2008 Woodie Awards
UW-L Music Scholarship Gala features ten ensembles while raising money for student musicians
Emily Waters
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Spotlight
The UW-L Department of Music has a busy weekend ahead of itself as it prepares for two nights of entertainment at the La Crosse Center. The UW-L Music Scholarship Gala this Friday and Saturday, April 18th and 19th, includes almost all of the music ensembles within the department, a few special guests, and a pre-concert cocktail hour.
What started as a Pops Concert featuring the UW-L Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir has evolved into the department's single largest fund raising event. The Music Scholarship Gala now includes over 180 musicians and 10 separate ensembles each evening.
Both Friday and Saturday night's event starts at 6:30 with a special cocktail hour where guests can enjoy complimentary hours d'oeuvres while listening to the music of several small music ensembles: the UW-L String Quartet, Jazz Combo, Vocal Jazz Choir, and Chamber Choir will perform in separate sites throughout the cocktail area.
Once the concert begins at 7:30, UW-L's five large ensembles (Concert Choir, Women's Chorus, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble) will perform in 20-minute segments, giving the audience an impressive overview of the department's talented musicians.
"We'd like for the community to get a chance to hear the whole music department," explains event organizer and UW-L Associate Professor Mary Tollefson, "It's not just what [UW-L student musicians] do on this campus, but they're playing shows at Viterbo, they're playing down in the night clubs, they are singing in the churches and running choirs, and they're performing and singing down at the La Crosse Community Theater." The Music Scholarship Gala is a way for UW-L to connect with community members and showcase the talent that's affecting the entire La Crosse area.
Each of the evening's performances will feature a few special guests; Friday's concert will include the UW-L Korean Percussion Ensemble as well as a visit from Chancellor Joe Gow, who will be performing with the UW-L Faculty Jazz Quartet. Saturday night's show will close with a grand finale combined performance of the UW-L Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble.
What started as a Pops Concert featuring the UW-L Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir has evolved into the department's single largest fund raising event. The Music Scholarship Gala now includes over 180 musicians and 10 separate ensembles each evening.
Both Friday and Saturday night's event starts at 6:30 with a special cocktail hour where guests can enjoy complimentary hours d'oeuvres while listening to the music of several small music ensembles: the UW-L String Quartet, Jazz Combo, Vocal Jazz Choir, and Chamber Choir will perform in separate sites throughout the cocktail area.
Once the concert begins at 7:30, UW-L's five large ensembles (Concert Choir, Women's Chorus, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble) will perform in 20-minute segments, giving the audience an impressive overview of the department's talented musicians.
"We'd like for the community to get a chance to hear the whole music department," explains event organizer and UW-L Associate Professor Mary Tollefson, "It's not just what [UW-L student musicians] do on this campus, but they're playing shows at Viterbo, they're playing down in the night clubs, they are singing in the churches and running choirs, and they're performing and singing down at the La Crosse Community Theater." The Music Scholarship Gala is a way for UW-L to connect with community members and showcase the talent that's affecting the entire La Crosse area.
Each of the evening's performances will feature a few special guests; Friday's concert will include the UW-L Korean Percussion Ensemble as well as a visit from Chancellor Joe Gow, who will be performing with the UW-L Faculty Jazz Quartet. Saturday night's show will close with a grand finale combined performance of the UW-L Concert Choir and Wind Ensemble.
Be the first to comment on this story