April 2016

14 Pages·2016·3.52 MB·English

by  Alida Sullivan

Calendar of Events
Department of Theatre and Dance
April 1—April 8
 The Matchbook Series:
The Last Smoker in America Miniature Paintings by
Rated—R Michael Dubina, Perkinson
April 1 & 2 @ 7:30pm / April 3 @ 2:00 pm Art Gallery
April 7, 8, 9 15, 16 @ 7:30pm / April. 17th @ 2:00 pm Friday, April 1
Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre  Faculty and Guest Chamber
Tickets: $12 Music Recital featuring
Sun-Young Shin, violin;
Benjamin Hayek, cello; Sam
Gingher, piano, 7:30 pm in
Kaeuper Hall
Enter an America where the government is in your April 1,2,7,8,9,15,16
kitchen, sniffing for outlawed cigarettes! The extreme anti-smoking laws test the  The Last Smoker in America,
sanity of one suburban family. Pam is having an impossible time trying to quit. 7:30 pm in Pipe Dreams
Her husband Ernie retreats to the basement to relive the rock star dreams of his Studio Theatre
youth, while their teenage son Jimmy only turns away from his videogames to Saturday, April 2
explore his gangster rapper persona. Adding to the dysfunctional dynamic is
 Jessica Madsen’s Masterclass,
anti-smoking fanatic Phyllis, the neighbor who can’t keep her nose out of everyone
2:00-4:00 pm in Kaeuper
else’s business.
Hall
Faculty and Guest Chamber Music Recital  Jazz at LSB with Diversity,
3:30-5:30 pm
 Hollis Prize Competition,
Samuel Gingher, piano; Sun-Young Shin, violin;
7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall
Benjamin Hayek, cello April 3 & 17
 The Last Smoker in America,
Friday, April 1, 7:30 pm
2:00 pm in Pipe Dreams
Kaeuper Hall
Studio Theatre
Free and open to the public
Thursday, April 7
Join us to hear the premiere performance (in modern history) of two rare piano
 Jazz Band Spring Concert
trios by Carl Czerny (1791-1857), Op. 211
with Dave Stryker, guitar,
7:30 pm at Westminster
Presbyterian Church, 1360
West Main St.
Friday, April 8
 One-Act Opera, 6:00 pm &
7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 The Official Blues BrothersTM
Revue, 7:30 pm in Kirkland
Fine Arts Center
Saturday, April 9
 Jazz at LSB with MU Latin
Percussion, 3:30-5:30 pm
Sunday, April 10
 Faculty Instrumental Recital
featuring Pei –I Wang, piano,
7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall
Calendar of Events
Continued
School of Music Masterclass
Tuesday, April 12
 Guest Brass Recital, 7:30 pm
Dr. Jessica Madsen, piano in Kaeuper Hall
Wednesday, April 13
Saturday, April 2, 2:00-4:00 pm
 Guest Instrumental Recital
Kaeuper Hall
featuring Karin Kelleher,

violin, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper
Millikin Alum, Jessica Madsen (‘87), will present a
Hall
masterclass featuring Millikin piano students.
April 14-16
Jessica is an active soloist and chamber musician  Little Shop of Horrors,
with a Master of Music degree from the University 7:30 pm in Albert Taylor
of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and a Doctor Theatre
of Musical Arts degree from the University of Saturday, April 16
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).  Jazz at LSB with Decatur Big
She currently teaches in Cincinnati, OH and Band, 3:30-5:30 pm
 Millikin-Decatur Symphony
performs regularly across the Midwest and beyond.
Orchestra Gala Season Finale,
Dr. Madsen's commitment to Millikin is
7:30 pm in Kirkland Fine Arts
perpetuated through the annual Jessica Madsen
Center
Award, offered to outstanding senior student
Sunday, April 17
performers in the piano and string areas.
 Little Shop of Horrors,
2:00 pm in Albert Taylor
School of Music
Theatre
Tuesday, April 19
 Vocal Jazz Spring Concert,
The annual Hollis Prize Recital will be Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 pm in Kaeuper
7:30 pm at Westminster
Hall. Three finalists will be selected to compete for the $2,000 cash prize and the
Presbyterian Church, 1360
opportunity to perform on the recital series at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin, IL West Main St.
on April 10. The Hollis Prize is made possible through the generosity of Dr. Kimm Thursday, April 21
Hollis, a 1972 alum.  Sam & Dave’s Brass
Extravaganza, 7:30 pm in
College of Fine Arts Patrons Society Kaeuper Hall
Friday, April 22
 Symphonic Wind Ensemble &
Solo Competition Winners,
The Millikin University College of Fine Arts
7:30 pm in Kirkland Fine Arts
Patrons Society was created to benefit the over
Center
600 Millikin student-artists participating in nearly
Saturday, April 23
20 degree programs. Membership dues provide
 Jazz at LSB with MU Jazz I,
budget support and help create special projects
3:30-5:30 pm
which might otherwise go unfunded. The society’s Sunday, April 24
mission is to bring together the university and  Percussion Ensemble
individuals who believe in the promotion and Masterworks, 4:00 pm in
support of the fine and performing arts and the Kirkland Fine Arts Center
student-artist at Millikin University. If you would April 29 &30
like more information about the Patrons Society,  What I Didn’t Learn in
College, 7:30 pm in Pipe
you can visit the web at:
Dreams Studio Theatre
www.millikin.edu/patrons-society, or you may also contact us by phone at the
Saturday, April 30
College of Fine Arts 217-362-6499.
 Jazz at LSB with Four Other
Brothers, 3:30-5:30 pm
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Faculty Duo-Piano Recital
Susan Schroeder Cobb
& Bruce L. Gibbons
Sunday, April 3, 4:00 pm
Kauper Hall
Free and open to the public

Dr. Susan Schroeder Cobb teaches applied
piano, class piano, and preparatory piano at
Millikin University. Dr. Cobb received her DMA
degree from the University of Oklahoma and MM
and BM degrees in piano performance from the
University of Illinois. An active solo and
collaborative recitalist, she recently performed
Carnival of the Animals with the Millikin Decatur
Symphony Chamber Orchestra and in 2014
released a CD of the duo piano arrangement. This summer Dr. Cobb will perform for the 5th time on the
summer recital series at the President Calvin Coolidge Museum & Education Center at Plymouth Notch,
Vermont. In 2010 Dr. Cobb presented a lecture at Northwest Normal University in Lanzou, China. She has
been on the faculty of the Summer Sonatina Piano Camp in Bennington, Vermont, the Illinois Summer Youth
Music Camp at the University of Illinois, and the Millikin Piano Camp for High School Students.

Dr. Bruce Gibbons has been adjunct professor of music since 1985 at Millikin University, where he teaches
piano and organ and serves as pianist for opera workshop and music theater classes. He performs as a
collaborative pianist in approximately forty student and faculty recitals per year at Millikin University and has
performed throughout the United States with various artists. Dr. Gibbons holds performance degrees from
Colorado State University and Louisiana State University, studying with Wendel Diebel and Jack Guerry. In
addition to his academic duties, he is also organist at First United Methodist Church in Decatur, and a
bassoonist with the Decatur Municipal Band. In his spare moments, he enjoys reading, back-packing, and
hiking.
School of Music String Clinic
On Tuesday, April 5, Taylor Morris will present a clinic for string players
and musicians in Perkinson Music Center room 221 at 2:00 pm.
All are welcome to attend.

Taylor Morris enjoys blurring the line between violin and fiddle. After studying
classical violin at Arizona State University with Dr. Katie McLin, he spent four
years touring the world as one of five fiddlers with Barrage, a world-music violin
troupe based out of Canada. His travels, both with Barrage and personally, have
led to performances in 47 states and 13 countries with musicians from a multitude
of backgrounds.
Off of the stage, Taylor obtained a master's in education from Harvard University
and is a passionate advocate for arts education. Since 2000, Taylor's teaching has
taken him into classrooms around the country, with activities ranging from
creating music-inspired art with kindergarteners to leading workshops at the
University of Notre Dame, University of the Pacific, and Arizona State University.
Through his teaching, Taylor is ultimately on a serious mission to keep music as fun as possible, working with
students and educators to explore the incredible variety of ways to make music with string instruments.
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Music Industry Studies Residency
On Monday April 4th and Tuesday April 6th the Music Industry Studies department in the School of Music
will be hosting a music production residency funded by a grant from the Hardy Foundation. The residency
will feature a trio of music industry luminaries: Kyle Lehning, Viktor Krauss, and Matt Rollings. The three
gentlemen will be visiting Commercial Music and Music Business classes throughout the duration of the
residency. They will also produce a group of student artists in the Millitrax Recording Studio throughout the
day Tuesday. Their residency will culminate with a presentation at the Music Industry Seminar Tuesday
evening at 7:30 p.m. in K11 (basement of Kirkland Fine Arts Center), and is open to the public. People are also
invited to observe the recording session throughout the day on Tuesday in Millitrax, Millikin’s state-of-the-art
recording studio.
In 1994 Viktor Krauss began more than twenty years of work with Lyle
Lovett, touring and recording with the iconic singer/songwriter,
including contributing to recordings such as My Baby Don’t Tolerate,
Step Inside This House, Natural Forces and his most recent Release Me.
In 1995, Viktor started a long recording and touring collaboration with
distinctive guitarist Bill Frisell. Such recordings with Frisell include
Nashville, Gone, Just Like a Train, Floratone, East/West, Good Dog,
Happy Man, Disfarmer and The Sweetest Punch. Krauss has also been
seen on stage with artists such as Carly Simon, Shelby Lynne, Chet
Atkins, Larry Carlton, The Chieftains, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris,
Jewel, Melinda Doolittle and most recently a trio consisting of Jerry
Douglas, Krauss and Omar Hakim. A recording featuring this trio was
released early 2012 on E1 records. Viktor is an active producer, with past
credits that have included Americana artists Clay Evans, Angel Snow, Mike Willis, Jason White among others.

Kyle Lehning, a 1971 Millikin alumn, is a music industry executive and
producer. His production credits include England Dan & John Ford Coley, Dan
Seals, Ronnie Milsap, and Randy Travis, as well as a long list of recording
engineer/mixing credits that includes Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings,
America, Dr. Hook, Willie Nelson, Trace Adkins, and Alan Jackson. Kyle was
also the executive vice-president for Asylum Records Nashville, 1992-1996 and
co-president, 1996-1998.

Matt Rollings is recognized among the industry’s “most
recorded” keyboard players, with credits that include Willie
Nelson, Shawn Mullins, Clint Black, Kenny Rogers, Neil
Diamond, Trisha Yearwood, LeAnn Rimes, Art Garfunkel,
Boyz II Men, and Lyle Lovett. Additionally, Matt is the highly
regarded producer of three Mary Chapin Carter albums
among others, and also serves as Mark Knopfler’s (of Dire Straits) musical director. Matt has toured for
nearly three decades with Lyle Lovett.
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School of Music Artist Residency
The School of Music and Department of Theatre and
Dance is excited to host 1991 alum,
Andy Grobengieser, to campus for a series of
workshops with our students. Andy currently lives in
NYC and works as a free lance musical conductor,
music director, keyboardist, music educator, arranger,
orchestrator and transcriber. He frequently is on the
road with major Broadway shows. His credits include
Ghost the Musical, The Little Mermaid (with fellow
Millikin Alum Sierra Boggess), Lestat on Broadway,
Peter and the Starcatcher, and Shrek the Musical on
tour. His broad range of skill sets and experiences
will be of real value to our students. He will be
working with our commercial music students with
arranging projects and also giving a demonstration on the Ableton Live system. He will also be spending time
with the Music Theatre Rep and Music Theatre History classes as well as giving some one-on-one sessions
with those students. There will be a general Q&A session as well. The Grobengieser residency is April 6-8 and
is made possible by a grant from the Hardy Foundation.
Millikin University Jazz
Spring Jazz Concert Featuring
Dave Stryker, jazz guitarist
Thursday, April 7, 7:30 pm
Westminster Presbyterian Church
1360 West Main St.

Dave Stryker grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and
moved to New York City in 1980. After
establishing himself in the local music scene, he
joined organist Jack McDuff’s group for two years
1984-85. When McDuff wasn’t on the road
(literally traveling by van all over the country)
they worked a steady four-night a week gig at
Dude’s Lounge in Harlem. It was at Dude’s
Lounge that Stryker met tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, who would occasionally sit in. After leaving
McDuff, Turrentine asked Stryker to join his quintet. From 1986-1995 he played with the legendary
saxophonist at all the major festivals, concert halls, and clubs throughout the world. He is featured on two
Turrentine CD’s. Early on Stryker realized that as much as he loved playing standards and the jazz repertoire
he had to have something of his own to give to the music. He feels that his writing combined with his playing
is what shapes his musical expression. He has recorded and published over 150 of his own compositions and
has released “The Dave Stryker Songbook” with most of his original music. Dave is the Adjunct Professor of
Jazz guitar at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and at the John J. Cali School of Music at
Montclair State University. He is passing along his experience by teaching privately at The Aebersold
Summer Jazz Workshop, The Litchfield Jazz Camp, and the Jazzhouse Kids Workshop in Montclair, NJ.

Check out his website at: http://www.davestryker.com
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Millikin Opera Theatre Presents
Los Vagamundos y Ciegos Fingidos
(“The phony blind beggars ”)
Friday, April 8, 6:00 & 7:30 pm
Kaeuper Hall
Free and open to the public

Composed by Ventura Galvan in the late 1700s, the comic plot centers on the plan devised by a wife and her
cousin to dress the husband up as a blind beggar while they (each pretending to be blind in one eye herself)
“lead” the poor wretch around singing songs and begging in order to pay off their overdue bills. The opera
features a cast of three and has been edited, adapted and directed by senior Vocal Performance major Abigail
Karnes, who will also perform one of the roles. The opera lasts approximately 30 minutes with dialogue in
English and songs sung in the original Spanish.
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Dan Aykroyd, Judith Belushi and
Music Director Paul Shaffer Present
“The Official Blues Brothers Revue”
TM
Friday, April 8, 7:30 pm
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Tickets: $20-$35, school age $5

“A hand-clappin’, foot-stompin’, good time”
-Jeff Johnson, The Chicago Sun Times

“The official Blues Brothers Revue” duo is
sanctioned by Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi
to don the official hat and sunglasses and walk in
the legendary footsteps of Jake and Elwood
Blues. Discovered in Las Vegas, performers
Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty capture the
infectious humor and unbridled spirit of the
Blues Brothers like no one since John Belushi
and Dan Aykroyd walked the stage. Backed by a
powerhouse band, they’ll give you a show to
remember, packed with classic hits from the
Blues Brothers catalog, including Soul Man,
Rubber Biscuit, Sweet Home Chicago, and more.
For a night of laughter, dancing, and
foot-stompin’ fun, join us!
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Faculty Piano Recital
The Voices of Taiwan featuring
Pei-I Wang & Meng-Chun Chien
Sunday, April 10, 7:30 pm
Kaeuper Hall
Free and open to the public

Millikin University cordially invites you to a concert
featuring a selection of Taiwanese composers’ piano
compositions. The concert will include works for piano
solo, piano duet, and piano duo music. Compositional
styles include character pieces, suite, waltz, the
transcriptions of the Taiwanese aboriginal music,
variations, the arrangements of Taiwanese folk tunes,
the atonal works, and the delightful Western-Chinese
synthetic medleys. The 2011 Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition award-winning pianist Dr. Pei-I
Wang will perform the recital in conjunction with the arising young artist, Meng-Chun Chien, 1st prize winner
of the 2016 Kankakee Piano Concerto Competition.

Two prominent Taiwanese composers Shui-Long Ma (1939-2015) and Tyzen Hsiao (1938-2015) passed away
last year. Both of the composers were highly respected in the Taiwanese music society. The legacy and musical
heritage that they left were immense, and their dedication and effort to the music education were invaluable to
the following generations. As a tribute to these two great composers, I have pulled together compositions
written by other composers who also received the western musical training and adapted the Taiwanese or
Chinese folkloric influences in their compositions. Those composers include Yen Lu, Su-Ti Chen, Gordon
Chin, Wille-Yeh Piano Duo, and Sung-Yang Luo. The approaches and formats of composing from
composer-to-composer, age-to-age are distinctive. In acknowledging those wonderful composers and their
works, the concert will not only bring the audiences to enjoy Taiwanese cultural and musical traditions
through the classical medium - piano, but also reflect their accomplishments on the viewpoints of
Ethnomusicology and recognize them as major contributors to the Taiwanese composition leagues and music
society.
BFA Senior Art Exhibits
The Annual Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree Senior Exhibitions feature a variety of outstanding by senior
BFA students in partial fulfillment of their degree requirements. Areas represented include: painting,
drawing, sculpture, ceramics, design, photography, printmaking, and mixed media.

 “Subtle Shifts” by Rachel Quanstrom will be on display April 11-15 in Kirkland Fine Arts Center,
Lower Gallery. Her opening reception will be Saturday, April 9 from 1:00-3:00 pm.

 “Impermanence” by Kayla Lovel and Xin “Water” Zhao will be on display April 16-21 in Kirkland Fine Arts
Center, Perkinson Gallery. Their opening reception will be Saturday, April 16 from 1:00-3:00 pm.

 “Damages” by Anna Schwartz, Jared Britton, and Carly Conway will be on display April 25-29 in Kirkland
Fine Arts Center, Lower Gallery and Perkinson Gallery. Their opening reception will be Sunday, April 21
from 1:00-3:00 pm.
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Guest Brass Masterclass and Recital

Karin Bliznik, trumpet and Amanda Stewart, trombone
Sponsored in part by the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur
Tuesday, April 12
Masterclass for University Trumpet and Trombone players, 1:00-3:00 pm
Masterclass for the High School Brass players, 3:30-5:00 pm
Joint Recital, 7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall
All events are free and open to the public

Karin Bliznik, from Brockton, Massachusetts, is currently Principal trumpet of the
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the SLSO, Karin held the
Associate Principal position in the Atlanta Symphony as well as Principal positions
with the Santa Fe Opera, Charlotte Symphony, and the Charleston Symphony.

Karin received her Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where
she studied with Barbara Butler, Charles Geyer, and Christopher Martin. She
earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University studying with Terry
Everson and Thomas Rolfs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Karin spends several weeks of her summer teaching and performing at the Aspen
Music Festival. She has appeared in performances and masterclasses at the
National Brass Symposium, the National Trumpet Competition, and the
International Trumpet Guild.

Amanda Stewart is currently the Associate Principal trombonist of the
St. Louis Symphony, a position she began the Fall of 2014. Born in
Oakland, Maryland, she began playing the trombone at the age of six. Her
studies started with Harold Hudnall and continued with Dr. Keith Jackson,
professor of trombone and euphonium at West Virginia University. She
received her bachelor of music degree from The Juilliard School in 2004,
studying with Joseph Alessi.

Ms. Stewart was Principal trombonist of the San Antonio Symphony for
eight seasons and Associate Principal trombonist of the New York
Philharmonic for two seasons. She was also the Assistant Principal
trombonist of the Lyric Opera of San Antonio for four seasons. Ms. Stewart
has also been a regular substitute and extra player with the Boston
Symphony and has also performed with the Baltimore, Dallas, Houston,
Kansas City, National, North Carolina, and Toronto Symphonies.

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Guest Instrumental Recital
Karin Kelleher, violin
Wednesday, April 13, 6:00 pm
Kaeuper Hall
Free and open to the public

Washington DC Area Violinist, Karin Howells Kelleher, will perform in
recital at Millikin University. She will be joined by Millikin University’s
Prof. Amy Catron on cello, and with guest artist Laura Hourt on violin.
In addition, Ms. Kelleher will conduct a masterclass for university
students at 2:00 pm on April 12 in Perkinson Music Building, Room
221. The masterclass will include an informative discussion on work
strategies for freelance musicians.

Her diverse recital program will include works by Bartok, Trigg, Bach,
Rimsky-Korsakov, and Ravel. In recent years, Karin’s recital series has
featured an eclectic mix of music which appeals to a broad audience.
Her programming includes serious classical music as well as lighter,
more accessible fare.
Department of Theatre and Dance

Thursday, April 14, 7:30 pm
Friday, April 15, 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 16, 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 17, 2:00 pm
Albert Taylor Theatre
Tickets: $16-$18

Music by Alan Menken
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Directed by Kevin Long

Based on the 1960s cult horror film, Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy rock musical, by composer
Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds
on human blood and flesh. This campy little pop-rock musical has been charming audiences for over 30
years. Join us for this clever musical from the writers of the Disney classics The Little Mermaid, Beauty and
the Beast, and Aladdin and find out what happens.
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Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra
Season Finale Concert
Saturday, April 16, 7:30 pm
Kirkland Fine Arts Center
Tickets: $13-$16.50

MDSO's all-American gala Finale features all of the
big tunes from Porgy and Bess, starring
Janice Chandler-Eteme and Leon Williams, two of
the top Porgy soloists on the scene today, along with
the Millikin Union of Choirs. Supported by David
and Norma Fathauer.
School of Music Recitals
Sunday, April 3, 2:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Junior and Senior Voice Recital, Tess Slack, soprano & Ashley Faulkner, mezzo-soprano

Monday, April 4, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Instrumental Recital, Adam Wissman, guitar

Sunday, April 10, 4:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Voice Recital, Christina Cummins, mezzo-soprano & Kyle Johnson, baritone

Monday, April 11, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Instrumental Recital, Michael Guerra, guitar

Friday, April 15, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Instrumental Recital, Brock Gwaltney, piano

Sunday, April 17, 4:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Instrumental Recital, Jared Rixstine, piano

Friday, April 22, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Voice Recital, Tyler Henderson, baritone & Michael Lambton, baritone

Sunday, April 24 in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Voice Recital, Olivia Barnec, Mezzo-soprano & Savannah Riestenberg, soprano, 2:00 pm
 Senior Instrumental Recital, Maddy Katcher, cello, 6:00 pm
 Senior Voice Recital, Kyle McArdell, baritone & Kyle Schrage, baritone, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, April 27, 7:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Voice Recital, Jacqueline Dumitrescu, mezzo-soprano & Ashley Mustard, mezzo-soprano

Friday, April 29, 7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall
 Senior Voice Recital, Christina Kruger, mezzo-soprano

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