamber Singers, University Organist Dr. John W.W. Sherer, and guest speakers. This annual event returns with a focus on environmental and social sustainability through the lens of our Christian faith, as expressed in hymnody.

Annual competition featuring undergraduate and graduate performers and the presentation of student service awards.

The Jazz Ensemble will perform under the direction of Audrey Morrison. Ms. Morrison is also the director of the jazz program at the Music Institute of Chicago.

Combos will be led by Ms. Morrison and pianist Chris White will also perform.

Where is My Voice? The singers of the Women’s Chorale and University Choir explore what it means to find our voices in the complex dynamic of our world. “Ambe” by Andrew Bafour, “Where is My Voice” by Shane Raman, Bob Chilcott’s song cycle “This Day,” and selections from “Buddhist Poems from Vietnam” by Ky Nam Nguyen will be featured.

CONCERT BAND CONCERT SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

ORCHESTRA CONCERT THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 7:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

GOSPEL CHOIR CONCERT SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 7:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

OPERA—THE FALLING AND THE RISING FRIDAY, APRIL 22 AND SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 7:30 PM THE EDGE THEATRE 5451 N. BROADWAY CHICAGO, IL 60640

The Concert Band, under the direction of William McClellan, will perform their spring concert. Mr. McClellan was formerly the band director a within a number of Chicago Public High Schools, and prior to retirement, served as the Music Curriculum Supervisor for the Chicago Public School system.

Sustainability – Water – Life The orchestra will play a commissioned piece on the subject of water and climate change composed by alum Ky Nam Nguyen who is currently studying composition as a graduate student in Texas. The concert is a continuation of our Net Zero Carbon Footprint project, making the orchestra permanently carbon neutral. As well, the concert is in support of the 17 United Nations SDG (Sustainability Development Goals).

The Gospel Choir presents an evening of intentional community and a time of praise and worship.

A story of service, sacrifice, and spirit, The Falling and The Rising is an opera based on interviews with veterans and active-duty soldiers. After being thrown into a coma by an improvised explosive device, a female soldier fights for survival in a surreal dreamscape. Music by Zach Redler, Libretto by Jerre Dye.

BACH WEEK FESTIVAL CONCERT This concert’s centerpiece will be the Magnificat, FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 7:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

BWV 243 of Johann Sebastian Bach, the festival’s namesake, performed by the combined North Park University Chamber Singers and Bach Week Festival Chorus and Orchestra. Soloists include Josefien Stoppelenburg, Susan Platts, and David Govertsen.

Richard Webster will conduct.

JAZZ CONCERT

The Jazz Ensemble, along with two jazz combos, will perform their spring concert under the direction of Audrey Morrision and Chris White.

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2:30 PM ANDERSON CHAPEL

TOY THEATRE FESTIVAL FRIDAY, MAY 6, 7:30 PM SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2:30 PM AND 7:30 PM

Toy Theatre is an old art form that mixes visual art, music and theatricality to tell big stories on small stages. Under the guidance of professors Okore (art) and Cederquist (theatre), students will create a final project from the Spring Toy Theatre course that will be presented in a festival format. Seating will be limited.

SENIOR ART EXHIBITIONS | CARLSON TOWER GALLERY ARTIST

EXHIBITION DATES

RECEPTION

Sidney Tomlinson

March 7–11

March 8, 4:30–6:30 pm

Daria Velazquez

March 21–25

March 22, 4:30–6:30 pm

Nicolette Dipiazza

March 21–May 6 Located in Brandel Library

March 22, 6:00–8:00 pm

Felicia Albers

March 28–April 1

March 29, 4:30–6:30 pm

George Hawil

April 4–8

April 5, 4:30–6:30 pm

Gabriella Apel

April 11–15

April 12, 4:30–6:30 pm

Kate Widman

April 18–22

April 19, 4:30–6:30 pm

January Htoo

April 25–29

April 26, 4:30–6:30 pm

Maya Holm-Drumgole

May 2-6

May 3, 4:30–6:30 pm

STUDENT RECITALS | ANDERSON CHAPEL STUDENT

CONCERT DATE

TIME

Thomas Schmidt

Saturday, April 2

7:30 pm

Amelia Harlovic

Friday, April 8

7:30 pm

James Cross

Thursday, April 21

7:30 pm

Catherine Larson Emma Gingold

Saturday, April 30

7:30 pm

Coman Fevrier

Thursday, May 5

7:30 pm

Elisha Joy Mackal Emma Gingold

Saturday, May 7

2:30 pm

Jonathan Robison

Sunday, May 8

2:30 pm

THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, ART, AND THEATRE The North Park University School of Music, Art, and Theatre offers challenging curricula enriched by the diversity of voices throughout history and cultures.

We prepare students for creative practice now and into the future: artists who are global citizens equipped for the changing professions of the twenty-first century. As an artistic community of students, faculty, and staff, we seek to increase awareness of civic responsibility and promote a culture of compassion through the intersection of faith and learning.

School of Music, Art, and Theatre 3225 West Foster Avenue, Box 21 Chicago, IL 60625-4895

www.northpark.edu/smat