Music Newsletter – Block 7

See upcoming events & read how a performance by CC singers moved audiences.

See upcoming events & read how a performance by CC singers moved audiences.

Mendelssohn Trio
Thursday, April 4, 7 p.m.
Packard Hall
The Mendelssohn Trio (Erik Peterson, violin; Barbara Thiem, cello; Bryan Wallick, piano) was formed in 1988 and is named for Thiem’s great grandfather, Franz von Mendelssohn, a nephew of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and an important supporter of artists and musicians in early 20th century Berlin. The members of the trio are university professors and in residence at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado where they give frequent concerts and work closely with the students on chamber music projects. They will be performing works by Ofer Ben-Amots, Maurice Ravel, and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel.

Featuring a program of second sonatas from Sergei Prokofiev, Charles Ives, and Maurice Ravel, as well as the piece titled “Little Summer Music” by Peteris Vasks.

Live from Packard Hall
Tuesday, April 9, 3 p.m.
Packard Hall
Featuring a wide array of music of different instrumentation, ensembles, and genres, this concert showcases the professionalism and talent of our CC performance faculty.

Music at Midday
Wednesday, April 10, 12:15 p.m.
Packard Hall
The Colorado College Department of Music presents Music at Midday student vocal and instrumental solo and chamber performances on the third Wednesday of each block during the academic year.

Music Gathering: The mysteries and histories of musical instruments
Thursday, April 11, 1 p.m.

Seay Library of Music and Art
  • Assistant Professor Lidia Chang: “The Woman Clavichord: A Mystery in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum”
  • Dr. Sebastian Kirsch: “Fragments of Paper and Parchment in Musical Instruments”
Opera Scenes: Herstory – Nuns in Opera
Friday, April 12, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 13, 7 p.m.
Packard Hall
This enticing annual event will feature music by Rogers & Hammerstein, Puccini, and Poulenc, with an overarching theme of the “Nuns of Opera” singing from their side of the story. Directed by Stephanie Brink and Ann Brink, with musical director, Dan Brink, come hear the CC vocal music program students live on stage!

Engaged Block Party
Saturday, April 13, 2 p.m.
America the Beautiful Park

In addition to a set by The Reminders, and in collaboration with CC Mobile Arts, this performance will include fresh music created between CC MU228: Engaged Music students and members of the Colorado Springs community. It is also an engagement with the park’s history as the official site of the Conejos neighborhood.

Block 8 student feature:

Music minor and piano student, Neo Li, will be performing some of Mozart’s Piano Concert No. 20 in D Minor with the Colorado College Chamber Orchestra
Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m.
Packard Hall.

Also Block 8: Spring Intermezzo Concert: Intersection Trio
Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m.
Packard Hall

“Superb. An emotional spectrum from the wildly irrepressible to the thoughtful and nostalgic.” – The Seattle Times
Featuring violinist Laura Frautschi, cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper, and pianist John Novacek, this wonderful concert will feature music of Ravel, de Falla, Elgar, Chopin, and more. Come hear the dazzling sounds of this internationally renowned trio as we welcome the 40th season of the Summer Music Festival! Tickets on sale April 1: $30 general admission; $25 for donors; $5 non-CC students; FREE FOR ALL CC ID HOLDERS.
Purchase tickets here

See All Upcoming CC Music Events

Seven Last Words

Jenna Hunt, CC Music Administrative Assistant, Music Events Coordinator, and Instructor of Harp
Photos by Jamie Cotten, CC Photographer and Photo Editor
It is known that music is a powerful tool of expression and communication. Music is one of a few universal human experiences that can be understood across cultures, tied to our ability to feel deeply complex and beautiful emotions, hearing them reflected through profound performances and recordings. Directed by CC Choir director, Deborah Teske, the performance of Joel Thompson’s The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed on March 9 was a perfect example of how sometimes the human experience, while beautiful and complex, can be plagued with tragedy and discomfort. The soaring voices of the CC Chamber Chorus, the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale sang with vulnerability, courage, and compassion towards the tragic stories of others. Thompson’s piece was composed as a prayer for empathy for seven black men and boys who were unjustly killed – Kenneth Chamberlain, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, John Crawford, and Eric Garner. Using their final words as lyrics and as inspiration for this seven-movement work, each movement is dedicated to their final moments. 

There was overwhelming support for the performance as Celeste Theatre was filled with audience members from the community. Together the singers and audience were unified, reflecting together on the injustice and inequalities that still plague our country. This performance was made even more special as the singers were able to work with Dr. Regina Lewis, a local speaker and mentor who promotes diversity and leadership through her comapany Regina Speaking. According to Teske, Lewis encouraged the singers to “recognize the responsibility they have as artists to let the music speak through them so they can give it to the audience.” Lewis helped the singers realize that they are “responsible for starting and restarting the conversation” on inequality. One singer even said that while the music is “not comforting,” they remember that “it’s that exact feeling that leads people into action.”

Thompson hopes that one day his piece will cease to be relevant, but until then, his significant addition to choral works will continue to touch lives. It is a small token that can give others the courage to continue the conversation over inequality and to act towards dismantling barriers between social and racial cultures.

The three vocal groups involved in this performance are dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. To learn more about their missions, you can visit them at the links below:

Colorado College Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (ADEI) Vision and Mission

Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble’s non-discrimination statement: The Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble follows an equal opportunity employment policy, and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, religion, nation origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicap, veteran status, and marital status.

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CONTACT US

Colorado College Department of Music
Packard Hall
5 West Cache La Poudre St.
719-389-6042
music@coloradocollege.edu

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