Saint Mary’s University choirs to present ‘Lessons & Carols'

Saint Mary’s University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Choir will present their annual holiday tribute, “Lessons and Carols,” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The performance — a celebration of Advent and the Nativity through sung and spoken word — will held at Chapel of Saint Mary’s of the Angels, located on the Saint Teresa campus.

Music will include some familiar carols, as well as selections by Byrd, Hassler, Rutter, Nystedt, Mozart, and a variety of other composers from Renaissance to the present.

The concert will feature the premiere of “Ovejita,” a setting of a Lorca poem in English translation by composer William Neil. The setting is for women’s voices and harp, and harpist Elinor Niemisto will join the women of the Concert Choir for the premiere. Neil's composition, along with a major work in preparation for the 2009 SMU Spring Choir Concert, is supported by a grant from the McKnight Foundation.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Tickets are available online through Dec. 1.

SMU Concert Band to give holiday concert Dec. 7

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band will present a multi-cultural holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at St. Cecilia Theater, located on the Saint Teresa campus.

Under the direction of Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, the band will perform Polish music composed by John de Meii, Russian Christmas music by Alfred Reed, and a Chanukah Celebration written by David Bobrowitz and Kenneth Soper. In addition, SMU student conductors will lead the band in two arrangements. “Away in a Manger,” composed by Chip Davis and adapted for concert band by Robert Longfield, will be directed by Ryan Ballanger; “Variations on Deck the Halls,” arranged by Robert W. Smith, will be conducted by Gosia Paidosh.

The music will continue to flow after the formal concert. A Christmas cookie reception in the lobby will include lively jazzy carols, a brass quintet, a flute choir and a clarinet ensemble.

Tickets are $10, $5 for seniors and students and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Online orders are available until Dec. 1.

SMU jazz combos to perform Dec. 4 at Acoustic Café

WINONA, Minn. — Three jazz workshop combos, directed by Dr. John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven of the Saint Mary’s University Music Department, will present a free concert Thursday, Dec. 4, at Acoustic Café in downtown Winona.

The event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and will feature student musicians who have been playing together all semester. The performance serves as their “final exam.”

The show will include jazz standards by composers like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, as well as some unique arrangements by Heukeshoven of popular jazz tunes blended with familiar Christmas melodies.

Visiting Palestinian prof to speak at SMU about West Bank Life

WINONA, Minn. — Dr. Muna Matar, a computer science professor from Bethlehem University in Palestine, will speak on “Daily Life in Bethlehem: The Israeli Occupation” on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Saint Mary’s University. Dr. Matar’s presentation will run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Salvi Hall (Room 335) in Saint Mary’s Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Matar is a visiting scholar in residence at Saint Mary’s University during fall semester. She is teaching courses on “Women in the Middle East” at both Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University. Dr. Matar lives in Beit Jala, a small city near Bethlehem. After graduating from Bethlehem University with a degree in mathematics, she earned a M.A. in Computer Science from Oregon State University and a doctorate from the University of Ghent in Belgium.

The Palestinian cities of Beit Jala and Bethlehem are part of the West Bank territories occupied by Israel after the 1967 war. For Palestinians, daily life in the occupied territories involves coping with checkpoints, the Israeli barrier wall that divides communities, and the growing number of Israeli settlements.

Bethlehem University is a Catholic institution in the Lasallian tradition, which has been serving students of all faith traditions since 1973. Dr. Matar’s visit is the result of the close association between Saint Mary’s University and Bethlehem University, both of which are led by the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Dance Repertory Company presents ‘The Nutcracker’

WINONA, Minn. — The Dance Repertory Company of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts — in association with Merchants Bank — will present the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” Dec. 4-7.

Heralding the message of peace on earth, “The Nutcracker” is performed around the globe during the holiday season. Producing this delightful ballet every other holiday season, the Dance Repertory Company once again brings this magical experiences to the Winona-area community for its fifth biennial production.

The 2008 cast includes 100 members — including students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, and children and community members from the Winona area. In addition to beautiful dancing, this year’s production will feature a special choral performance by MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers at the conclusion of Act I in the Land of Snow.

Through this ballet, the beauty of the pure, young heart shines bright in a world of dancing dolls, angels, and, of course, the wonderful magical Nutcracker Prince. In the dreams of a child named Clara, a battle wages between a band of mice and a company of toy soldiers. With Clara’s assistance, the toy soldiers are victorious and grateful. The Nutcracker Prince welcomes her to the Land of Snow where they dance with the angels, and to the Kingdom of the Sweets, hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where she sees a beautiful array of ethnic dances such as Spanish Coffee, Chinese Tea, and Russian Baba.

“The Nutcracker” performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 6, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre. The Dec. 4-6 evening performances are recommended for children ages 5 and older. The Sunday, Dec. 7, afternoon performance is considered a “family event” and children ages 2 and older are welcome. At this time, the Page Theatre/SMU Performance Center facilities and programs are not equipped to serve the needs of infants.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at the Saint Mary’s University Box Office at (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit www.pagetheatre.org. Online ticket orders are only available through Dec. 1.

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

Student art on display at SMU through Dec. 12

“Hungry?” — a photograph by Keisha Harcey — is one of several pieces on display for the 2008 Undergraduate Art Show at Saint Mary’s University. The show is not limited to art majors, but is open to any SMU art student. A variety of artwork is on display Nov. 13 through Dec. 12 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Sister Margaret Mear at mmear@smumn.edu.


This linoleum print by Mariana Sanchez del Castillo is part of the 2008 Undergraduate Art Show at Saint Mary's University. The show, currently on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, includes photographs, drawings and prints.

Giving trees go up Nov. 19 for Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona giving trees will be going up Nov. 19. This communitywide program — in its seventh year — provides gifts to less-fortunate families during the holiday season.

Tags, each labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes, will be placed on area giving trees beginning next week.

Trees will be located at: the three Sinclair Stations, the Winona Public Library, Scrapper’s Haven, Affinity Plus Credit Union, the Winona Post, as well as all three Wells Fargo Bank locations in Winona.

Individuals who want to help make someone’s season a littler merrier should visit one of these locations, take as many tags off the trees as they wish, and return the wrapped gift/s by Dec. 12 to the tree where they obtained the tag/s. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $30 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the presents. As the gift distribution is early this year — mid December — the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well. The success of this program depends on the generosity of the Winona-area community.

For more information, call the Gifts for Winona line at (507) 457-8719. Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona partners include Wells Fargo Bank, Winona Post, Winona Radio, and Winona Volunteer Services.

Jazz groups, Batucada joint performance is Nov. 21 at SMU

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University jazz ensembles will join forces with the percussion ensemble Batucada Nossa Senhora for an evening of rhythmic jazz and unique ethnic sounds p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.

The joint concert, planned for 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre, combines the talents of the 18-piece Jazz Ensemble and 12-member Batucada ensemble. The SMU Jazz Combo, featuring five student soloists, will also perform. Dr. John Paulson directs the jazz groups and Denny McGuire directs Batucada Nossa Senhora (translated as “percussion ensemble of our lady”).

The big band will feature the world premiere of Dr. Paulson’s “Drop Off Blues.” This piece stretches the boundaries of traditional blues arrangements by giving each section in the band a challenging “soli” part, as well as ample space for individual soloists. Also included in the jazz ensemble set will be a Basie-style ballad “Nice and Easy,” written and arranged by Jeff Taylor; “Carnival Del Sol,” a lively jazz samba by Dean Sorenson; Dizzy Gillespie’s famous “Manteca”; bebop trumpeter Lee Morgan's ever popular “Sidewinder”; and “Spring Cleaning” by Maynard Ferguson alumnus Matt Harris (featuring music faculty member Eric Heukeshoven on piano). Jazz Combo I will be performing A.C. Jobim’s well-known bossa nova “Triste” and Mongo Santamaria’s “Afro Blue.” The jazz groups will combine with the Batucada percussionists to ignite the rhythmic excitement of the concert’s Latin-jazz style pieces.

Student soloists in the jazz groups include: Twin Cities tenor saxophonist Ryan Ballanger; baritone saxophonist Ben Scott and trombonist Tom Briese, both from Rochester; and alto saxophonist Vanessa Grams of Little Falls.

Batucada Nossa Senhora will perform styles from the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian traditions, as well as a drum medley from Ghana in West Africa.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org. For more information on the event, contact Dr. Paulson at (507) 457-1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Next semester, Saint Mary’s will host a mini-residency with world-renowned saxophonist David Liebman. Watch for information on workshops and concerts planned for April 16-17, 2009. This project is funded by a grant from the Kaplan Foundation and the SMU Music Department.

SMU High School Challenge results announced

WINONA, Minn. — Four area schools earned the right to advance Saturday, Nov. 8, in the second weekend of Saint Mary's University High School Challenge. High School Challenge is the longest-running, locally produced television program showcasing Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa high school students in an educational forum.

The following schools competed in Round 1B Nov. 8 and are moving onto the Consolation Championship: Holmen White and Seneca. Moving on to the Super Challenge are Onalaska and Eau Claire Regis Green. Other competing schools were Lewiston, Viroqua, Eau Claire Regis White and Weston.

The tournament will wrap-up its first round with Round 1C, starting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, in the World Room, located in Saint Mary’s Hendrickson Center. The public is welcome to attend.

The following schools will participate in Round 1C: Holmen Maroon, La Crosse Aquinas, Melrose-Mindoro, Decorah, West Salem Black, West Salem Orange, Cotter, Osseo-Fairchild, Hope Lutheran, Alma Center Lincoln, Bangor, and Eau Claire North.

Teams that win their afternoon game will return for the Consolation Championship games Saturday, Dec 6. Teams that win their morning and afternoon games will return for the Super Challenge Championship Saturday, Feb. 21. The final eight games of Round 1 are taped at Saint Mary’s and televised on Fox 25 La Crosse and Fox 48 Eau Claire.

The following schools competed in Round 1A Oct. 11 and are also moving onto the Consolation Championship: La Crosse Central, Logan White and Riceville (IA). Moving on to the Super Challenge are La Crescent, Logan Red and Winona Senior High Orange. Other competing schools were Caledonia, Blair-Taylor, North Crawford, and Youth Initiati¬ve.

High school students receive scholarships to Saint Mary’s for participating in High School Challenge. Schools that win their first game receive $2,000 scholarships to SMU. Schools that lose their first game receive $1,000 scholarships to SMU. These scholarships are for any member of the senior class with a B or above average. Each scholarship is renewable for three consecutive years provided the student remains in good standing and maintains a 2.8/4.0 cumulative grade point average.

For more information, contact Nicole Witt Gerdes, High School Challenge coordinator, at (507) 457-1761 or ngerdes@smumn.edu.

Winona Area Youth Singers’ inaugural concert is Nov. 23

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) in “Musical Menagerie,” an inaugural concert, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

WAYS members are students in grades three through six from the Winona area. The youth choir started in September of this year and has been rehearsing a variety of choral material. The program features music about animals, including German and American folk songs; a familiar hymn text; and modern compositions, both serious and humorous.

“We’re very excited to be presenting our first performance,” said Lindsy O’Shea, WAYS director. “The singers have been working very hard, and their enthusiasm and talent will make it a great concert. We hope that the performance will encourage other young singers to join us next semester.”

WAYS members include: Alexa Akre, Shea Alcamo, Philippa Armstrong, Andrew Behling, Taylor Cada, Libby Crigler, Kate Dulak, Korto Greene, Trinity Hougin, Justine Meinke and Lucy Wilfahrt. The WAYS assistant conductor is Jeff David, and Anthony Freeman serves as accompanist.

Reserved tickets are not necessary. Admission is $5 (cash or check only) at the door.

In addition to its inaugural concert, WAYS will be featured in the snow scene with MCA’s Dance Repertory Company in “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 4-7), will perform a spring concert second semester, and will participate in community outreach by performing at nursing homes and for other charitable events.

WAYS is the official youth choir of the Minnesota Conservator for the Arts. WAYS is dedicated to providing quality, artistic and educational programs for all young people, regardless of their financial circumstances.

For more information about WAYS or MCA’s other performing arts programming, 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 guest pianists to give free recital Saturday

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University guest pianists Dr. Mary Ellen Haupert and Dr. Timothy Schorr will present a four-hand piano recital at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. Admission is free. The program includes works by Corigliano, Gottschalk, Beach and Barber.

Dr. Schorr is a strong advocate of both solo and collaborative piano literature from all musical periods. His performance credits in the United States and Europe include Carnegie Recital Hall in New York, numerous university guest artist concerts, and concerto appearances. He frequently adjudicates, presents workshops, and gives master classes, and has authored and edited publications for Keyboard Companion Magazine and Hal Leonard Publishing. Dr. Schorr completed graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and earned a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from Eastern Illinois University. He is currently associate professor of music at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where he serves as Music Department chair and coordinator of Applied Piano & Pedagogy.

Mary Ellen Haupert divides her time between music directorship at Roncalli Newman Parish and teaching duties as assistant professor of music at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Haupert has enjoyed frequent appearances with the Artaria String Quartet, as well as a rewarding collaboration with Dr. Schorr. Since their first concert two years ago, the two have performed four-hand programs at Washington University in St. Louis, Winona State University, and University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. They were also featured on Wisconsin Public Radio’s broadcast of “LIVE from the CHAZEN” in February 2006. Dr. Haupert holds a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and graduated summa cum laude from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.

Area high schools competing in SMU High School Challenge

WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota High School Challenge kicked off its 38th season with Round 1A on Saturday, Oct. 11. High School Challenge is the longest-running, locally produced television program showcasing Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa high school students in an educational forum. Competition resumes with Round 1B, starting at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, in the World Room, located in SMU’s Hendrickson Center. The public is welcome to attend.

High School Challenge is a contest in which high schools compete to correctly answer questions dealing with high school subjects, general information and current events. Thirty-two teams compete in winner and consolation bracket tournaments.

High school students receive scholarships to Saint Mary’s for participating in High School Challenge. Schools that win their first game receive $2,000 scholarships to SMU. Schools that lose their first game receive $1,000 scholarships to SMU. These scholarships are for any member of the senior class with a B or above average. Each scholarship is renewable for three consecutive years provided the student remains in good standing and maintains a 2.8/4.0 cumulative grade point average.

The following schools competed in Round 1A Oct. 11 and are moving onto the Consolation Championship on Saturday, Dec. 6: La Crosse Central, Logan White and Riceville (IA). Moving on to the Super Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 21, are La Crescent, Logan Red and Winona Senior High Orange. Other competing schools were Caledonia, Blair-Taylor, North Crawford, and Youth Initiati¬ve.

The following schools will participate in Round 1B on Nov. 8: Lewiston-Altura, Onalaska, Holmen White, Viroqua, Eau Claire Regis Green, Eau Claire Regis White, Seneca and Weston.

Teams that win their afternoon game will return for the Consolation Championship games. Teams that win their morning and afternoon games will return for the Super Challenge Championship. The final eight games of the tournament are taped at SMU and are televised on Fox 25 La Crosse and Fox 48 Eau Claire.

For more information, contact Nicole Witt Gerdes, High School Challenge coordinator, at (507) 457-1761 or ngerdes@smumn.edu.

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona application deadline is Nov. 14

WINONA, Minn. – Anyone who needs help obtaining holiday gifts for their family should pick up a Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona application through one of the human service agencies that they work with (Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Project FINE, Semcac, Winona Area Learning Center, Winona County Community Health, Winona County Department of Human Services, Winona County Red Cross, Winona Senior Advocacy Program, Winona Volunteer Services, Winona Workforce Center or Women’s Resource Center).

The deadline for applying is Friday, Nov. 14.

Through the generosity of the Winona-area community, this program assisted 1,566 people last year.

Other partners include Wells Fargo Bank, Winona Post, Winona Radio, and Winona Volunteer Services.

For more information, call the “Gifts for Winona” line at (507) 457-8719.

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts to hold Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party fundraiser

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host the fifth biennial Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

Two tea sittings (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.), each with specialty teas and exquisite finger foods, will be offered. The Land of the Sweets Gift Boutique, featuring holiday gifts and crafts, will be available for the public's shopping pleasure from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

All children attending the tea party will receive a complimentary photo of themselves with their favorite live character from “The Nutcracker” Ballet. Additionally, storytelling of this favorite holiday classic will be held in the Land of the Sweets Gift Boutique during shopping hours.

The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea party is the first big event of “The Nutcracker” production season for MCA and its youth performing troupe, the Dance Repertory Company. The company will present the full-length ballet Dec. 4-7 at Saint Mary's University’s Page Theatre. This year’s cast of 100 includes students from Saint Mary’s University, Winona State University, and children and community members from Winona and the surrounding areas. For tickets to the production, call (507) 457-1715 or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party serves as a fundraiser for MCA; all proceeds go toward production costs for “The Nutcracker.”

For tickets to the tea sittings or for more information about the gift boutique, call (507) 453-5501. Tickets are $15. The Valéncia Arts Center is handicapped accessible.

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

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre takes the summer off

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University has announced that the Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre will not present a season of shows in 2009. Michael Charron, dean of the School of the Arts, said the university is stepping back to evaluate its professional summer theatre program, “given the current economic climate and the saturation of the arts market in Winona.”

GCST is a professional summer stock program produced in collaboration with the Saint Mary's School of the Arts.

Charron said the first two seasons of GCST featured “wonderful shows, and talented actors and directors. It was a grand experience for everyone involved.”

He added that the university plans to whole-heartedly support local endeavors such as the Shakespeare and Beethoven festivals, as well as the many community theatre productions in the area. “We're also leaving open all possibilities for the future,” he said.

Judy Myers, GCST artistic director and SMU theatre arts faculty member, thanked the community for its support. “Gilmore Creek was tremendous fun,” she said. “It provided a wonderful opportunity for budding theatre professionals, and was certainly of great value for the community. I look forward to continuing my involvement in other Winona performing arts activities.”