The arts harvest at Fort Lewis College in October is a bumper crop beginning with the “Art & Design Alumni Exhibition,” which will open today (Friday) at the FLC Art Gallery with a reception from 4:30-6 p.m. The exhibit contains works by alumna Rachael Anderson, Janine Gibbons, Collin Letts and Drew Sima.
The Artists in Residence committee has generously sponsored the Altius String Quartet on Oct. 26.The group will give a master class at 12:30 in Roshong, followed by a concert that evening at 7. The master class is free, and the concert is $15 for adults/$5 for children, pay at the door.
On Oct. 27, the FLC choirs and band will present an evening of music to celebrate autumn. The theme this year is “Americana,” and the music is beautiful and exciting with a folk-driven twist. In the spirit of Halloween, there will be witches, cauldrons, spirits, ghostly trains and tornadoes! Enjoy a special presentation from Hawkappella that looks very much like “The Wizard of Oz,” and Chamber Choir will delight with an a cappella arrangement of a Schubert song about the Erlkonig, or elf king (death), who steals a young boy away from his father on a long, dark carriage ride.
The concert band continues the theme with Halloween season music by American composers. Their program begins with Randall Standridge’s new programmatic composition “The Witching Hour.” This work begins with chimes depicting the hour when dark forces gather. Each of the three sections are divided by the chiming of the clock, with the concluding section a macabre parody of a waltz that spirals out of control. Brian Balmages’ “Shadow Waltzes” draws from a Saint Sean’s motive of Dance Macabre and contrasts darkness and light. The band will end with two pieces by Eric Whitacre; the beautifully lyrical October, followed by Ghost Train. The legend of the Ghost Train, a supernatural machine that roars out of the night through forgotten towns and empty canyons, is deeply rooted in American Folklore. Wear your costume and have a harvest-spooky good time! Get some early holiday shopping done while supporting the choirs in their silent auction and pumpkin-carving contest as they endeavor an international tour this spring.
It’s hard to believe that the Community Concert Hall at FLC has been here 20 years! The concert hall has been a fantastic asset to our community and I’m excited to be part of the celebration as the San Juan Symphony joins Storm Large and her band on Oct. 21 for the annual Jazz on the Hill offering.
The evening begins with a gourmet dinner in the Concert Hall courtyard, followed by the performance with Storm Large and her band, accompanied by the San Juan Symphony. The “Afterglow” includes dessert with the artists. The evening benefits the Russ & Bette Serzen Endowment Fund supporting Concert Hall operations. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., the show starts at 7:30. Grab your tickets for either just the show, or for dinner and the show, and celebrate with us!
What can we do after a 20th anniversary celebration? Follow it up with some hot Latin music. San Diego’s breakout Latin band, Jarabe Mexicano, hits the stage Oct 28. The group honors the past while embracing the future, incorporating the members’ unique mixture (jarabe) of traditional as well as popular genres. Expect classic Mexican rancheras and sones, mixed with Caribbean musical traditions such as cumbia and reggae, as well as American rock ’n’ roll. Wear your dancing shoes because the dance floor will be open.
blaylock_sl@fortlewis.edu Shauna Blaylock is the publicist/event coordinator for the FLC Music Department.
Tickets
Purchase tickets for Concert Hall, Theatre Department and Music Department performances at the Durango Welcome Center, 802 Main Ave.; online at www.durangoconcerts.com or by phone at 247-7657.
