The festival takes place Thursday, February 16 through Sunday, February 19 and will feature master classes, a piano competition, and performances by amateur and professional pianists.
On Thursday, Chase Garrett, whose piano style moves between boogie-woogie, blues, stride and swing, will open the festival with a concert at 7:30 pm. Garrett began playing piano at age nine and began playing professionally by age 17. Garrett has performed internationally alongside some of today’s best boogie-woogie, stride and blues pianists including Axel Zwingenberger, Joachim Schumacher, Julian Phillips and Michael Kaeshammer.
On Sunday, world-class concert classical pianist Charles Asche will perform at 7:30 pm. Asche has performed internationally as a recitalist, a concerto soloist and as a chamber musician. He has presented master classes and lectures throughout the state of California as well as at the Samara Musical College and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Samara, Russia.
The festival offers additional events. On Friday February 17 at 1:00 pm, Dr. Asche will work with University college pianists in a master class setting. Saturday’s festival activities begin at 10:00 am with a competitive piano competition for accepted junior and senior high school students. After the morning performances, the students will take part in master classes beginning at 1:00 pm.
Pianist Austyn Menk won third place in the 2011 Festival. Menk’s third-place finish included a cash award. “It was completely unexpected, especially since it was my first year in the festival,” says Menk. He was “extremely gratified to receive an award.” Menk was evaluated by festival clinician, Karlyn Bond, as a participant in the competition. Menk “liked hearing the tips” and was encouraged by Dr. Bond. Menk said about viewing the master class, “No matter the performance level of the students, Dr. Bond listened and gave tips to everyone to play more effectively.”
Austyn’s mother, Robyn Menk, was also impressed with the festival describing it as “an ideal opportunity for students to perform on an excellent instrument in a beautiful recital hall” and said the festival was “an educational and fun experience for students and parents alike!”
Beneta Just founded the Bunny Just Piano Festival at Minnesota State Mankato in 1996. In 2004 her estate created an endowment to fund the festival each spring for 100 years and beyond. Just was a promoter, volunteer and financial supporter of many local social concerns, including special education and human rights. A scholarship in special education remains in her name today.
Concert admission is $12; $11 for students with a valid MavCard. Discount tickets are available online for University students. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged. Those who wish to purchase tickets online should go to www.mnsu.edu/music.
For more information, call the Performance Series office, (507) 389-5549.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 15,649 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, which comprises 32 state institutions.
The MNRVWE is a university-sponsored ensemble comprised of regional professional and semi-professional musicians, music teachers, music students and talented community musicians. Dr. Amy K. Roisum Foley conducts the group.
The upcoming concert will feature an ancient music theme including folk songs, hymns, Renaissance music, and opera selections.
University Music Education major Gretchen Poster says, “The music is just challenging enough where I can improve my sight reading skills, my technical skills and my musicality.”
The ensemble rehearses only four or five times before each concerts, requiring each musician to practice more outside of rehearsal. “Individual practice and dedication to the overall sound is a value the ensemble holds in high regard,” says Daniel Nonweiler, an MSU student who participates in the ensemble.
One of the unique things about the MNRVWE is that it provides an opportunity for university students to experience playing with musicians they normally would not play with.
Poster says, “Playing with veteran musicians and school teachers has been a great experience. These individuals have taught me how to be more professional and to succeed at being a better musician.”
The MNRVWE is currently performing in its seventh season. Anyone wishing to participate in the ensemble should contact Amy K. Roisum Foley at amy.roisum-foley@mnsu.edu or Jay Eichhorst at jeichh1@isd77.k12.mn.us.
Concert admission is $9; $7 for students with a valid MavCard. Discount tickets are available online for University students. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged. Those who wish to purchase tickets online should go to www.mnsu.edu/music
The Concert Choir, directed by David Dickau (Music), will join the Wartburg College Choir and the Nebraska Weslyan College Choir in a performance of Stephen Paulus' oratorio "To Be Certain of the Dawn" in Madison, Wis., Friday, Feb. 10. The performance will be part of the American Choral Director's Association's North Central Division conference. The powerful oratorio recounts the holocaust and was premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra in 2006. The choirs rehearsed for the performance at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, Jan 28 and 29, during a retreat featuring holocaust scholars.
The Chiarina Piano Quartet consists of violinist Mary Budd Horozanieki, violist Nancy Nehring, cellist Mark Rudoff, and MSU piano professor David Viscoli.
The Chiarina Piano Quartet has a history going back to 2005 when three of the members began playing together in a piano quintet. The group came together in its current form after that and has been playing together since 2010.
The current recital concert came together in a unique way. Since the four members are spread out across the Midwest, the repertoire was chosen via email. David Viscoli described the process as a back and forth process with each member suggesting pieces and the other members giving their input. They landed on three pieces: Dark Rosaleen by Lee Hoiby, Beethoven’s Piano Quartet in C major, and Brahms’ Piano Quartet in c minor. Viscoli said they chose the Beethoven Piano Quartet because its major key balances out the other darker pieces.
The Chiarina Piano Quartet appeared at the University in 2011. They have also performed at a number of other colleges in the Midwest as well as the 2011 Upper Midwest String Conference.
Concert admission is $12; $11 for students with a valid MavCard. Discount tickets are available online for University students. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged. Those who wish to purchase tickets online should go to www.mnsu.edu/music. For more information, call the Performance Series office, (507) 389-5549.
The Barley Jacks play in a spirit of excitement and fun. The group consists of front-man and fiddle player Brian Wicklund; Joe Cruz on guitar; Kevin Rowe, upright bass; and Joel Arpin, percussion. The Barley Jacks play original music mostly written by Wicklund and Cruz, but the end results are a group effort.
Wicklund says, “When I bring in a new tune, I run it with the band members all of whom have input into the arrangement.”
The songs reflect their wide-ranging musical backgrounds of blues, bluegrass, classical, Celtic, R&B and bebop to make an entirely unique sound. Some of their musical influences are Stuart Duncan, Natalie MacMaster, Tim O’Brien, and Ben Winship.
The band came together over time and in unique ways. Mutual friends introduced Wicklund and Cruz, Arpin was recommended by Cruz, and Rowe met Wicklund when he was working part time on a painting crew at Wicklund’s house.
St. Peter native Wicklund is especially looking forward to this show and is “excited to play on my home turf.”
Concert admission is $15; $13 for students with a valid MavCard. Discount tickets are available online for University students. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged. Those who wish to purchase tickets online should go to www.mnsu.edu/music. For more information, call the Performance Series office, (507) 389-5549.
