First Page Series performance, Pavlo, on stage Sept. 14 at SMU

Pavlo, the first Page Series event, will perform Sept. 14.

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Page Series heats up for the 2008 season with the exciting and passionate Mediterranean-style music of Pavlo Friday, Sept. 14. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

Pavlo expresses his influences — flamenco, Latin and classical — through his use of guitars, drums, the Greek bouzouki, and vocals. His musical style combines his childhood studies of flamenco and Latin guitar with his love for Greek and European music —combining for “the ultimate Mediterranean experience.” Pavlo’s fiery enthusiasm is contagious; audience members will be dancing in their seats.

His unique sound and high-energy concerts have earned him an international reputation as one of today’s great performers.

Tickets are $20, $14 for seniors or $12 for students and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org, in person, or by calling the Performance Center box office at (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

SMU exhibit features diverse art through Oct. 5

Winona artist Monta May displays “Communion Circle: 1-10,” part of the dual show with Carol Faber, “Interstices” and “Images of Nature,” on display through Oct. 5 at Saint Mary’s University.




WINONA, Minn. — A variety of unique artwork — including a ceremonial robe, gourds, sculpture, photography, encaustic painting, charcoal drawings, and digital fine art prints — are currently on display at Saint Mary’s University’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Artists Monta May, director of web communication at Saint Mary’s, and Carol Faber, assistant professor of art and design at Iowa State University in Ames, are displaying their work through Oct. 5.

In “Interstices,” May displays encaustic paintings, an ancient art form involving pigment, wax, and heat. Her eye-catching grouping of 5- to 7-foot sculptures titled “Communion Circle: 1-10” meets viewers at the exhibit’s entrance.

May works with materials of all kinds — fabrics, metals, found objects, photographs, beeswax, dyes, inks, wood, clay, glass and paper — to create sculptures, tapestries, garment- and jewelry-inspired artwork. Her goal is to blur the line between art and craft, question the status quo, and build a connection between the ancient and the contemporary. May believes her experiences and involvements lead to fabric for her artwork. She finds rich material for art in diverse areas.

In “Images of Nature,” Faber presents large, bold pieces demonstrating how she uses the computer as an artistic tool of expression. She considers her work emotional responses to events and memories from specific parts of her life, making her artwork a kind of autobiographical record. Faber’s images are inspired by the accidental death of a horse she once owned named Ruby. The colorful, abstract designs depict Ruby’s death and Faber’s perception of the beauty her life gave back to nature.

The exhibit — free and open to the public — is located in SMU’s Toner Student Center. The galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call (507) 457-1652.

SMU receives ‘Best in Midwest’ honors from Princeton Review

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is one of 161 schools receiving the “Best in the Midwest” designation for 2008 from the Princeton Review, a national college guide and ranking program. Results were announced in August.

Each year, the Princeton Review profiles colleges and universities that "uphold the standards of the Best Midwestern College distinction and provide students with a wide breadth of excellent schools to consider." The survey of 120,000 students at 366 colleges rated the schools on “everything from profs to financial aid,” according to the Princeton Review, a New York City-based company known for test-preparation courses, education services and books. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.

Other Minnesota schools included named to Princeton Review's 2008 "Best in the Midwest" list are: Augsburg, Carleton, Crown College, St. Thomas, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, North Central University, St. Olaf, St. Scholastica, St. Catherine, University of Minnesota (Morris, Twin Cities and Crookston campuses) and Winona State University.

For more information, go to www.princetonreview.com. The website gives a profile of Saint Mary's, along with student opinions and useful college selection features.

Saint Mary’s hosts pre-season basketball camp Sept. 16-Oct. 14

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Advanced Pre-Season Basketball camp — for boys and girls in grades eight through 12 — will run Sept. 16 through Oct. 14.

This camp will consist of five intense basketball workouts in September and October. Each workout will be directed by Mandy Pearson, Saint Mary’s Women’s Basketball coach, and Mike Trewick, SMU Men’s Basketball coach, and will focus on developing offensive skills with progressive development from session to session.

The camp is limited to 36 participants, so maximum repetitions and individualized instruction can take place. This camp is designed for serious basketball players who are looking to be challenged.

Boys meet 5 to 6:30 p.m., and girls meet 6:30 to 8 p.m. Camps run Sept. 16, 23 and 30, and Oct. 7 and 14.

The cost of $75 pr person includes a T-shirt and individual instruction by Saint Mary’s staff and players. All sessions will be held in the SMU gymnasium.

For more information, e-mail conferencing&camps@smumn.edu or call (507) 457-6973. Register and pay online at www.smumn.edu/sportscamps.

SMU students to perform,study in London first semester

Saint Mary’s University students are studying theatre in London, England, this semester. Rehearsing a scene from “The Shadow Box,” to be performed Oct. 17-20 in London, are Whitney Rappana, left, and Marty Walters.


Rachel Crawford-Miller, Alex Gorgone and Michael Fye will perform in “The Shadow Box,” to be staged Oct. 17-20 in London. In addition to their coursework, SMU students studying in London this semester will also attend numerous productions.


WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University theatre majors will stage “The Shadow Box,” an emotional — and sometimes amusing — reflection about life and death, Oct. 17-20 at London’s New Wimbledon Studio.

Qualified theatre majors at Saint Mary's are studying theatre in London, England, this semester through the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre in London Program. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s faculty, the program will include a variety of classes in theatre, as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment. Students will also have the unique opportunity to attend numerous performances at London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres.

“The Shadow Box,” written by Michael Cristofer, dramatizes the final days of three terminal cancer patients who dwell in separate cottages on a hospital’s grounds. The 1977 Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play explores their anxieties, as well as their acceptance of the finality of their condition, the inevitable and imminent end of their lives. Family and close friends who visit these patients add some heartrending — as well as humorous — situations.

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
Director: Dr. Gary Diomandes
Assistant director: Sarah St. Laurent
Stage manager: Erica Prond
Lighting designer: Roger Frith
Performers: Alex Gorgone (Joe), Rachel Crawford-Miller (Maggie), Michael Fye (Steve), Mark Skrade (Brian), JM Montecalvo (Mark), Alyssa Schlageter (Beverly), Martha Walters (Felicity) and Whitney Rappana (Agnes), and Diana Connolly (Interviewer)

Conservatory registration open house is Sept. 6

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts semester I registration open house will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at the corner of 10th and Vila streets.

Registration for semester I classes, beginning Sept. 10, will be accepted at the open house. Tours of the facility will be available, refreshments will be served, and students will have the opportunity to meet new and returning faculty and staff. Additionally, students can be fitted for all their dance attire needs at the open house. MCA’s dance attire boutique offers quality basics including leotards, tights, ballet slippers, jazz shoes and tap shoes.

Class offerings are available for anyone age 4 through adult and include beginning through advanced levels in classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, Pilates, and a special tuition-free boys program which offers a Dance Technique for Boys class. Semester I also provides programming for teens and adults in partnership with Winona County Community Education including Clogging I, Clogging II, Dance Fitness and Piyo.

Academic credit is available through Cotter High School and Saint Mary’s University for a variety of MCA classes.

Semester I classes will provide 10 weeks of instruction, concluding with a demonstration week, Nov. 12-17. Tuition for MCA classes varies depending on course length and level. Discounts and scholarships are available.

In addition to participation in classes, students ages 5 to 12 are invited to audition for MCA’s youth performing troupe, The Dance Repertory Company II. The DRC II will present a winter showcase, with performances held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre. High school and college-age students who participate in the MCA Chorography and Improvisation class will have the opportunity to create and show their works in this winter showcase as well.

For more information about MCA’s open house, classes, or future performances, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5501.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University.

SMU to host speaker on PATRIOT Act Sept. 18

WINONA, Minn. — A Connecticut librarian who is one of only four people in the nation who can legally discuss a gag order imposed as part of a USA PATRIOT Act investigation will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Saint Mary’s University.

The event — free and open to the public — will be held in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center.

George Christian was party to a lawsuit that successfully challenged the gag order provision of the National Security Letter (NSL) statute. The NSL is part of the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism). In 2005, Christian was served by the FBI with an NSL demanding that he turn over records concerning library patrons’ use of computers, the Internet and e-mail.

“The idea that the government can secretly investigate what the public is informing itself about is chilling,” Christian says.

Christian and three colleagues are the only four people who can even mention they have been served with an NSL. Christian said the recipients of an estimated 270,000 other NSLs issued since 9-11 “are under a perpetual gag order and must therefore carry the secret of their encounter with them to their graves.”

The group has been featured in Washington Post and New York Times news stories, the Public Broadcasting System’s NOW program, the American Civil Liberties Union website, and other media outlets.

Christian’s appearance at Saint Mary’s is being held in conjunction with events for Constitution Day, which was instituted by the Bill of Rights Institute to “educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our founding documents, and how our founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.”

For more information, contact Dr. Steven Schild, (507) 457-1753.

Conservatory wraps up successful summer

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts concluded a successful summer of programming for youth and adults.

MCA served 145 students this summer with dance and theatre programming. Programs included three week-long day camps (Dance Me A Story, Dance The Day Away, and Pied Piper Theatre Camp), adult and specialty boys workshops, and a three-week boarding intensive for intermediate and advanced students.

Theatre students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as professional actors from Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and Missoula Children’s Theatre. Dance students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as visiting guest artists from around the country. Guest Artists included: Deborah Elias, Allen Fields, Stephanie Milling-Robbins, Tammy Schmidt Perry and Tony Smith.

In addition to many local students participating in MCA summer programming, the MCA Summer Intensive attracted students from as far away as Mexico and Bulgaria. This summer MCA had another record-breaking summer boys program enrollment as well.

“We are especially proud of our thriving tuition-free boys program,” said Christine Martin, MCA managing director. “As we reported to the community last spring, our boys programming is at its largest enrollment ever. Bringing in quality male guest artists to instruct our young men is an important part of the MCA Boys Program experience.”

For more information about MCA and upcoming fall classes and performances, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Conservatory wraps up successful summer of theatre, dance programming

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts concluded a successful summer of programming for youth and adults.

MCA served 145 students this summer with dance and theatre programming. Programs included three week-long day camps (Dance Me A Story, Dance The Day Away, and Pied Piper Theatre Camp), adult and specialty boys workshops, and a three-week boarding intensive for intermediate and advanced students.

Theatre students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as professional actors from Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and Missoula Children’s Theatre. Dance students had the opportunity to study with MCA faculty, as well as visiting guest artists from around the country. Guest Artists included: Deborah Elias, Allen Fields, Stephanie Milling-Robbins, Tammy Schmidt Perry and Tony Smith.

In addition to many local students participating in MCA summer programming, the MCA Summer Intensive attracted students from as far away as Mexico and Bulgaria. This summer MCA had another record-breaking summer boys program enrollment as well.

“We are especially proud of our thriving tuition-free boys program,” said Christine Martin, MCA managing director. “As we reported to the community last spring, our boys programming is at its largest enrollment ever. Bringing in quality male guest artists to instruct our young men is an important part of the MCA Boys Program experience.”

For more information about MCA and upcoming fall classes and performances, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

SMU to host public concert to aid flood victims

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University’s Volunteer Services and Office of Campus Ministry are planning a benefit concert 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, in the plaza.

Proceeds will assist victims of flood damage in our surrounding communities. The public is welcome.

Performing will be Bookreader, an SMU student band; Winonan Mike Munson; and Monday Saga, a band from Milwaukee in which SMU alum Brandon Mathieus performs. Barbecue food will be served, and kids games will be provided. Admission will be $10 or $5 for students. A freewill donation will be asked for those younger than 12. Families will be admitted for $10 per adult and freewill donations for children.

The concert will serve as a kickoff for an SMU volunteer weekend of service to flood victims. For more information, contact Katie LaPlant at (507) 457-6936.

Fox 47, SMU, send La Crescent teen to ‘Idol’ auditions

WINONA, Minn. — On Aug. 16, a La Crescent teen was named the winner of the KXLT-TV FOX 47 ‘Idol’ competition, sponsored by Saint Mary’s University. Thirteen Fox 47 ‘Idol’ finalists — chosen from three local auditions, held in Winona, Rochester and Mason City, Iowa — performed Aug. 16 at the Rochester Civic Theatre.

Quentin Adams, 18, of La Crescent, Minn., a senior at La Crescent High School, took home first-place honors as well as a trip to Philadelphia for a guaranteed “American Idol” audition at the Wachovia Center on Aug. 27. Adams was one of the finalists from the Winona auditions, held at Saint Mary’s.

Two other finalists from the evening included Brady Toops of Austin, Minn., who first auditioned in Rochester, and Melissa Jones of Mason City, who first auditioned in Mason City.

Eric Saindon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a senior at Saint Mary’s, received a special prize for having the most fan support at the Rochester finals.

Other co-sponsors of the event include Holiday Inn South of Rochester, Pritchard Ford of Clear Lake, Iowa, and the Rochester Civic Theatre.

For more information on “American Idol” auditions, go to Americanidol.com; for more information on the local auditions, go to www.myfox47.com.

SMU listed in U.S. News ‘Best National Universities’ category

WINONA, Minn. — U.S. News & World Report has ranked Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in its “America’s Best Colleges” survey for 2008. The annual listing of more than 1,400 schools is available online at www.usnews.com. Rankings were announced today, Aug. 17.

Saint Mary’s is ranked in the third tier of the U.S. News “National Universities” category. The third tier includes schools ranked 131 through 187 — of 262 total — and is not ranked numerically. Other universities in this same tier include: De Paul University, George Mason University, Seton Hall University, the University of St. Thomas and St. John’s University in New York.

Taking top honors in the “National Universities” category are Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University and Stanford University. Saint Mary’s, St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota are the only Minnesota schools represented in this category, and SMU is one of only 17 Catholic universities in the United States represented in this category.

U.S. News & World Report ranked “National Universities” in a top tier, third tier and fourth tier. Its other institutional categories include: “Liberal Arts Colleges,” “Universities-Master’s” and “Baccalaureate Colleges.”

This year SMU was grouped in the “National Universities” category by U.S. News & World Report, due to reclassification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Carnegie Foundation reclassified SMU from a master’s comprehensive to a doctoral institution. This change reflects the rising number of doctoral degrees given by Saint Mary’s through its Ed.D. in Leadership program. In previous years, SMU was in the first tier of U.S. News’ “Midwestern Colleges and Universities with Master Degree Programs” category. Last year, SMU was ranked 31st in the top tier of this category.

“Although it’s hard to see us leave the top-tier ranking in our previous category, we are excited that this re-categorization means our doctoral program is growing and thriving,” said Dr. Jeffrey Highland, SMU Provost. “The re-classification now puts us in the same category as this nation’s finest educational institutions, and we’re proud to be associated with the best. We’re also proud to be able to offer a distinctive, close and personal education within the context of a national university.”

The “National Universities” category includes 262 American universities (164 public and 98 private) that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

The method that U.S. News uses to rank colleges and universities consists of three basic steps. The schools are categorized primarily by mission and region, and data is gathered from each institution on indicators of academic excellence. The indicators used to measure academic excellence fall into seven categories: retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance and alumni giving rate. The indicators include both input measures (which reflect the quality of students, faculty, and other resources used in education) and outcome measures (which capture the results of the education an individual receives). Of the institutions ranked in the third tier, SMU ranked third in the rate of alumni giving.

SMU Concert Band rehearsals begin Aug. 29; area musicians invited to join

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band, founded in 1990 as a college-community partnership ensemble, will hold its first rehearsal of the 2007-08 season from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Room 158 of Saint Yon’s Hall.

All interested musicians are welcome to attend the first sight-reading informational rehearsal of the season. Advanced-level high school students and adult community musicians are welcome to join the SMU collegiate musicians to perform a wide variety of wind band music. Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, associate professor of music, directs both the Concert Band and the select Wind Ensemble. Auditions will be held shortly after the first rehearsal; audition music will be provided to all players on Aug. 29. If you are interested in the ensemble but are not able to attend the first info-rehearsal, please contact the director to make other arrangements. The Concert Band rehearses 6:35 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. The Wind Ensemble rehearses 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

The band’s first performance this year will be a concert shared with the SMU choirs during the university’s Family Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 29. The band will be performing the popular “Lord of the Dance” musical selections, as well as works by Whitacre, and Paul Richards, a finalist from last year’s Kaplan Composition Commission contest.

The second concert will be held on Sunday, Nov. 18, featuring a new work by Roger Cichy, “Geometric Dances,” “Canticle” by Jack Stamp, and other selections by David Gordon and Percy Grainger. The Wind Ensemble will perform compositions by von Weber and Dvorak.

The spring concert on March 30 will continue the “song and dance” theme, featuring music of a variety of styles and genres that fall into the categories of songs or dances, but with an ethnic flair to the concert program.

Detailed information regarding band membership auditions (held Sept. 1-5) will be available at the first rehearsal. There are openings in many sections; contact Dr. Heukeshoven at (507) 457-1675 or jheukesh@smumn.edu for additional information. Please call or e-mail if you plan to attend the Aug. 29 rehearsal, so music folders and audition music will be available for everyone.

Saint Mary’s University to host auditions Aug. 9 for Fox 47 ‘Idol’

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University and Fox 47 KXLT-TV are looking for the next singing sensation. Auditions for Fox 47’s “Idol” will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at SMU.

The Aug. 9 open auditions will be held in the SMU Performance Center. Singers will perform in front of a panel of area judges and spectators.

Walk-up registration will begin at 3 p.m., and contestants will receive an audition number upon arrival. They should be prepared to sing a song of their choice for 30 seconds a cappella (without accompaniment). Men and women must be between the ages of 16 and 28 on July 28, 2007, and must provide proof of age and photo identification. Parents must accompany minors.

Finalists from this competition — as well as competitions in Mason City, Iowa; and Rochester, Minn. — will perform at the regional finale Thursday, Aug. 16, at Rochester Community Technical College’s Hill Theatre. The public is invited; doors open at 6 p.m., and the finalists perform at 7:30 p.m.

The winner on Aug. 16 will receive a trip to Philadelphia for a guaranteed “American Idol” audition at the Wachovia Center on Aug. 27. Hotel accommodations are provided by Holiday Inn South, Rochester; airfare is pending.

For more information on “American Idol” auditions, go to Americanidol.com; for more information on local auditions, go to www.myfox47.com.

Gilmore Creek, Conservatory team with Missoula for summer theatre camp

Gilmore creek Summer Theatre actors Danny Pancratz (Dubuque, Iowa) and Mariah Ciangiola (Rushford, Minn.) are photographed with 6- and 7-year-old mask-makers from this summer’s theatre day camp, hosted by the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts.


Samuel and Nathan Graff of Winona show off their finished wounds from the make-up workshop, lead by company manager and SMU theatre arts professor Dr. Gary Diomandes.




WINONA, Minn. — The Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts teamed up with the Missoula Children's Theatre this week to offer Winona kids a summer theatre experience they won't soon forget. Youth entering grades one through nine were invited to participate in a six-day theatre day camp that covered basic theatre techniques both on stage and off July 30 through Aug. 4. The children rehearsed with the Missoula Children's Theatre to put on the "Pied Piper," and at the same time took classes with Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre actors and Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts faculty. Classes included acting, singing, dancing, costuming, mask-making, scenery, storytelling, technical theatre, and make-up. The camp concluded with two performances Saturday. The Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre is Saint Mary’s University’s professional summer theatre company, and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s.