Augustana College

The Augustana College Department of Theatre Arts is proud to recognize students Rachel Stearns and Liz Riordan and alumna Katie Wyant '09 for receiving honorable mention in the Student Dramaturgy category at the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in January. Dramaturgs study the social and historical context of a play to decide how their theatre company will choose to interpret it onstage. Stearns, Riordan and Wyant served as the dramaturgs for the international college premiere of Tim Carlson's Omniscience at Augustana last spring. The futuristic play, which incorporates video projections and interactive media directly into the plot, explores issues of privacy, language and media that are all too familiar in a post-9/11 world. Wyant, the lead dramaturg for the production, says the play's futuristic tone but timely themes presented some unique challenges to the team. "We were really in foreign territory with this project. As the play was placed in the not-so-distant future, we had to draw heavily on our own experience, along with influential works like 1984 and current events in order to create a unique historical, cultural and social framework for the production." Students from your area who received this honor are:

The 2010 Augustana Choir will perform throughout the Midwest and east coast from February 21-28. From your area, this includes:

The 2010 Augustana Symphonic Band will perform throughout the Midwest from February 19-28. From your area, this includes:

The Augustana Choir will be performing at

The Augustana Symphonic Band will be performing at

The artistic and musical talents of Augustana students will be the focus of the third annual Augustana Sights and Sounds at Bucktown Center for the Arts (225 E. 2nd St., Davenport) on Friday, January 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event will feature distinctive student photography from both Augustana and Quad-City area high school students and a raffle fundraiser for the Fistula Foundation. Augustana Photo Bureau students will display a series of photographs that highlight student life on the Rock Island campus, experiences in the Quad Cities or the world through international study programs. The event will incorporate the photography on display with several existing galleries and music. Three pieces of artwork will be raffled off by the Augustana Artisans to benefit the Fistula Foundation. These include two paintings from Augustana student Maria Ford and a photograph by Hunt Harris, a local businessman. High school photographers who would like to be featured can submit their work in the categories of music, dreams, urban wilderness and portraits by January 18. Members of the Photo Bureau will judge the entries, and winners will receive scholarships to Augustana College. Photo Bureau students featured in the show are Veronica Smith, Corynn Hanson, Dana Gustafson, Maren Mathisen, Mark Marogil, Matthew Peters, John Cairns and Grace Drenth. Smith, who serves as the Photo Bureau manager, assisted with planning the event. To view a students' work, click on each name to access a high-resolution photograph. From your area this includes:

The Augustana Theatre Arts and Music Departments are collaborating to bring the beloved family musical The Secret Garden to life in the Quad Cities. Performances will be held at the Potter Theatre in Bergendoff Hall (3701 7th Ave) on January 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m.; February 5 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and February 6 at 1:30 p.m. These shows will be the first in ten years to reflect collaboration between the Theatre Arts department and Augustana's opera company, Opera@Augustana. The Secret Garden follows the story of a young girl, Mary Lennox, who is suddenly orphaned and sent to live with her wealthy but deeply unhappy uncle. Despite her gloomy, oppressive surroundings, Mary maintains her natural spirit and is able to bring new life both to her uncle's household and a special, secret garden she finds dormant on his property. The musical was written in 1991 by Marsha Norman with music by Lucy Simon. Robin Quinn, a first year student who plays the role of Mary, loves the show's family-friendly storyline. "This show is really special in that it appeals to all different ages and tastes. There's romance, tragedy, adventure and humor throughout the musical. Everyone can find something in it that they enjoy." The Theatre Arts Department performs a musical every other year. However, this year's production is especially exciting because of the department's collaboration with Opera@Augustana. Jeffrey Coussens, the director of the musical, says the result of their joint efforts promises to be a show of very high caliber. "Musical theatre presents a host of challenges that are different from non-musical productions. You need to cast actors who can sing, singers who can act and dancers who can sing and act. However, meeting these challenges produces great rewardsaEUR"the students have a tremendous learning and training experience and audiences love them." Coussens has been a professor of theatre for over 25 years and serves as the current theatre department chair. He also has experience as a professional actor and director. For this production, he will be assisted by musical director John Pfautz, who is the program director of Opera@Augustana. Students from your area who are performing in The Secret Garden include:

The Augustana Chamber Singers and Office of Campus Ministries will present the beautiful Christmas service Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 17, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Ascension Chapel (820 38th St.). The Quad-City community is invited to share in this free gathering, which honors Christ's birth through songs and Scripture readings. Lessons and Carols is a tradition that began over 25 years ago. This year's service will include music by the Augustana Chamber Singers, the Augustana Handbell Choir and a small number of percussionists. The music will be interspersed with Bible readings by senior students in the campus ministries program. At the end of the service, the audience will be invited to sing "Silent Night" by candlelight, an annual part of Lessons and Carols and a long-standing tradition throughout the Christian world.

The Handel Oratorio Society will share a special Christmas tradition with families throughout the Quad-City community with its performances of Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. The performances will be held in Augustana's Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.). Community members young and old are invited to build this longtime Quad Cities' tradition into their own holiday celebrations. This Christmas season marks the 129th consecutive year the Handel Oratorio Society will perform Messiah for the Quad-City community. However, Dr. Jon Hurty, director of the performance for the past 13 years, says the music is just as vibrant and meaningful today as when the Oratorio Society performed it for the first time in 1881. "It is an enduring story because it follows the prophecy, birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Handel's music is filled with glorious arias, choruses and instrumental sections that have become familiar and beloved by listeners." One of the most distinctive aspects of the Handel Oratorio Society is the variety of performers it brings together. This year the choir features 62 Augustana Choir singers and approximately 200 others from the Quad-City community. They will be joined onstage by the 37-member Handel Oratorio Society Chamber Orchestra and four professional soloists. The result, Hurty says, is a show that is impressive not only to hear, but also to see. "The visual appeal of 300 people on stage and the way in which they reflect the music is an important part of the performance experience," Hurty says. "You can listen to Messiah as a recording or even watch a DVD, but there is nothing quite like seeing your friends, colleagues, students and neighbors perform the piece." This year's performance is especially noteworthy because two of the soloists, tenor Brent Wilson and baritone Mark Walters, live in the Quad Cities. They will be joined by soprano Sarah Hibbard and mezzo soprano Jessye Wright. Wilson, a '01 Augustana alumnus and current Augustana professor, has sung Messiah in numerous venues around the nation. However, he says performing Messiah with the Handel Oratorio Society will be especially meaningful for him. "I was a four-year Messiah participant when I was at Augie. I feel very honored to come back and be able to participate in this event. I know how much it means to the community." Like Hurty, Wilson also values Messiah for its timelessness. "Messiah is a piece that gets born again every time you hear it," Wilson says. "Every time I'm sitting up front listening to another soloist, the choir or the orchestra, I hear something I've never heard before. That's what keeps the piece alive for me." From your area, this year's performers include:

Christmas at Augustana, a holiday concert featuring choir, band and orchestra ensembles, will return to Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.) in early December with an expanded schedule. Augustana student musicians and vocalists will perform on Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. The music department added another concert this year after the ensembles played to a sold-out crowd at last year's inaugural concert. The concerts are truly an "advent of the Advent season," says Dr. Daniel Culver, orchestra director and department co-chair. "I look forward to working again with all of my colleagues in an ensemble effort. It is a marvelous opportunity for our students and audience alike. In the development of the program, we focused on bringing a sense of unity to the program and how it works with each ensemble." Audience members will experience a true celebration of Christmas with performances by seven ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Augustana Choir, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, Ascension Singers, Wennerberg Men's Chorus and Cantilena Augustana, and the world premiere of "Veni Emmanuel (Come Emmanuel)" arranged by Augustana music faculty member Dr. David Davies. Dr. Jon Hurty, director of choral activities and department co-chair, says the opportunity to commission a new work is an added learning experience. "This adds an entirely new creative element to the program and exposes the students to great music that was written specifically for the occasion," says Hurty. "Bring your best singing voice," reminds Culver. The concerts also feature several well-known congregational hymns for a sing-along during the program. From your area, this year's performers include:

Augustana's opera singers will delight audiences with their heartwarming performance of "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" from Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22, at 8 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall at Denkmann Memorial Building (3520 7th Ave.). The opera is set in Bethlehem after Jesus' birth and follows three outcast children who find new hope in the Christmas story. Augustana students will be only the second group to perform "Little Thieves of Bethlehem," which was first performed in Rochester, N.Y., in the 1990s. The story focuses on an orphaned brother and sister in Bethlehem who must steal food to keep from starving. They are shunned by children and adults in their community, but they are the first to hear Mary sing to her new baby. The three kings who come to see Jesus also bring along a child servant who is an outcast, but is embraced in the Christmas story. The opera runs approximately 55 minutes. Kelly Mitroff, a vocal music major who will play the innkeeper's wife, says the performance is fun and family-friendly. "This opera has a song about a camel, which seems to come out of nowhere. It gives everyone a break from the drama of what's going on, and let's face it, you just can't go wrong with a song about a spitting camel," says Mitroff. Melissa Goode, a senior music major from Davenport, will play the lead role of Mary. Goode has performed with Opera@Augustana in the past, but finds this production to be particularly special because it is only the second time the show has been performed. "It is a twist on the traditional story of Christ's birth, so that will make it new and exciting for audiences," she says. "The magic of Christmas comes alive to all on stage and in the audience," says Dr. John Pfautz, professor of voice and the opera's director and producer. Pfautz founded Opera@Augustana shortly after coming to Augustana in 1987. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts from West Virginia University where he studied under Frances Yeend and has performed as the featured tenor soloist in operas throughout the United States and Canada. Pfautz is excited that "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" includes some of the faculty and staff's children, in addition to Augustana students. Aislinn Geedy, daughter of biology professors Dr. Dara Wegman-Geedy and Dr. Kevin Geedy; Mackenzie Parboosingh, daughter of theater professor Adam Parboosingh; and Robert Ducey, son of Beth Ducey from art history, will appear onstage as local children.

The musical artistry of Augustana's premier band, choir and orchestra will culminate in the Augustana Music Festival on Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Avenue). This concert brings together the Augustana Symphonic Band, Augustana Symphony Orchestra and Augustana Choir for a final showcase performance. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public. Although the annual Music Festival is in its second decade, band director Dr. James Lambrecht still considers it one of the "newer" traditions in the band's 134-year history. He goes to three or more music performances a week in May, but still believes the festival holds a special place. "It's enjoyable. Energetic. A large packed hall," he said. This year's concert will feature a unique pairing of the Augustana Symphony Orchestra and Augustana Choir to present Vivaldi's Gloria, a 12-movement work for orchestra and choir. The ensembles also will perform the works of composers David Maslanka, Philip Sparke and Jean Sibelius. The Augustana Music Festival is just one of 17 performances happening during the month of May. The Augustana Symphonic Band also will perform at a special outdoor concert on the lawn of Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (3701 7th Ave, Rock Island) on Saturday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. This free public concert will feature ten student conductors who are studying music education. From your area, this includes:

The Augustana Guitar Ensemble will work with world-class musicians during its first trip to the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival in Chicago on March 20 -22. Hosted by Roosevelt University of Chicago, the event allows students to participate in performance workshops, perform an ensemble concert and connect with other students. Sean Ryan, a senior music major from Colona, IL, has been playing guitar for 12 years and values the opportunity to attend the Mid-America Festival. "There are not very many classical guitarists in the Quad Cities, so the festival will be a great chance to see what other guitarists are doing," said Ryan. Augustana's classical guitar program currently serves up to 25 majors and non-majors a term through private lessons and the Augustana Guitar Ensemble group. Randy Pobanz directs the ensemble and has been a part-time instructor at Augustana for 24 years. Pobanz received a master of music degree in guitar pedagogy and performance from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and specializes in classical guitar. He credits the rise in high school programs and private lessons for the growing program. "The pre-college exposure is critical for guitar programs like Augustana's to grow and to raise the playing level of incoming students," said Pobanz. Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival started in 1991 and draws ensembles from as far away as New Mexico, North Carolina and Kentucky. This year's festival features a master class led by the world-renowned guitar duo, the Katona Twins. The Hungarian-born twins, Peter and Zoltán, have given recitals throughout the world including performances at Carnegie Hall in New York and Wigmore Hall in London. "Having the chance to play and be critiqued by two world-renowned artists is very beneficial to our student guitarists," said Pobanz. For more information on the Katona Twins, see www.katonatwins.com. In addition to their performance at the festival, the Augustana Guitar Ensemble will present a campus recital featuring music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The concert is Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall (3520 7th Avenue) and is free and open to the public. For additional information or to set up an interview with one of the guitar students, contact Kamy Beattie at 309-794-7721 or kamybeattie@augustana.edu.

Augustana Sights and Sounds returns for a second year to The Bucktown Center for the Arts (225 E. 2 nd Street, Davenport) on Friday, January 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free event showcases unique photography and musical entertainment by Augustana College students. The successful program is expanding this year to include featured photography by area high school students. Augustana students will display a series of photographs that feature student life on the Rock Island campus, exploring the world through international study programs, or their experiences in the Quad Cities. The event will incorporate the photography displayed with several existing galleries, music and comedy groups. The Augustana Photo Bureau along with MidCoast Fine Arts are coordinating the event during Bucktown's monthly Final Friday art show. Augustana Photo Bureau students featured in the show include: Ashley Biess, Corynn Hanson, Bryan Inness, Maren Mathisen, Kelly Morgan, Matthew Peters, Amy Pearson, Kaitlin Sirois, and Dalsem Yang. Senior marketing majors, Ashley Biess and Kelly Morgan, and co-managers of the Augustana Photo Bureau assisted with the planning of the event. High school photographers can submit their work-based on the categories of emotion, reflection, geometry and forgotten places-- by January 19 for judging by members of the Augustana Photo Bureau. Winners of the contest will receive a scholarship to Augustana College or a one-year subscription to an online gallery program. The featured artwork from both The Augustana Photo Bureau and area high school students will remain on display at The Bucktown Center for the Arts through Thursday, February 26, 2009. The Augustana Photo Bureau was established in 2005 to support the publication, events, news and web needs of the Office of Communication and Marketing. Under the direction of their advisor, Marla Alvarado Neuerburg, the group offers the opportunity to learn and apply photography skills. Midcoast Fine Arts is a non-profit agency created by artists to promote regional artists and cultural organizations that advance the quality of life and marketability within the Quad Cities. The Bucktown Center for the Arts opened in 2005 as a creative community for local artists. Sponsors also include The Augustana Alumni Association and TruArt Color Graphics. From your area, this includes: