From the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco and on a spring tour around the country, SFJAZZ Collective makes an appearance at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Sunday, March 30. Hailing from around the world with accolades to each of their names, the group consists of eight performers/composers: Miguel Zenón, alto sax; David Sánchez, tenor sax; Avishai […]
UIS
Posted inArts & Culture
Song and storytelling
Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble returns to UIS Studio Theatre Feb. 15 for a collaboration with University of Illinois Springfield faculty members that takes from the theme of the ancient Greek Muses and their influence over the arts and sciences. Known for their innovative chamber music programs, Fifth House Ensemble will play musical selections between the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Calling teens and teachers
Deadline for this year’s edition of the international teen poetry anthology, Navigating the Maze, is Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. Teens are invited to submit their work. Teachers are invited to submit their students’ work. Poet and Vachel Lindsay Association President Lisa Higgs is the guest editor this year. Higgs’ poetry book, Lodestar, was published in 2011 by Fishing […]
Posted inArts & Culture
African-American awareness
Many Black History Month events are scheduled to take place during the month of February around the area. Most of the colleges have a slew of commemorative events. At the University of Illinois Springfield Brookens Auditorium, Wednesday, Feb. 9, hear a talk by Chigozie “Gozie” Umeadi, former UIS men’s basketball player and now basketball operations […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dreamy dynamics
PHOTO BY DONNA LOUNSBERRY Springfield Ballet Company presents its 39th annual Nutcracker at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, Dec. 14 and 15. Set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score, the dance follows Clara and her Nutcracker from a lavish Christmas party to a fierce battle with the evil Mouse King, then to a magical journey through the Land of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Spritely seasonal sounds
PHOTO COURTESY SANGAMON AUDITORIUM Needing no introduction, this gold and platinum, No. 1-selling Christmas artist of all time, Mannheim Steamroller takes to the Sangamon Auditorium stage on Monday, Dec. 16. You won’t want to miss this lively, invigorating production of holiday sound with multimedia effects. Grammy award-winner, MS founder/creator Chip Davis directs and co-produces the […]
Posted inNews
Batting a thousand
UIS athletic director Kim Pate (right) congratulates student-athletes who made the Dean’s List at a basketball double-header against the University of Missouri-St. Louis in February. PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD Three years ago, the athletic department at the University of Illinois Springfield faced criticism from several angles. Scandals large and small hinted at […]
Posted inOpinion
Shereikis remembered
There is a new stone bench on the UIS campus dedicated to the late Rich Shereikis, a founding faculty member of UIS’s predecessor school and a long-time contributor to IT. (See “The right combination of sensibilities,” April 11, 2013.) The bench adorns the berm where West Lake Drive meets the campus ring road. The spot, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Enchanting ensemble
Celtic Woman comes to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS on Sunday, April 21, for an afternoon show at 3 p.m. A sensational musical treat, the popular all-female adult contemporary singing group from Dublin, Ireland, will perform traditional Irish tunes, inspirational songs and pop classics. You’ll hear fan favorites such as “You Raise Me Up” and “Orinoco Flow.” […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Vibrant virtuosos
Boundary breaking violinist Nicolas Kendall of Time for Three, ensemble-in-residence with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plays with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, April 13 at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. With theatrical lighting, the concert begins with the world premiere of “The Arc Inspired,” written by composer Steve Hackman. Also on tap, Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto” and Strauss’ “Death […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Memory traces
Springfield’s oldest home, Elijah Iles House, has a new exhibit about Camp Butler that includes artifacts from soldiers who were at the camp. A few of the items on display are photographs, uniforms, medical gear, cartes de visite, sword and gun display, and an original mourner’s badge from Lincoln’s funeral. April 13 from 6-9 p.m., […]
Posted inMusic
The music calling
After this wonderfully busy, gig-a-day week (with two on Friday and three on Saturday), including venues from first grade classrooms to high class social clubs, barrooms full of temporary drunken sailors and restaurants with happy, well-fed folks, I feel more qualified than ever to write a bit about the influence of music on the human […]
