Audience to receive Famous Dave’s giveaways April 27 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — Audiences who attend the Monday, April 27, presentation by Dave Anderson, founder of the popular barbecue franchise Famous Dave’s of America, will receive a number of free giveaways. Famous Dave’s of La Crosse will give out free appetizers — while supplies last — to event attendees. The first 350 to arrive at the presentation will also receive a bottle of barbecue sauce and a $5 restaurant coupon.

The event, hosted by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at Saint Mary’s University, is free and open to the public. Anderson’s presentation, “Me, Inc. — The Spirit of Entrepreneurship,” will run from 6 to 7 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

Food will be served on a first-come, first-served basis after the presentation outside of the Performance Center. Freewill offerings will be accepted to benefit the Kabara Institute.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Anderson shares his heartfelt optimism using his life’s story to share insight and life lessons in dealing with today’s fast-changing world. He is an enthusiastic advocate of the American dream and stresses that no matter how tough things may seem today, if you never give up your dream and work hard, tomorrow’s rewards will always come.

Anderson founded Famous Dave’s of America, which has more than 120 restaurants and growing. He is also known for helping found the Rainforest Café, another successful nationwide restaurant company. Throughout his career, he has helped found three publicly traded companies on Wall Street and created more than 20,000 new jobs.

In his own life, Anderson has experienced adversity, frustration and bankruptcy, as well as tremendous success. His life story is featured in two New York Times bestsellers. He has served two presidents and three governors in advisory positions. Anderson has also provided key testimony before Congress and the U.S. Senate. Always tackling the impossible, this bottom-half-of-the-class high school student earned his master’s degree from Harvard University without an undergraduate degree. He has appeared on all major networks including “Regis and Kathy Lee,” “Oprah Winfrey,” “The Discovery Channel,” “The Food Network,” “National Public Radio,” and more than 200 radio shows. Anderson, a Native American, devotes his life to making a difference in his community and in the lives of others less fortunate.

Anderson will be available following the presentation to sign his books, “LifeSkills for Success” and “Backroads and Sidestreets Cookbook” in the Performance Center lobby. Copies of the books will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Lifeskills Center for Leadership in Minneapolis.

SMU performance April 29 to include ethnic percussion ensemble, jazz combos, and music technology students

WINONA, Minn. —The Batucada Nossa Senhora ethnic percussion ensemble of Saint Mary's University will present its 17th annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in Page Theatre, located in the Performance Center. Batucada Nossa Senhora translates to Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady.

The performance, under the direction of Denny McGuire, will consist of music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico, combining for an enriching multi-cultural experience for all ages. Batucada members include SMU students, many of whom are music majors, as well as community members.

Performers use a variety of unique instruments including: the authentic surdo, tamborim, agogó, reco-reco, ganzá, and pandeiro from the Samba Baterias of Brazil as well as hand-drums such as conga and bongó from the Cuban tradition. From Africa, they also use gongoque and beaded gourds of many types (most of which are made by members of the group) as well as instruments such as the berimbau and talking drum.

Additionally two SMU jazz workshop combos, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven, will play some favorite pieces from past performances, and three SMU music technology students will premiere their electronic music pieces.

One of the jazz workshop combos will perform a Latin jazz piece, written by McGuire.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Spring Chamber Music Recital is April 26 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — A recital of Saint Mary’s University student chamber ensembles is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, in Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the Performance Center. Performing groups will include the Flute Choir, Clarinet Quartet, Brass Quintet, String Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. The ensembles are coached by SMU music faculty members Janet Heukeshoven, Eric Heukeshoven, and Ned Kirk. This recital will feature a variety of music by Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert, and Schumann.

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

For additional details, contact Janet Heukeshoven at (507) 457-1675 or jheukesh@smumn.edu.

Earlybird deadline is April 15 for summer Saint Mary’s camps

WINONA, Minn. — Take advantage of discounted rates through the earlybird deadline by registering April 15 for Saint Mary’s University’s summer camps. The Winona campus is filled with camp activities all summer long including:

• Learn to Lead camp from July 12-16. Learn to Lead is a new four-day on-campus experience for girls entering grades six, seven and eight in fall 2009. Participants will focus on the discovery of the leader within through fun activities, outdoor adventures and leadership skill development. The camp is being developed in conjunction with the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women at SMU. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• Girls volleyball camps for girls in grades six through eight July 19-23, and for grades nine through 12 July 26-30. Develop as a player and as a person during this residential athletic camp, which focuses on both individual skills and team play. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• Girls basketball camp for girls in grades five through 10 July 12-16. This instructional camp gives special attention to the fundamentals of shooting, ball handling, passing and defense. Time is spent developing team concepts as well as offensive and defensive games plans. Each age group is challenged to compete and improve their skills against other campers their age. The cost is $375 ($350 by April 15).

• PDP Hockey School for girls and boys ages 8 through 18. Squirts, ages 9-10, meet June 28 through July 2; pee wees, ages 1-12, meet June 28 through July 2; boys goalies, ages 8 through 12, meet June 28 through July 2; U-10/U-12 girls meet July 5-9; U-14/high school girls meet July 5-9; and girls goaltenders, ages 8 through 18, meet July 5-9. The five-day residential camp cost is $595 ($575 by April 15). Contact Bill Moore at (651) 442-7306 or pdphockeyschool@comcast.net.

• Mid-States Swim Camp June 14-18 and June 21-25. The five-day residential camp is $540. Contact midsts@nconnect.net.

• “Turning Point” Figure Skating Camp July 19-22 and 20-21. The cost for the four-day residential camp is $575. For the day camp, the cost is $125 per day or $225 for both days. Contact John Meier at (507) 452-5305 or winonafigureskating@charter.net.

*Registration for PDP Hockey, Mid-States Swim and Turning Point Figure Skating must be done through these individual camps. Although the camps are hosted on the SMU campus, SMU is not handling registration or payment.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/camps. Register and pay online, or call 800-635-5987, Ext. 6921 or (507) 457-6921.

Famous Dave’s founder to speak April 27 at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — Dave Anderson, founder of the popular barbecue franchise Famous Dave’s of America, will speak at Saint Mary’s University on Monday, April 27.

The event, hosted by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at SMU, is free and open to the public. Anderson’s presentation, “Me, Inc. — The Spirit of Entrepreneurship,” will run from 6 to 7 p.m. in Page Theatre, located in the SMU Performance Center.

Famous Dave’s of La Crosse is donating samples and appetizers in honor of the event. Food will be served on a first-come, first-served basis after the presentation outside of the Performance Center. Freewill offerings will be accepted to benefit the Kabara Institute.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Anderson shares his heartfelt optimism using his life’s story to share insight and life lessons in dealing with today’s fast-changing world. He is an enthusiastic advocate of the American dream and stresses that no matter how tough things may seem today, if you never give up your dream and work hard, tomorrow’s rewards will always come.

Anderson founded Famous Dave’s of America, which has more than 120 restaurants and growing. He is also known for helping found the Rainforest Café, another successful nationwide restaurant company. Throughout his career, he has helped found three publicly traded companies on Wall Street and created more than 20,000 new jobs.

In his own life, Anderson has experienced adversity, frustration and bankruptcy, as well as tremendous success. His life story is featured in two New York Times bestsellers. He has served two presidents and three governors in advisory positions. Anderson has also provided key testimony before Congress and the U.S. Senate. Always tackling the impossible, this bottom-half-of-the-class high school student earned his master’s degree from Harvard University without an undergraduate degree. He has appeared on all major networks including “Regis and Kathy Lee,” “Oprah Winfrey,” “The Discovery Channel,” “The Food Network,” “National Public Radio,” and more than 200 radio shows.

Anderson, a Native American, devotes his life to making a difference in his community and in the lives of others less fortunate. Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network recently recognized his leadership development work with at-risk youth.

Anderson will be available following the presentation to sign his books, “LifeSkills for Success” and “Backroads and Sidestreets Cookbook” in the Performance Center lobby. Copies of the books will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to the Lifeskills Center for Leadership in Minneapolis.

Saint Mary’s invites nonprofits to submit ‘to-do’ lists for ‘Spruce up Winona Day’

WINONA, Minn. — In recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day,” Saint Mary’s University’s Volunteer Services group is inviting Winona nonprofit agencies to submit requests for service.

Do you need someone to help with your spring cleaning, to rake leaves, to do some painting, or to help with construction? Approximately 125 Saint Mary’s University students will be teamed up from 1 to 5 p.m. to help groups and organizations on Thursday, April 23, in recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day.”

Saint Mary’s will supply the workers, if you supply the materials needed (paint, brushes, rakes, tools, etc.).

To register your request, please call Katie LaPlant at (507) 457-6936 or e-mail volunteerservices @smumn.edu.

SMU choirs concert features world premiere by William Neil

WINONA, Minn. — The SMU Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea, and Women’s Choir, under the direction of Lindsy O’Shea, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, located on the Saint Teresa campus.

The performance will include a world premiere performance of Oratoria for choir, soloists, brass, percussion and the church bells of Winona, by William Neil.

The work features the SMU Chamber Singers, percussion and a brass quintet coached by Eric Heukeshoven. Also involved with be Music Technology faculty member Brett Huus, assisting with electronically sampled sounds used in the work.

The evening will also include a special performance of O’Shea’s Due Sonetti di Petrarca and Jake Runestad’s I Will Lift Mine Eyes, as well as works by Pablo Casals and spirituals.

Neil is a 2008 McKnight Visiting Composer. For more information, go to http://duisigh.thecomposerstudio.com.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s to host third Row, Ride, Run Triathlon

WINONA, Minn. — The third Saint Mary’s University Heart & SOUL “Row, Ride, Run Triathlon” will take place on Saturday, April 25, at 9 a.m.; check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. on the west end of Lake Winona. The public is encouraged to take part in the triathlon.

Participants will canoe or kayak a 2.5-mile loop around Lake Winona, then bike 14 miles from Lake Winona to the SMU campus. Once on campus, racers will run 3.1 miles through the bluffs surrounding the university.

Serving Others United in Love (SOUL) is a program of the Office of Campus Ministry at SMU, and offers opportunities to members of the SMU community to serve and be served through both national and international mission trips.

Participants may begin registering now, either as an individual or as a team. Teams may consist of two, three or four members. The registration period ends April 14. The fees are $35 per individual or $60 per team; registration spots are limited.

Racers are responsible for bringing their own bikes, and are required to wear helmets for the bicycling leg of the event. Canoeists and kayakers are required to wear life jackets; a limited number of canoes and kayaks are available to rent for $20. SMU students and employees can use canoes and kayaks at no charge.

For more information, or to register online, visit www.smumn.edu/heartandsoul. For information on reservations, call (507) 457-1643.

Saxophonist David Liebman to complete two-day public residency at Saint Mary’s

Photo by Pin Lim

WINONA, Minn. — The community is invited to listen to and learn from world-renowned saxophonist David Liebman Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, as he completes a two-day residency at Saint Mary’s University.

Liebman will perform with the SMU Jazz Ensemble and Combos, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, in Page Theatre. He will also give a special “meet the artist” session at 6:30 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall. Both venues are located in the SMU Performance Center. Tickets to the performance are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Additionally, Liebman will offer two master classes — both free and open to the public — including:

• A Jazz Improvisation Master Class for students, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in Page Theatre, and

• An Improv Master Class for teachers and pros, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, April 17, in Page Theatre.

The residency is made possible through funding from the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation and the Saint Mary’s Department of Music. For more information, contact Paulson at jpaulson@smumn.edu or (507) 457-1596, or go online to www.daveliebman.com.

DAVID LIEBMAN BIOGRAPHY

David Liebman’s music career has spanned over three decades, beginning with his “apprenticeship” period performing and recording with drummer Elvin Jones (most notably with the recording “Live At The Lighthouse”) and Miles Davis (during the seminal “On The Corner” period). Since then he has led his own groups (Lookout Farm, Quest, The Dave Liebman Group) featuring musicians like John Scofield, Billy Hart, Adam Nussbaum, Al Foster, John Abercrombie and Vic Juris. Liebman has consistently placed among the top three in the Downbeat Critics Poll for Soprano Saxophone since 1973 and is considered one of the main exponents of this very specialized instrument.

Liebman has played on nearly 300 recordings with more than 100 under his own name or co-leadership. The repertoire is among the most eclectic of contemporary artists.

In the education field, he is a renowned lecturer, producing several instructional DVDs and books, which have been translated into several languages. He is the founder (1989) and artistic director of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), an organization of jazz schools from over 40 countries representing every continent that meets yearly and promotes cross cultural student/teacher exchanges.

Awards granted to Liebman include an Honorary Doctorate from the Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland); Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Solo (1998) and Best Big Band Arrangement (performed on Liebman’s big band recording “Beyond The Line” in 2004); induction into the International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame (2000); Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Grant (2005); Jazz Journalists Award (2007); and in the 1980s two National Endowment of the Arts grants for performance and composition. He serves on the Board of Advisers for Jazz Improv magazine, the Chet Baker Foundation, the Pensylvania Regional Jazz Coalition, and American Jazz Venue and is presently a lecturer in the masters and doctoral programs of the Manhattan School of Music.

Student History Research Symposium is April 18 at SMU

WINONA, Minn. — Seniors from five area universities will present the results of their historical research at the Student History Research Symposium on Saturday, April 18, at Saint Mary’s University. The event — free and open to the public — is sponsored by the history departments of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Saint Mary’s University, Viterbo University of La Crosse, and Winona State University.

In addition to the student presenters, Dr. Kendall Staggs, lecturer in history at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, will speak on “The Politics of Foreign Oil Dependency: A Historical Perspective.”

Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University have co-sponsored a student research symposium for nine years, with UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and UW-Eau Claire joining in the past two years. Each school asks senior history majors — and at Winona State, law and society majors — to write a senior thesis based on their original research of a historical question of their own choosing. In this way, the students actually do the work of historians, and in the process, deepen their research, writing and speaking skills.

All symposium sessions will be held on the third and fourth floors of Saint Mary’s Hall. The symposium opens at 9 a.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall (Room 332) with a short welcoming ceremony and coffee. Students will present their research in concurrent panels of three students each. The first panel session starts at 9:15 a.m., the second at 10:45 a.m. Dr. Staggs’s talk will start around noon and will be accompanied by a complimentary lunch.

For further information, contact Dr. Tycho de Boer, Department of History, Saint Mary’s University, at (507) 457-6995 or tdeboer@smumn.edu.