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Annual gala concert features rare opportunity to hear ‘Concert Selections from Leonard Bernstein’s MASS’

Lauren Jefferson — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:00:47 +0000

Leonard Bernstein’s commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy for the 1971 dedication of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., is subtitled “A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers.”

Witnessing a full-length performance, as �� professor did in 1981 for the center’s 10-year anniversary, is “mind-blowing.”

“The complete work requires a marching band, rock band, symphonic orchestra, two choirs, a children’s choir, and a raft of soloists,” explains Nafziger. “And as you can imagine, you can’t just do this anywhere. Oh, and a ballet. There’s also a ballet … and the Alvin Ailey dancers.”

Lacking such an expansive stage, as well as a ballet and a marching band among other necessities, Nafziger and colleagues and are providing the next best opportunity. The works’ perennial themes of faith and doubt and the clash of tradition with modernity take center stage – albeit in an abridged version – at the university’s annual gala music concert Nov. 14, 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium.

Bernstein’s selections the highlight

Music lovers who regularly attend ��’s annual gala concert, and those coming for the first time, will be delighted at this rare opportunity to hear “Concert Selections from Leonard Bernstein’s MASS” by , the only sanctioned, abridged version in the history of this major work.

“MASS” features the experience of “a celebrant observing a mass who finds himself in the midst of the noisy, discordant sounds of church culture,” Nafziger says. “His intention is to strip the noise away and find out what is at the core of the mass, which raises questions of faith and nonfaith, borrows all kinds of styles of music … and when it comes to that point in the mass when the wine and the bread are consecrated, he throws the chalice onto the floor, a most grievous sin in the Catholic religion. Out of that breakdown of his own faith, he finds a need to go on anyway and returns to the idea that to praise God properly, one needs to do it simply.”

Vocal soloists include sophomore Sarah Sutter, juniors Sam Swartzendruber and Jon Bishop, and seniors Guilio Garner and Heather Evans.

A musical showcase

While the Bernstein piece will be the highlight, other works are also in the evening’s program. The annual concert brings together the Chamber Singers, men’s and women’s choirs, Emulate, Chamber Orchestra, and the Wind Ensemble.

“The annual gala concert is an opportunity for the music department to showcase most of our ensembles and the large number of students who participate in our programs,” says Griffing, who conducts the orchestra. “We welcome the community to come out and help us celebrate and support the hard work of many while enjoying a wide variety of repertoire.”

The Wind Ensemble, directed by , will perform Gustav Holst’s “Suite for Winds.” The Chamber Orchestra will perform a portion of Ernest Bloch’s “Concerto Grosso” for strings and piano. Professor , baritone, will be featured in an aria from the Bach cantata “Ich habe henug.”

The concert is the primary fundraiser for the music scholarship fund. The suggested donation is $10 per person.

Concerts, sports, arts and reunions on tap for 2015 Homecoming and Family Weekend

Lauren Jefferson — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 17:11:41 +0000

��’s Homecoming and Family Weekend “Celebrating People, Places, and Programs” on Oct. 9-11 has something for every Royal, future Royal or Royals fan.

Highlights include musical performances, sporting events to spectate or participate in, departmental breakfasts and intellectual events, and the traditional community seasonal dinner on Saturday night followed by a Sunday worship service. Reunions for classes in the years ending “0” and “5” will also take place.

The dedication of East will be at 10 a.m. with tours offered at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

is encouraged by midnight, Oct. 6. Some events require purchase of a ticket. Visit the

Concerts and lectures

Joseph Gascho ’68

Cardiologist Joseph Gascho ’68 will followed by student musical ensemble Emulate on Friday night. He’ll also present a Suter Science Seminar on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning also includes several breakfasts and lectures, hosted by (Bible and religion),, , departments, and the .

The Reunion Vocal Band, a traditional favorite, performs at 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium.

Class Reunions: Years ending in “0” and “5”

The opening reunion program in Lehman Auditorium is Saturday from 11-11:30 a.m. at Lehman Auditorium after which classes with gather for photos, reunions, and lunch. View the photo gallery of past reunions.

The Jubilee Alumni reception, during which the class of 1965 will be inducted, is Saturday afternoon at Martin Chapel.

Athletics events

The annual Paul R. Yoder, Sr. Golf Classic, named in honor of the late Paul R. Yoder Sr., a longtime Mennonite pastor and avid �� sports fan, will be Friday at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg.

Wendy Driver Rhodes ’05

New this year, the 2-mile Canvas Campus Run starts at 2 p.m. at the fountain. Pre-register for a t-shirt. Enjoy music on the front lawn and snacks and water after the first mile.

The induction will take place in the morning. Wendy Driver Rhodes ‘05 qualified for the NCAA national meet four times as a triple jumper, and also won four ODAC titles. She broke six records at Eastern Mennonite, and also set the ODAC record in the outdoor triple jump at the 2005 ODAC Championships. A decade later, her mark of 37’ 7.75” still stands as the ODAC Championship record.

The 1998 men’s soccer team, one of just four teams inducted into the hall, will be honored. That year the team won their second ODAC Championship in three years, but also earned the program’s first NCAA National Tournament bid. The Royals beat Emory College to advance to the Sweet 16 of the tourney, before losing to regional host Greensboro College.

Three games will be played on the Turf Field Saturday: field hockey vs. Washington and Lee, 1 p.m.; men’s soccer vs. Randolph, 4 p.m.; and women’s soccer vs. Washington and Lee, 7 p.m.

Worship services

Worship services begin and end the weekend’s celebration. (Photo by Michael Sheeler)

Two services bookend the weekend. A Homecoming chapel assembly will be at 10 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium. ’05, Outstanding Young Alum recipient, will be the guest speaker.

A Sunday worship service, also at Lehman Auditorium at 10 a.m., will offer celebration in song and scripture. Histand, as well as Alumnus of the Year ‘68, and Lifetime of Distinguished Service recipient ’54, will be recognized and will participate in this service.

Poetry of and from the heart: cardiologist Joseph Gascho ’68 brings new perspectives of medicine, healing to Homecoming

Walt Wiltshek — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 16:34:34 +0000

Contract, pump, relax, fill. The heart takes blood in, then pumps it back out through the body, with life in each heartbeat.

Joseph Gascho notices these patterns in his work as a cardiologist at Penn State University’s Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center. He also notices them in his , weaving the two fields together seamlessly.

“There is a medical term called diastole,” Gascho said. “It’s the phase of a heart cycle when the heart relaxes and blood is coming in. It’s a metaphor for me of what we take in, and it’s really important what we take in, because that then determines what goes out.”

Gascho’s photography and poetry often includes images of the heart, like this one of the left atrium, left ventricle and aorta with the color demonstrating the flow of blood into and out of the heart. (Courtesy of Joseph Gascho)

Two of Gascho’s primary outlets include poetry and photography, including a photo collection he titled “Diastole.” Other works include the photo series “Flowers,” “Leaves,” and “Sky,” as well as a collection of echocardiogram-inspired poetry titled “Echo Poems” and a 2014 .

Gascho will share from his work at two events during ��’s Oct. 9-10. The first will be a gallery showing and poetry recital at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, followed by musical guests in the University Commons’ Common Grounds coffeehouse. The second will be a more medically oriented presentation at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in Science Center 106.

‘Ears and eyes open’

In both presentations, Gascho will share how he tries to open people to new perspectives.

“To me, seeing is a really, really big thing,” Gascho says. “One of my favorite biblical passages is the Emmaus Road story, where the disciples’ eyes are opened with the breaking of bread. As a physician, I try to have my ears and my eyes open not just for physical signs or for abnormal sounds from the stethoscope but also trying to take in something about the patient, what makes the patient tick.

“So what I hope for in my art is that people would see things in different ways—to see a patient differently or understand something about themselves, about medicine, healing, et cetera, in a different way. When we see things in a different way, it’s kind of an ‘a-ha’ moment, an epiphany, and we can do things differently. We tend to make the most changes when we have those moments. That’s what I hope a photograph or a poem can be.”

One of the “Patient Portraits” series, on permanent display at Hershey Medical Center. (Courtesy of Joseph Gascho)

One of Gascho’s projects—on permanent display at Hershey—is titled “Patient Portraits,” a series of 50 patient photographs that contain abbreviated, cryptic notes about the patients’ medical conditions but also show their humanity. Most of them are long-time patients, and Gascho says they have been glad to assist.

“Ninety-five percent are delighted to have their pictures taken,” he says. “My point is to show they are more than just patients; they’re people, as well.”

Promoting a holistic approach to medicine

Gascho says that ethos is embedded in the work of Hershey Medical Center. While he is a professor of medicine and teaches about cardiology, he also teaches in the humanities and tries to introduce students to other aspects of medicine—the “non-scientific but important side.” He says that balance is a “real strength” of Hershey, which was one of the first schools to advance that holistic approach.

Eastern Mennonite also provided some of the foundation for Gascho’s work. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School (EMHS) and later spent his senior year of college in Harrisonburg following two years as a conscientious objector at Lankenau Hospital just outside of Philadelphia, where he took classes while serving as a medical research “guinea pig.”

He mentions chemistry professor emeritus Glenn Kauffman as a particular influence, someone who knew and taught science well but also built his own harpsichord and appreciated music and art. Gascho’s parents, Alvin and Irene, also worked at ��. His father, a former pastor, became a maintenance worker so his son could attend EMHS.

Gascho says he will likely share poems about his father during the Homecoming Weekend visit, along with medicine-themed poems, some of his “Echo Poems,” and more—expect “a variety of things,” he says.

Given secret ingredient and instruments, ��’s own ‘Iron Composer’ Ryan Keebaugh goes to work

Randi B. Hagi — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 11:51:22 +0000

Five hours, three instruments, unfamiliar musicians and a board game – these were the components of the 2015 competition in Berea, Ohio on Sept. 4. This year, �� assistant professor of music was one of five finalists selected from 3,000 global applicants. While he did not win, the competition stretched and challenged him as an artist (visit ).

The event is styled after the TV show “Iron Chef” – contestants must write a musical composition inspired by a “secret ingredient,” and score it for the ensemble at hand within a prescribed deadline. The pieces are performed that evening.

The contest has been staged since 2007 by the eclectic New York-based production company ; the directors have local ties to the Ohio area.

Keebaugh responded to the call for submissions about a year ago with his choral composition “The Suffering Servant” ( by the University of South Florida Chamber Singers) and “Thy Light Which is Brighter than the Sun and Moon,” a choral and string composition commissioned by �� music professor .

Keebaugh then forgot about the contest. At ��, he has a busy schedule, teaching and instructing in the music program, as well as organizing leading the university’s elite vocal ensemble, .

When the invitation to compete came, though, he readily took up the challenge. At Baldwin Wallace University, Keebaugh met with fellow composers and competitors Kirsten Broberg of the University of North Texas, Dorothy Hindman of the University of Miami, Rica Narimoto of Japan, and eventual winner Tawnie Olson of the Hartt School of Music.

Ryan Keebaugh inspects board games, the secret ingredient of the 2015 Iron Composer contest. His composition was eventually inspired by Mystery Mansion, a game from the 1980s.

The five composers were provided antique board games as their “secret ingredient,” from which they could each choose one as their inspiration piece. Past years’ secret ingredients include musical motifs, a music box, an assortment of sticks and stones, eight seconds of silence, and audience participation. Contest organizers actively solicit new secret ingredients . Keebaugh selected a 1980s game in which players build and navigate a Victorian mansion in search of hidden treasure.

“I’m a master of Mystery Mansion,” he joked. For the first 30 minutes of the five-hour composing session, he sat and played through the game by himself.

His composition, titled “Ardent Shimmer,” employs the sound icon to represent golden treasure. The sound icon, an instrument invented by Romanian-French composer Horațiu Rădulescu, is an open grand piano set on its side and played with a bow.

The other instruments of the predetermined ensemble were the celesta – a harmonium-like keyboard which controls hammers striking steel plates to play notes – and the recorder. Keebaugh used the celesta and recorder to represent opposing players racing through the mansion. After the writing session, each composer had a half-hour with the musicians to rehearse the composition before it was performed. A panel of judges selected the winner.

Olson, the winning composer, was awarded $500 in cash and a $500 commission for a new work.

The experience interested Keebaugh in composing for unfamiliar instruments, like the recorder, and showed him that he “can create something that’s artistic in five hours.”

The highlight of the “stressful, but fun” event was “meeting all these composers from all over the world, and seeing what they’re doing.” Keebaugh expressed affirmation for the four other composers – in the male-dominated field, a contest of 80% female competitors is unusual.

“It’s about time, because they’re all so talented,” he said.

Keebaugh brings back to his personal work the confidence that, to compose well, “just follow your instinct, and your own voice,” rather than try to imitate others’ styles.

To listen to the music of Iron Composer finalists, click .

Emulate, a new elite vocal ensemble led by music professor Ryan Keebaugh, visits Pennsylvania for inaugural tour

Lauren Jefferson — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:26:04 +0000

Emulate, a new elite vocal ensemble from ��, will travel to Pennsylvania for a four-day “Spring Break Tour” March 5-8. In addition to four concerts at area churches, the group will perform at chapel and provide workshops in music classes at Lancaster Mennonite School.

The 16-member group, led by assistant professor of music , specializes in madrigals, jazz, and modern and contemporary concert literature, both secular and sacred.

��’s newest ensemble is comprised of the “best of the best,” said Keebaugh. “I needed singers who could learn music quickly, were strong musicians, and able to balance this time commitment among their many other involvements.”

The son of an organist and a Brethren minister, Keebaugh is an experienced choir director and a widely traveled and oft-performed composer. He earned his DMA at The Catholic University of America, and was previously choral director at Mary Baldwin College and director of choral activities at Clarke County High School.

Keebaugh praised this particular group for their dedication. “These are incredibly hard-working and passionate musicians, who are also very strong representatives of �� and .”

Paying tribute to musical roots, Keebaugh noted that Emulate includes nine graduates and former participants of two strong high school music programs.

Sophomore Jon Bishop joins Abby Bush and Jaclyn Kratz in representing . A tenor majoring in vocal performance and composition with a social environmental sustainability minor, Bishop calls this new group “focused” and “well-rounded.”

Junior Jeffrey Smoker, a business major who sings bass, is an experienced choral performer, having toured while at (EMHS) and. Fellow EMHS graduates in the group include Hannah Shultz, Caitlin Holsapple, Michaela Mast, Eli Wenger and Perry Blosser.

“Emulate is a group of talented singers who have been able to come together very quickly and sing challenging music,” Smoker said. “I was very impressed that by the end of our first rehearsal, we had sight-read four or five pieces, and they sounded pretty good. I am really excited to see and hear what we can do over the next few months.”

Local ties make this tour especially appealing, said senior Erin Hershey, who is among six Pennsylvania natives in the group. She and junior Luisa Miller are members of Slate Hill Mennonite Church, which hosts Emulate on March 5.

Rounding out the group are Heather Evans, of Alexandria, Virginia; Mischa De Jesus, of Kalona, Iowa; Jake Rhine, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Guilio Garner, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Nathaneal Ressler, of Mount Vernon, Illinois.

The Pennsylvania tour is a prelude to a longer two-week tour this summer through the midwest, with final performances at the June 30-July 5 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Schedule:

March 5 – 7 p.m., Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Camp Hill, PA

March 6 – 6:30 p.m., James Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA

March 7 – 7 p.m., Martinsburg Memorial Church of the Brethren, Martinsburg, PA

March 8 – 9:30 a.m. worship service, University Mennonite Church, State College, PA

Emulate Archives - ���������� News