The November cultural arts harvest at Fort Lewis College is a true cornucopia, with offerings of folk music, indigenous dance, classical violin and viola, the music of Ricky Nelson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and more.
The Community Concert Hall started the harvest on Saturday with Shelby Lynne, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter acclaimed for her sultry, commanding voice.
Music major and tenor Adam Sowards followed that up Sunday with his senior recital. Sowards began with the beautiful “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore before performing works of Fauré, Schubert and Vaughan Williams, accompanied by Linda Mack Berven on piano. The FLC senior ended with some wonderful and well-loved vocal jazz tunes.
Thursday at the Community Concert Hall will bring Canadian folk music group The Duhks (pronounced “ducks”) to the stage. The five-piece band will offer a blend of Canadian soul, gospel, North American folk, old-time country string band, zydeco and Irish dance music, integrated with Latin-influenced percussion.
On Sunday, the FLC Music Department is proud to share the talents of M. Brent Williams, who will perform on both violin and viola. Williams, who will be accompanied by Lisa Campi Walters on piano, will begin with the viola and Joseph Joachim’s “Hebrew Melodies.” He’ll then transition to violin and back to viola, performing works by Mendelssohn, Bloch and Copeland. All proceeds from this recital will go toward music scholarships.
The Community Concert Hall and Department of Theatre have collaborated to bring SEED, Dancing Earth’s production by Rulan Tangen. With a devotion for the development of the innovative field of indigenous contemporary dance, this unique program will be performed at the concert hall for two showings; Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and a Nov. 16 matinee.
The Art Department will continue to display Jennifer Ghormley’s exhibit “Exploring the Terrain” through Nov. 14. Senior art majors exhibitions will begin Dec. 3 with an opening reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
“Ricky Nelson Remembered” is a multimedia-entertainment event featuring the live performance of Ricky Nelson’s hit songs (including “Hello Mary Lou,” “Travelin’ Man” and “Garden Party”) performed by Ricky’s twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar. The show also includes never-before-seen big screen video footage of the Nelson family with interviews from celebrities influenced by the singer. The show, which celebrates the life of America’s original teen idol, should appeal to multiple generations. It will take place Nov. 19 at the concert hall.
Wrapping up the month will be Durango favorite Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with their Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party on Nov. 30.
Tickets for concert hall, Department of Theatre and Music Department performances are available at the Durango Welcome Center at 802 Main Ave., online at www.durangoconcerts.com or by calling 247-7657.
blaylock_sl@fortlewis.edu. Shauna Blaylock is the publicist/event coordinator for the FLC Music Department.
