October 02, 2013

Morris Library to host musical showcase

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A new musical showcase at Southern Illinois University Carbondale the first Friday of each month will spotlight the talents and artistry of SIU students.

The First Fridays Music at Morris is a free lunchtime concert series.  Open to the university and community, the series begins Friday, Oct. 4.  The performances will take place at noon in the Morris Library Rotunda giving student musicians, along with select faculty and area musicians, the chance to perform before a live audience in an intimate setting.  Event sponsors are the School of Music, Morris Library and the Friends of Morris Library.

“The First Fridays at Morris series is a terrific opportunity for School of Music students to perform in a public setting and get incredible concert experience.  The Rotunda space offers very nice acoustics and the concerts will allow us to reach people who perhaps would not normally come to our facilities or performances,” said Edward Benyas, director of orchestras and professor of oboe.

Those attending the concerts may also purchase, on a pre-order basis, a special $5.95 brown bag lunch at Delyte’s, the library’s café and coffee shop, to enjoy as they listen.  Visit lib.siu.edu/first-friday-lunches to pre-order the brown bag lunch, which features a choice of three sandwiches, chips and drink, or to reserve a salad or other lunch options.

The fall 2013 First Fridays Music at Morris schedule, along with the concert details and the names of the performers, includes:

Oct. 4

  • The University Concert Choir will perform selections from their “Things that Go Bump in the Night” concert. The ensemble’s 40 members are chosen by audition and they will present music from Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” and William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus.”
  • The graduate woodwind quartet will play selections from Eugene Bozza, Jean Francaix and Isaac Albeniz.  The group includes master’s student bassoonist Joseph Ryker, senior oboist Andrew Leitza and recent master’s degree graduates Jon Goodman on clarinet and Abigail Simoneau on flute.  

Nov. 1

  • The percussion ensemble will perform “Swell Piece,” one of James Tenney’s ten “postal pieces,” originally dedicated to Fluxus artist Alison Knowles.  The concert will feature undergraduate students Vito Bellino, Cameron Ellison, Darion Elzia, Tommy Embrich, Sean Harris, Levi Jones, Tim Strelzyk and Rashad Woods-Faison. along with graduate student Paul Intravaia playing various instruments. 
  • The SIU Carbondale Oboe Trio, including graduate students Gregory Tomlinson and Andrew Leitza along with Benyas, will perform the virtuosic “Capriccio” by Carlo Yvon.

Dec. 6

  • The Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater will present a variety of scenes from famous operas, sung in Italian and English.  Featured graduate student singers include baritone Stephen Kuhn, bass Brent Gravois, tenor Richie Lisenby, baritone Cliff Warf and undergraduate mezzo-soprano Allison Spiller.  Graduate student Nicholas Radcliffe will direct and Paul Transue, associate professor of music, will provide accompaniment.  The presentation will include scenes from “The Barber of Seville,” “The Mikada,” “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Falstaff.”

Organizers plan to continue the First Fridays Music at Morris series during the spring 2014 semester.