LBCC presents the 2013 Winter Choir Concert

Sometimes when people walk around campus at LBCC, there is the usual sound of pattering feet, students talking, the fountain trickling water in the distance and the occasional bird chirping in the courtyard. However, once in a while the entire campus will ring out with a harmonious sound that fills the air and echos off the walls.

This would be the work of the Linn-Benton Community College choirs.

Conducted by LBCC director of choral activities, James Reddan, LBCC would like to present the 2013 Winter Choir Concert titled, Cloudburst.

The concert includes the Concert Choir, Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir, Women’s Choir and the a cappella groups that include Blue Light Special and The Sirens. Diana Hancock will accompany on piano. 

The concert will feature many different choral works celebrating different choral traditions and cultures many reflecting nature in various times and places.

The Concert Choir will be performing pieces such as Dubula (Hatfield), Sure on this Shining Night (Barber), Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (Brahms), Laughing Song (Blake).

James Reddan had stated that this was one of the biggest repertoires that he has ever given the concert choir.

Jacob Birchard, a new member of the choir, had said that in the beginning it was difficult for everyone. “Difficult arrangements mean hard and worth while work, and the choir sounds absolutely beautiful right now,” said Birchard.

This will be Birchard’s first time seeing with a group this big, “I'm really excited! It's normal to feel nervous. But it helps to know that I won't be the only one on stage.”

The Choired Element Chamber Choir will be performing a couple difficult pieces as well  Jene Rosen (Mahler/Reddan), two versions of the Russian classic Bogoroditse Djevo (Rachmaninoff & Arvo Pärt), Il est bel et bon (Passereau), Let Me Fly (Decormier), and will finish with Cloudburst! (Whitacre).

The concert has a wide range of diversity with pieces in English, Spanish, German,

and Russian.

Elise Hermes, a member of Concert and Chamber choir, and is also a second year member involved with the women’s a cappella group, talked about the pieces Chamber choir is to perform.

“I’m really excited about Chamber! We are doing some songs that are about the same difficulty [as Concert Choir] and some that are harder,” said Hermes.

The a cappella ensembles will present a wide variety of popular favorites including Hall of Fame, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Little Lion Man, Titanium, and As Long As You Love Me!

Kyle Thrall is a member of the men’s a cappella group, Blue Light Special, had joined in the Fall.

“It’s like being part of a group of guys who’ve known each other forever,” said Thrall, “Sometimes we have disagreements, but what kinds of friend’s don’t?”

Additionally, this concert will celebrate all of the choirs as they prepare for their national festival competition in late March!

The concert will be held in the Russell Tripp Performance Center on March 14^th at LBCC and will start at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 for seniors and students and $5 for people under 18 (with an adult).

The night will be full of music, cultural and great entertainment, so come support LBCC performing arts and enjoy the performances.

LBCC's Black Curtain Society to put on "Open Mic Night"

Theater is something everyone can enjoy and participate in. It can create many different feelings for the audience. At LBCC, the Black Curtain Society has a handful of talented people who love theater.

They are able to get up and perform, produce and inspire an audience with any performance. Now, they are stepping away from the microphone to make room for the audience to show their talents.

The drama club on campus, Black Curtain Society, is offering an open mic night to the public. It's basically a way to try and connect with other arts departments on campus, instead of just theater. They are hoping that we can start building relationships and not have things like art, theater, music, poetry, and dance be so separate.

Brandon Breiner (left) and Emma Barry (Right) in "Crane Wife"

Emma Barry is the co-president of the Black Curtain Society and along side her is Kim Willaman the other co-president. They had decided to share the title, for the reason that they work well together. Next year, Willaman will be taking over the club entirely.

Willaman explains that “Open Mic Night,” for the club is meant to be a fundraiser and bring more attention to it.

“ It’s a way to network between the performing arts students, and a vehicle by which to showcase the talent LBCC has within its walls,” said Willaman.

Open Mic Night will be open to anyone who wants to perform in some way. Anything goes, as far as acts. As long as it isn't lewd, and clothing is involved, it could be anything from singing to rapping to performance art, to poetry, and everything in between those things.

“Anything that people want to perform, we aren't asking for anything specific. We want people to have a venue for what they love and are excited about and a place to share it,” said Barry.

Another member of the club is Brandon Breiner. He may not have a defined role in the club, but he has been interested in theater arts since childhood, and wanted to participate in what LBCC had to offer in that regard.

“ I see it as a potential opportunity to share with each department what it is that makes us tick, regardless of medium. Art is art,” said Breiner.

 A sign-up sheet for the open mic will be up at the beginning, and there will be a limited number of slots, for the sake of time, so people interested in performing should come soonest.

The event will cost nothing to participate, the only purchases made will be from the refreshments that are offered throughout the night.

There has been talk about the members of the club putting on a small sketch to start the night off.

“ Some members of the club are definitely planning things to perform, especially improvisation skits, so we hope people show up to play along,” said Barry.

The goal will be to have an open mic like this once a month or at least once or twice a term, so there will be lots of opportunities for people who want to share something.

An official date has yet to be set for Open Mic Night, however anyone with question regarding participation, or questions about the club can contact Emma Barry at: blackcurtainoflb@gmail.com

To stay on top of upcoming events and meetings, check out Black Curtain Society’s Facebook page:a

https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackcurtainsociety/

Come join the theater club in a night of laughs and applause. Meet some new people, get involved with a new club and show off those hidden talents.