Some may think that January would have fewer events because the new year just begun, but with a new semester at Fort Lewis College, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Music Department has a very exciting endeavor in January: The Colorado Music Education Association will host a clinic/conference in Colorado Springs. The event features clinics by national educators and performances from groups statewide. This year, the FLC Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Marc Reed, will perform at the event. To prepare for the performance, the Concert Band will present a preview concert at the Community Concert Hall Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The performance will feature a solo with the Concert Band performed by Reed on trumpet as well as a trio of marimbists on one instrument performing Mark Ford’s “Stubernic Fantasy.” The other pieces in the concert will feature music by Dmitri Shostakovich, Michael Daugherty and Julie Giroux.
The Theater Department will hold a workshop/performance Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. by John Flax of Theater Grottesco of Santa Fe. The working title for this event is “Theater Grottesco: Behind the Scenes.” Flax will be here all weekend doing theatre workshops and class visits with FLC students. Theater Grottesco was founded in Paris in 1983 and relies on a combination of classical, contemporary, clowning and puppetry. To find out more information on this visiting professional and his company, visit www.theatergrottesco.org.
Also, the fall performance of “Sun and Room” has been invited to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VIII Conference in Los Angeles in mid-February. The Theater Department will host a special fundraising Theatre Gala on Feb. 2 for one performance of the play and a reception afterward. Tickets are $50 per person. The play was written by Danny Mitarotondo and directed by Ginny Davis. For more information on this event, contact Shan Wells at 247-6769.
The Art Gallery in the Department of Art and Design will have a new presentation from Jan. 15 to Feb. 12. The presentation is Cecil Touchon & Select Works from the Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction. The opening reception for this event is Jan. 15 at 4:30-6 p.m. The normal gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can learn more by calling 247-7167 or visit www.fortlewis.edu/art/ArtGallery.aspx.
The Community Concert Hall will feature one special event in January. The Grascals will perform with special guests Running Out Of Road on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. The Grascals are among the most beloved bands on today’s bluegrass scene. As their releases prove, Their rare musical empathy gives the band members an unerring ear for just the right touch, and their unique sound has earned the band two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album. The Grascals’ guest, Durango-based Running Out Of Road, delves into the nature of great American roots-style music and works to contribute to the ever-growing bluegrass tradition of Colorado.
These exciting events will add much to a chilly January, truly showing things continue to be fruitful up on the rim. This reflects a great deal of exciting work done in the coming months at FLC.
Latta_J@fortlewis.edu. Jonathan Latta is an assistant professor of music and Director of Percussion Studies at Fort Lewis College.
