Art Department Presents... Calendar of Events March 1—April 8 The Matchbook Series:  The Matchbook Series: Miniature Paintings by Miniature Paintings by Michael Dubina, Perkinson Michael Dubina Art Gallery March 1-April 8 Tuesday, March 1 Perkinson Art Gallery in  Vocal Jazz Ensemble Kirkland Fine Arts Center Exchange with Illinois Open Monday-Friday 12:00-5:00 pm Wesleyan and University

Michael Dubina has been an acclaimed painter of the of Illinois, 5:00 pm at Midwestern landscape for over 20 years. While known Westminster Presbyterian for his large scale panoramic works, his newest Church, 1360 W. Main St. landscape paintings are rendered in minute, evocative Saturday, March 5 and visionary detail. These jewel-like works embody at  Jazz at LSB with OneVoice once a sense of magic realism and an expansive, romantic expressionism. The & Jazz Band II, images are painted with traditional oil techniques on the inside of matchbook 3:30-5:30 pm covers, and are floated in over-sized black frames which complement the  Millikin-Decatur physicality of the painted object. Symphony Orchestra presents Conductor In Dubina’s work one can sense such influences as the atmospheric qualities of Candidate, Sergey Bogza, 19th century tonalism, the tranquility of Luminism, and the romantic spiritualism 7:30 pm in Kirkland Fine of the Hudson River School. But instead of looking back nostalgically, Dubina Arts Center brings these qualities into our time, placing his striking attempts to conjure the Sunday, March 6 sublime on the inside of common everyday restaurant matchbook covers.  Tudor Voices Spring Concert, 2:00 pm at First Add to this the inspirational quotes, sometimes by famous people, sometimes by Lutheran Church, 250 fellow artists, and sometimes by Dubina himself, and one gets the added sense of West Decatur St. both timeliness and timelessness in his works.  Symphonic Wind

And finally, Dubina has cleverly adopted the strategy of working on, and Ensemble with O’Fallon, completing one painting per day, so that each of these paintings is corresponding Illinois High School Wind Ensemble, 4:00 pm in with the day they were created in the series. This not only ties each to a specific Kirkland Fine Arts Center day, but also frames the artist’s commitment to his daily studio practice. Monday, March 7 A reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, March 10, from 5:00-7:00 pm  Junior Voice Recital with in Perkinson Art Gallery. Aidan Singh, baritone and Richard Trask, baritone, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall Wednesday, March 9  Birds with Strings— Faculty Jazz, 7:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1360 W. Main St. Thursday, March 10  Reception for Michael Dubina, 5:00-7:00 pm in Perkinson Art Gallery Calendar of Events School of Music Continued Friday, March 11

 Senior Voice Recital with

Kayleigh Bella, soprano &

Lexy Bieber,

mezzo-soprano, 6:00 pm

in Kaeuper Hall

 Guest Piano Recital with

Geoffrey Duce, piano,

7:30 pm in Kaeuper Hall

Saturday, March 12

 Cinderella—the Ballet,

2:00 pm & 7:30 pm in

Kirkland Fine Arts Center

Sunday, March 13

 Avanti Trio, 2:00 pm in

Kaeuper Hall

 Guest Instrumental

Recital with Marta Vocal Jazz Ensemble Exchange Simidtchieva, cello, Tuesday, March 1, 5:00 pm 4:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall Westminster Presbyterian Church Tuesday, March 15 1360 West Main St.  Lenten Concert, 7:00 pm Free and open to the public at Central Christian Church, 650 W. William Vocal Jazz Ensembles from three universities will gather together for an exchange  Jazz Band I with Gary on March 1 at Westminster Church 5:00pm. Each group will perform several Smulyan, 7:30 pm at pieces and then all will gather for a social event in the Perkinson Music Center. Westminster Presbyterian Schools are University of Illinois (Kristin Sponccia), Illinois Wesleyan (Drew Church, 1360 W. Main St. Dahan) and both Millikin groups, OneVoice (Steve Widenhofer) and BluBop Thursday, March 17 (Brenna Pfeifer). The idea for this is to hear what each school is doing in the vocal  St. Patrick’s Day Concert jazz genre and to foster collegiality among the directors and students. with Millikin Men, 6:00 pm & 7:30 pm in Birks Museum located in Gorin Hall Saturday, March 26  Jazz at LSB with Dixie Daredevils, 3:30-5:30 pm Wednesday, March 30  Opera Workshop Recital, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall Thursday, March 31  Junior Voice Recital with Eric McCarter, tenor & Michael Sheldon, tenor, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall

2 Art Department

Congratulations to the following Millikin Art Students for winning awards in the 7th Annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference Juried College Art Show, Feb 26-27 in Lisle, Illinois. The Mission of the SEA is as follows: "To provide educational resources to help aspiring artists gain the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed to establish and maintain a career as an independent artist. "

The juror selected 31 pieces from over 100 submitted. Of the 31 pieces selected for the exhibition, the following Millikin students were included: Taryn Pepping, Katie Stitzel, Emma Morrison, Kat Scarim, and Kayla Lovel. Of this group, the following won awards: Kayla Lovel "Best in Show Award". Emma Morrison "Juror's Choice Award"

Pictured left to right: Michelle Holsapple, Katie Stitzel, Fransisco Gama, Emma Morrison, professor Salmi, Kat Scarim, Taryn Pepping, SEA Art Juror Amanda Voltz.

3 Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Candidate, Sergey Bogza, & Young Artists Concert No. 2 Saturday, March 5, 7:30 pm Kirkland Fine Arts Center Tickets $13-$16.50

Sergey Bogza is the Artistic Director of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Music Director and Conductor of the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra, and is an active composer and pianist. A native of Taganrog, Russia, he earned a Doctor of Music from the University of Minnesota, Master of Music from Central Washington University, and Bachelor of Music from Portland State University.

Previously, Mr. Bogza was Music Director of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Hyperion Singers, and assistant conductor/instructor at Central Washington University. Mr. Bogza has been invited to conduct the Berlin Sinfonietta, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music orchestras, and has conducted the Discovery Series at the Oregon Bach Festival for three consecutive years.

During his time at University of Minnesota, Mr. Bogza premiered two American operas, Sister Carrie and Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern by Grammy Award-winning composers Robert Aldridge and Hershel Garfein. He also led productions of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, served as assistant to Mark Russell Smith, and led the campus orchestra program.

In addition to his work on the podium, Mr. Bogza is an internationally performed composer. With over 40 compositions and arrangements, his works have been performed across the U.S. and featured at the New Music Festival in Kazan, Russia. His composition Remember premiered in 2013, and has since been performed in Germany and Russia. Mr. Bogza's doctorate dissertation featured a multi-media presentation of his chamber orchestra transcription of Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote; he is working on similar transcription for Rite of Spring and Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche.

Appearing with Mr. Bogza will be two Millikin students, Jared Rixstine, piano and Amy Mazzeo, soprano. College of Fine Arts Patrons Society

The Millikin University College of Fine Arts Patrons Society was created to benefit the over 600 Millikin student-artists participating in nearly 20 degree programs. Membership dues provide budget support and help create special projects which might otherwise go unfunded. The society’s mission is to bring together the university and individuals who believe in the promotion and support of the fine and performing arts and the student-artist at Millikin University. If you would like more information about the Patrons Society, you can visit the web at: www.millikin.edu/patrons-society, or you may also contact us by phone at the College of Fine Arts 217-362-6499.

4 School of Music Events

Tudor Voices Spring Concert Sunday, March 6, 2:00 pm First Lutheran Church 250 West Decatur St. Free and open to the public

Monticello High School choirs will join Tudor Voices for this event.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble Gary Shaw, conductor Performing with O’Fallon, Illinois High School Wind Ensemble Melissa Gustavson-Hinds, conductor Sunday, March 6, 4:00 pm Kirkland Fine Arts Center Free and open to the public

Faculty Jazz with Perry Rask Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 1360 West Main St. Free and open to the public

The concert is the music of bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker ("Bird") with Strings. Perry will be accompanied by the members of the Millikin Faculty Jazz Sextet, augmented by seven string players, oboe, horn and harp.

5 Guest Piano Recital

Geoffrey Duce, piano Friday, March 11 Piano Masterclass, 2:00-4:00 pm Perkinson Music Center Solo Recital, 7:30 pm Kaeuper Hall Both events are free and open to the public

Pianist Geoffrey Duce has performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Berlin’s Philharmonie and Konzerthaus, London’s Wigmore Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall, across Europe and in Japan and Hong Kong.

Duce’s career has featured both solo and collaborative performances. As a concerto soloist he has appeared with the Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, the Chattanooga and Olympia Symphony Orchestras, the Edinburgh Philharmonic, the New York Sinfonietta, and the Dundee Symphony Orchestra, and as a chamber musician and accompanist he has recorded for BBC Radio 3. He won the Young Artists Award from the National Federation of Music Societies, and was awarded the Prix de Piano at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. He has given masterclasses at colleges and music schools, including at Hawaii University, St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada, Shorter and Darton Colleges in Georgia, USA, at the Academy of Music Northwest in Seattle, and in the Middle East.

Originally from Scotland, Duce initially studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University before receiving a DAAD scholarship to the Universität der Künste, Berlin. He received his doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music, where he was also a faculty member, and has also held positions at the State University of New York and at Indiana University South Bend. He is currently Assistant Professor of Piano at Illinois State University.

School of Music Voice Recitals

Monday, March 7, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall  Junior Voice Recital, Aidan Singh, baritone and Richard Trask, baritone

Friday, March 11, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall  Senior Voice Recital, Kayleigh Bella, soprano and Lexy Bieber, mezzo-soprano

Thursday, March 31, 6:00 pm in Kaeuper Hall  Junior Voice Recital, Eric McCarter, tenor and Michael Sheldon, tenor

6 Kirkland Fine Arts Center

A Happily Ever Afternoon- a magical pre-show event Saturday, March 12, 12:00 pm Lobby of Kirkland Fine Arts Center Tickets: $10

An afternoon with Cinderella. Enjoy light refreshments, exciting games, costume fun, face painting, prizes and much more

Cinderella—the Ballet Saturday, March 12, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm Kirkland Fine Arts Center Tickets: $25-$45, School Age—$5

Don’t miss the Minnesota Ballet as they bring to life this favorite fairy tale, set in the lush world of Renaissance Tuscany. Cinderella’s life is difficult enough with all the work she is expected to do, and her stepmother means very well, but, oh, those stepsisters! They have all the gawkiness and evil tricks, but Cinderella has all the grace and sweetness. The stepsisters flirt with the dancing master as they try to polish up their dance steps. At the ball they try to flirt with the Prince. All seems lost for Cinderella’s chance to go to the ball until the Three Graces arrive to magical- ly produce a gown fit for a future princess and perfect little coach fit to take her to the ball. It isn’t long before the Prince has eyes only for the new arrival, he then will search the kingdom over to find the beautiful maiden who left the ball so mysteriously.

Choreographer Allen Fields has created an appealing version of the Cinderella ballet, pared down to its essentials, the story sparkling with elegant dance and livened by the evil antics of the stepsisters. Cinderella is performed by the Minnesota Ballet company, all professional dancers, but the non-dancing roles of King and Queen are filled by local community celebrities.

"A magnificent must-see"--Duluth News Tribune

Check out the Minnesota Ballet website at: http://minnesotaballet.org/

7 School of Music

Avanti Guitar Trio Sunday, March 13, 2:00 pm Kaeuper Hall Free and open to the public

The Avanti Guitar Trio is a world-class chamber ensemble whose performances are exciting, approachable, and welcoming. Guitarists Jason Deroche, Julie Goldberg, and Wesley Hixson blend together pristine technique and sensitive interpretation, earning critical acclaim for their engaging concerts and varied programming. AGT repertoire ranges from the Baroque to Contemporary, and features newly composed music, engaging transcriptions of classical masterpieces, and an occasional rock/pop or jazz tune. Based in Chicago, Illinois, AGT has performed for the Waukegan Chamber Society, Chicago Composers’ Consortium, Illinois Wesleyan University, Quincy University, Church of Beethoven, and Harold Washington Chicago Public Library. AGT has shared the stage with renowned guitarists Benjamin Verdery, William Coulter, Las Guitarras de España, and Earl Klugh. Formed in 2010 the Avanti Guitar Trio continues to expand the guitar trio repertoire by composing/ transcribing new works and collaborating with established and upcoming composers.

Check out their website at: http://www.avantiguitartrio.com/ Guest Instrumental Recital

Marta Simidtchieva, cello Diana Umali, piano Sunday, March 13, 4:00 pm Kaeuper Hall Free and open to the public

Cellist Marta Simidtchieva and pianist Diana Umali will present a program entitled "Beautiful Pieces for Cello and Piano: Concert Transcriptions and Arrangements" including the Haydn Divertimento, Bartok Romanian Folk Dance, Granados Intermezzo, Tchaikovsky Nocturne, Schumann Fantasy Pieces, and the Weber Adagio and Rondo.

Dr. Marta Simidtchieva is currently the associate professor of cello at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and a member of the LeClaire Piano Trio. She is also a faculty of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she teaches and performs with the Eastern Festival orchestra led by Maestro Gerard Schwarz. A native of Bourgas, Bulgaria and graduate of the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in Sofia, she earned her doctorate of music from Florida State University where she was a student of Lubomir Georgiev, a member of the Eppes String Quartet.

Diana Umali is an assistant professor of music at Southwestern Illinois College. She has served as a staff accompanist with the St. Louis Children’s Choirs since January 2002 and previously taught at Saint Louis University and East Central College in Union, MO. As a collaborative pianist, she has accompanied recitals with the St. Louis Flute Society and at SIUE and has played as part of the Saint Louis Symphony’s Community Partnership Program. Her teachers include Linda Perry, Jennifer Lim-Judd and Pamela Dees.

8 Millikin University’s University Choir

Lenten Concert Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 pm Central Christian Church 650 W. William St. Tickets: $10

The Messiah by George Friderich Handel is most often equated with the Christmas season during which performances of Part 1 abound. The subject of Part 2 picks up from that point and leads us reflectively through Christ’s passion, resurrection and ascension into heaven. It is at the conclusion of part 2 that Handel places the Halleluiah Chorus. This performance returns to earlier practice when the performance was most often heard during the Lenten and Easter seasons. The choir is joined by chamber orchestra and William Gorton singing the demanding tenor role that predominates in Part 2. School of Music

Gary Smulyan with Jazz Band I Tuesday, March 15, 7:30 pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 1360 W. Main St. Free and open to the public

Gary Smulyan is truly one of the premier jazz saxophonists on the planet. He will be appearing with the Millikin University Jazz Band and will be conducting masterclasses for Millikin students.

Mr. Smulyan is the winner of the 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 Downbeat Critic’s Poll for Baritone Saxophonist of the Year. He is the winner of the 2009, 2010, 2015 Jazz Journalist Award for Baritone Saxophonist of the Year, and the winner of 2011 Jazz Times Critics and Readers Polls for Baritone Saxophonist of the Year. He is also a six-time Grammy award winner for his work with B.B. King, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. St. Patrick’s Day Concert

Millikin Men and Friends Thursday, March 17, 6:00 pm & 7:30 pm Birks Museum (Gorin Hall—2nd floor) Free and open to the public The St. Patty’s Day concert features Irish music from classical to pub songs. Millikin’s Bluegrass Group transforms to an Irish Band and are joined by Professor Neal Smith on penny whistle and bagpipes.

9 Department of Theatre and Dance

Senior BFA Acting student Alexis DeSollar will travel to Bloomington, IN in late-March to present her paper, "The Actor's Verse: An Examination of The Second Shepherd's Play" at the fourth annual Graduate Symposium on Theatre and Performance Studies at Indiana University. This paper, which began as a course paper for the History of Theatre & Drama I course in the Fall of 2014, has gone through several rounds of revision in collaboration with Millikin faculty members. In this piece of scholarship DeSollar applies contemporary acting theory to a medieval religious play, extending the analysis of significant performance theoreticians into new arenas. For an undergraduate student to be accepted into a conference aimed at doctoral students is a high honor and demonstrates the strength of her work. We are reminded on a regular basis of how outstanding Millkin College of Fine Arts students are on the stage or in the studio, but this also shows the high level of academic achievement that they consistently deliver. Acceptance into a prestigious conference of this nature shows yet one more way in which Millikin celebrates and delivers Performance Learning opportunities.

Department of Theatre and Dance alum, Britt-Marie Sivertsen (‘10) was the recipient of the Broadwayworld.com Chicago Award for Best Actress in a union Musical or Review for her portrayal of Violet Hilton in the Porchlight Music Theatre production of Sideshow. The critically acclaimed production ran last fall at Stage 773 in Chicago.

Shaughenssy Quinn (‘08) has accepted the position of Show Producer for Motiongate, a theme park opening in Dubai, UAE in October 2016. It will feature rides and shows themed around Dreamworks, Studio Central, Smurfs Village, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures Studios. The Hunger Games is one of the anticipated features.

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