My Final Post

The semester is coming to a close, which means my online journalism class is ending and so is my blog.

Over the past few months, I have really enjoyed blogging about the arts at Moravian.  This was a great experience not only because the arts are something I am interested in and actively involved in but also because it has helped me become more familiar with online journalism and launched me into the blogosphere.

I have written journalism pieces prior to taking this online journalism class but they were for newsprint.  Most of my journalism experience comes from writing for The Comenian, Moravian College's newspaper, and my first few posts reflected that.  They were more factual and informative like newspaper articles but throughout the semester, I began to insert my personality more into my writing and the posts became chattier.

One regret I have about this blog is that the posts were not quite as varied as I would have liked. I initially wanted to cover all the arts (art, dance, music, and theatre) but I mostly ended up covering music and theatre, mostly because they had so many events going on this semester whereas art and dance did not have as many.

In spite in this, I still consider this blog and the experience of writing it to be a positive one.  I believe I grew as an online journalist and I had a lot of fun doing it.

Thank you for your comments and support and I hope all of you have enjoyed reading my blog.

Moravian Gears Up for Vespers

The dates have been set, the volunteers have been trained, the music has been rehearsed, and the speakers have been chosen.  That means it’s time once again for Moravian College’s annual Christmas Vespers!

As I stated in my last post, the Christmas Vespers take place every year during the first two weekends in December at the Central Moravian Church, which is right across the street to the college’s Hurd campus. 

The Christmas Vespers has been a tradition of the Moravian Church for nearly 300 years.  It combines two other worship traditions of the Moravian Church: the Singtunde (singing hour) and the Candlelight Service.  In other words, Vespers is a church service that features mostly singing and also uses candlelight. 

Putting on Vespers is no simple task.  It requires months of preparation. 

Every year, there is a head usher and two head sacristans, all of whom are students, and they take on a leadership role in helping to organize Vespers.  There are also a slew of volunteers who help with everything from door greeters and ushers to prepping and passing out the candles.

All semester long, the Moravian Choir and the Women’s Chorus rehearse their repertoires of music that they will sing throughout the service.  Some are pieces that they sing alone and others are the hymns that they sing along with the congregation.  Vigorous rehearsal is needed for both in order for the music to sound as beautiful as it does every year.

Meanwhile, speakers for each service must be chosen.  There are three sets of speakers for each service: a liturgist, a scripture reader, and a prayer leader. 

• The liturgists are usually either the college president, one of the vice presidents, or the associate chaplain
• The scripture readers are seniors of both the college and the seminary
• The prayer leaders are members of the faculty, administration, and staff

Only after all of this is done is Vespers finally ready.  Over those six nights of services, nearly 6,000 people come out and every year, it's absolutely phenomenal!

If you've been to Vespers before, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.  If you haven't been to Vespers, I highly encourage you to come.  It's a wonderful experience and it's sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Admission is free but unlike most events, you cannot show up to Vespers without a ticket.  If you don't have one yet, be sure to contact the public relations office ASAP!

Here's all the dates and times:

Friday December 2: prelude is at 7:30 p.m., service is at 8 p.m.

Saturday December 3: prelude is at 7:30 p.m., service is at 8 p.m.

Sunday December 4: prelude is at 4:30 p.m., service is at 5 p.m.

Friday December 9: prelude is at 7:30 p.m., service is at 8 p.m.

Saturday December 10: prelude is at 7:30 p.m., service is at 8 p.m.

Sunday December 11: prelude is at 4:30 p.m., service is at 5 p.m.

What do you think of Vespers?  Have you been to them before?  If so, what did you think?  If you haven't been, would you like to go?  Post your thoughts!

Vespers Preview In Foy Hall This Friday

It's almost that time of year again!  We're already half-way through November, which means Christmas is just around the corner and at Moravian, there's only one way to celebrate Christmas...with Christmas Vespers of course!

Every year for the first two Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of December, Moravian College hosts its Christmas Vespers at the Central Moravian Church on Church Street.  Nearly 6,000 students, faculty, family, friends, and community members come out to vespers over the course of those six nights but even still, there are some who just can't tickets.

That's where Vespers Preview comes in.  This Friday, people will have the chance to see and hear this year's Christmas Vespers in concert.

The same ensembles and repertoire will be performed as actual vespers.  The only differences are:

• Vespers Preview is in Foy Hall, not Central Moravian Church
• Fewer hymn and readings will be done at Vespers Preview
• The famous vespers candles will not be at Vespers Preview

For those of you who don't know, after all the ensembles are done performing, the service concludes with the entire congregation singing several hymns, during which all the lights in the church are turned off and everyone is given a lit candle.  It always looks beautiful in the church but unfortunately, that is unable to be done in Foy for Vespers Preview.

However, Vespers Preview is still a wonderful concert and if you are unable to get tickets for Vespers, it's a great way to experience vespers and get an early start on your Christmas spirit!  

I'll be there singing with the Moravian Choir and the Women's Chorus.

Have any of you been to Vespers Preview before?  If so, what did you think?

Here's all the info for Friday's concert:

• Date: Friday, November 18
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Foy Hall
• Cost: FREE

I hope you can make it!  Remember, if you go, feel free to post your thoughts here!  

New Art Exhibit at Moravian is Gift to College

On Thursday, Nove. 10, Moravian's Payne Art Gallery hosted its opening reception for its new exhibition.


The exhibition is titled "Recent Acquisitions."  It features paintings and sculptures from the local area, all created between 1910-2010.  The art work on display was created by such artists as:

• Joseph Barrett:  currently resides in Bucks County and much of his art work is centered on Bucks County
• Walter Baum:  founder of the Baum School of Art in Allentown
• Renzo Faggioli:  art faculty member at Moravian College
• Roy Nuse:  impressionist artist who resides in Bucks County
• Steve Tobin:  originally from Coopersburg, Pennsylvania

Moravian alumna Joann M. Trotsky gave the art work to the college in honor of her parents Alexander and Elizabeth Trotsky.

If you're interested in attending, here's all the info on the gallery:

• Open Tuesday-Sunday
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Admission and parking are free

"Recent Acquisitions" will be on display on the Payne Art Gallery through Jan. 15, so be sure to check it out!  And, if you do, feel free to comment and share your thoughts!

Original jazz opera to premier at Moravian

A pretty unique performance is taking place this weekend at Moravian.  On Friday Nov. 11 and Saturday Nov.12, an original jazz opera "The Book of Gig" will premier in Moravian's own Foy Hall.

Inspired by themes from the Bible's Book of Job, "The Book of Gig" tells the story of Gig Wright, a jazz musician who has to deal with the pressures of balancing fame and family.  Here is a brief synopsis:

"A tragic jazz opera. This is a story based on the book of Job, Medea, and the all-too-common tragedy that plagues our world. A boy--Gig Wright--is born with a musical gift and rises to fame as a jazz musician. Along the way, he meets and marries the love of his life, and has two children. Gig loves his wife and kids, but spends a lot of time on the road. The wife succumbs to depression, and takes her own life. Gig goes on with his life and career, but is overwhelmed with grief. Not wanting live in a world without his wife, and not wanting his children to be orphaned, he does the unthinkable."

The music was written by Tony Gairo and the lyrics were written by Lou Lanza, both of whom teach music at Moravian.  Professor Christopher Shorr, director of theatre, is directing the jazz opera, Dr. Neil Wetzel, director of jazz studies, is conducting.

"The Book of Gig" serves as a collaboration between the music and theatre departments.  Therefore, it features members of several performance groups on campus:

• Moravian College Theatre Company
• Moravian's BIG Band
• Jazz Combo I
• Jazz Vocal Ensemble

Auditions were held this past spring.  Once the show was cast, the actors and musicians began learning the script/music in August and got right into rehearsals once school started.  They have been rehearsing all semester and this weekend, all their hard work will be showcased.

I highly encouraged everyone to check it out this weekend.  It's such a unique collaboration between the music and theatre departments as well as between the faculty and the students.  It's also a truly Moravian production, since it was written by and will be performed by members of the Moravian community - all the more reason why you should go see it!

Here's all the information:

• Date:  Friday Nov. 11 & Saturday Nov. 12
• Time:  8 p.m.
• Location:  Foy Hall
• Cost:  $5 Moravian faculty/staff, free to students with ID

More Music At Moravian

Didn't have any plans for this weekend?  Then, I hope you checked out some of the music concerts that happened on campus!

There were quite a few concerts scheduled this weekend and each featured a different style of music too!  Here's who performed:

• Moravian College Jazz Combo II and Jazz Fusion
• Delta Omicron Musicale
• Moravian College Celtic and Baroque Ensembles

On Friday, Nov. 4, Moravian's Jazz Combo II and Jazz Fusion performed at 7:30 p.m. in Foy Hall.  Jazz Combo II is directed by David Roth (jazz piano) and Jazz Fusion is directed by Alan Gaumer (jazz trumpet).  Both Roth and Gaumer teach at Moravian.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, members of Moravian's chapter of Delta Omicron, which is an international music honors fraternity, performed their fall musicale.  Every musicale has a theme and this one was "Music Through the Ages," so a wide variety of musical styles were featured.  

Finally, on Sunday, Nov. 6, the Moravian College's Celtic Ensemble and Baroque Ensemble came together for a concert.  Alison Gillespie, who directs the Celtic Ensemble, specialized in Celtic Fiddle (similar to the violin).  Sarah Baer, director of the Baroque Ensemble, plays the oboe (a woodwind instrument) and actually graduated from Moravian with a degree in Music Performance.  

Did any of you check out these concerts?  What did you think?  Be sure to comment and let me know what you thought!

Vocalis Performs at Moravian's Campaign Kick-Off

It was around 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Hotel Bethlehem when suddenly, music began to fill the air in the Grand Ballroom.  People were confused and surprised until they realized...it was a singing flash mob spearheaded by Vocalis!

Now, for those of you who don't know, a flash mob is when a group of people assemble in a public place and suddenly begin to perform together.  As I said before, people were a bit unsure as to what was going on at first but once they got the idea, they were thoroughly pleased by our performance.

Vocalis Singing Flash Mob
(Courtesy of Moravian College)

Vocalis Singing After Dinner
(Courtesy of Moravian College)

Flash mobs have been pretty popular lately.  This also was not the first time a flash mob had been done at Moravian either.  A few weeks prior, a flash mob took place in the Marketplace dining hall to promote the upcoming Midnight Madness for Moravian's basketball team.  

The purpose for the performance was to promote Moravian's 2011 kick-off campaign titled, "The Campaign for Moravian," which is a large fundraiser for the college that will take place over the next four years.  The campaign is the first public campaign Moravian has hosted.  Students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and donors were all represented there.  

The goal is to raise $45 million and use those funds for the following causes:

• Capital Projects (renovations for:)

          Collier Hall of Science = $10 million

          Comenius Hall = $3 million

• Endowment for Students, Faculty, and Programs

           Need-based Aid = $8 million
           Merit-based Aid = $2 million
           Faculty Chairs = $2 million
           Programmatic Support = $6 million

• Annual Giving 

           Moravian Scholarship Fund = $8 million

           Restricted Giving = $6 million

In addition to the performance, remarks were made by President Christopher Thomforde, members of the Board of Trustees, several of the deans, the campaign chair Kenneth Rampolla, and the chaplin Clennon Hopeton about their excitement over the campaign.  Afterwards, Vocalis lead everyone in the singing of our Alma Mater, "Old M.C."

Overall, the night was a big success, not only for Vocalis but for the campaign as well.  It was a great opportunity to talk with other students, faculty, staff, the trustees, alumni, and donors and for us all to show our support for Moravian. 

Comedy "All in the Timing" to be performed at Moravian

This Friday, Oct. 28, start your weekend off with a good laugh by going to see a reading of the comedy "All in the Timing," performed by members of the Moravian College Theatre Company (MCTC).

"All in the Timing" is yet another installment in MCTC's Friday Night Play Reading Series, following "Tooth and Claw" and "Good People." "A Resting Place" was also put on in collaboration with Touchstone Theatre.

"All in the Timing" is a series of short plays by contemporary American playwright David Ives.  

In a Moravian College news release put out earlier in the semester, "All in the Timing" was described as a "whimsical comedy...comprised of four short plays all featuring twisted moments -- including ice pick phobias, Shakespeare-writing monkeys, and more monkeys."  

Here is a little bit more about the play:

"The world according to David Ives is a very add place, and his plays constitute a virtual stress test of the English language -- and of the audience's capacity for disorientation and delight. Ives's characters plunge into black holes called "Philadelphias," where the simplest desires are hilariously thwarted. Chimps named Milton, Swift, and Kafka are locked in a room and made to re-create Hamlet. At once enchanting and perplexing, incisively intelligent and side-splittingly funny."

The play will be directed by Dan Marrero '13.  Marrero is a self-designed theatre major.  He has performed with MCTC since his freshman year but this is his first time directing a piece.

If you're interested in going to see "All in the Timing", here's everything you need to know:

• As with all the play readings, "All in the Timing" will be performed in the Arena Theatre
• The show is tonight, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.
• Admission is FREE!

So, go see "All in the Timing" tomorrow night!  It's sure to be a good time!  If you do go, remember to post your thoughts here afterwards!  I always enjoy hearing your feedback!

Also, arts@moravian is now on twitter!  Be sure to follow!
http://twitter.com/#!/artsatmoravian

MC Dancers Debut at Homecoming

This weekend was a great weekend to be a hound as Moravian held it's annual Homecoming!

Among the various activities and events was the homecoming football game against Franklin and Marshall College Saturday at 1 p.m.  At half-time, the cheerleaders and the band performed as they always do at the games but spectators were in for a treat as the Moravian College Dance Company (MCDC), of which I happen to be a member, also performed for their first time this year.  

We danced to a rendition of Journey's "Any Way You Want It," which the Greyhound Marching Band played live on the field.  

The routine featured a little bit of call and response (where half the dancers performed an 8-count of dancing and the other half mimicked it), some partnering, several leaps and jumps, and unison dancing (where everyone dances together).  It was a really fun routine and the judging by the all the cheers and applause afterwards, it seemed to be a real crowd-pleaser too!

Due to scheduling conflicts, not all of the dancers could rehearse for the homecoming performance, so not everybody in the company performed.  The Moravian College Dance Company is made up of about 20 students, but the 13 who performed at homecoming included:

• Denay Alston '15
• Sam Anderson '13
• Caity Dean '12
• Sasha Halasz '13
• Brooke Kuperavage '13
• Elizabeth Kussler '12
• Brittany Moretz '15
• Rachel Morrison '15
• Carly Reiss '14
• Chrissy Rocco '13
• Laura Shearman '14
• Kayla Smull '13
• Rianne Stowell '13

MC Dancers before our Homecoming performance

The routine was choreographed by Madeline Moore, who joined the Moravian College Dance Company last fall as the assistance artistic director.  This was also the second year that we collaborated with the Greyhound Marching Band for their half-time routine.  

As I previously mentioned, this was our first performance this year.  Our big performance is their big spring concert, where we and guest performers dance in Foy Hall.  This year the concert will be on Friday Mar. 30 and Saturday Mar. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Although our Greyhounds ended up losing the game (14-7), the MC Dancers still shined at half-time and the Homecoming spirit stayed alive!

Were you at the game on Saturday?  If so, what did you think of the MC Dancers' half-time performance?  Post your thoughts!

Music Recitals at Moravian

In my previous post, I blogged about all the recitals that took place this past weekend and I wanted to shed some light as to what it takes to put on a student recital here at Moravian.  

Last weekend, all the of recitals were student recitals.  In case some of you are unfamiliar with what student recitals are and how they work, here's a little info.  Student recitals are required for all Bachelor of Music students.  

• Music Education Majors = perform a half recital (20-30 minutes) their senior year during the semester prior to student teaching
• Music Performance/Sacred Music Majors = perform a half recital their junior year and a full recital (45-60 minutes) their senior year
• Music Composition Majors = perform a half recital their junior year and either a full recital or a project their senior year

*Bachelor of Arts in Music students and Music Minors have the option to perform recitals as well.  However, it is not required.

All the repertoire is representative of the student's musical concentration (either vocal or instrumental).  In other words, the students either sing OR play one specific instrument for their recital.  The repertoire also is designed to showcase the skill level the student has achieved over the past several years.

The students are not in it alone.  All recitals are supervised by a faculty member of the music department.  Also, professional and/or student accompanists play for the student recitals.

In addition to all the hard work the students put into learning, rehearsing, and in some cases memorizing pieces, student also must research their pieces and the composers who wrote them.  All that information is then published in the recital program.  

It is also important to remember that these students are graded on all of this.  It counts as course credit and is part of the requirements for completing a Bachelor of Music degree.

So, if you have yet to attend a student recital, be sure to go to one!  You can check out the music department's concert schedule here to see what's coming up.  Also, if you do go, be sure to tell me about it!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A Weekend of Student Recitals at Moravian

This past weekend (Oct. 14-16), the Moravian College Music Department hosted several senior student recitals:

• Megan Weaver and Cailin Fogerty:  Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Peter Hall:  
• Elizabeth Brodt:  Sunday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. in Peter Hall

The first recital, "Pan Pipes and Siren Songs" showcased a variety of instrumental and vocal classical pieces.  Both Weaver and Fogerty looked and sounded lovely, Weaver, with her resonant mezzo voice, wore a teal blue strapless dress and Fogerty, with her light and airy flute, donned a purple halter dress.  

Weaver is a music education major concentrating in voice (mezzo-soprano).  She is originally from Hatboro, Pennsylvania.  While at Moravian, she has been involved in:

• Moravian Choir
• Women's Chorus (current president)
• Vocalis
• Marching Band
• Most Monteverdi Early Music Ensemble
• Opera Workshop
• Gamma Pi chapter of Delta Omicron (international Music Honors Fraternity)

Fogerty is also a music education major with a concentration in flue.  She is originally from Middletown, Rhode Island.  At Moravian, she has been a member of:

• Gamma Pi chapter of Delta Omicron
• Marching Band (color guard and flute troupe)
• Moravian College Dance Company
• Moravian Choir
• Orchestra

The second recital, "Un Clarinettista, Cantabile," (which translates to "a clarinet player in a smooth, lyrical style) featured music from the classical, romantic, and 20th century periods.  Brodt played beautifully on the clarinet and looked stunning as well in her deep blue dress.

Brodt is a music education major with a concentration in clarinet.  She is originally from Coplay, Pennsylvania.  Here are Moravian, she has been in:

• Marching Band (drum major)
• Wind Ensemble
• Orchestra
• Woodwind Trio
• Piano Trio
• Moravian Choir
• BIG Band
• Clarinet Choir
• Women's Chorus

A lot of beautiful music was performed this past weekend.  Both recitals had great turnouts and based on the audiences' reactions, they were both big successes as well.

If you went to either or both of the recitals, feel free to post your feedback.  If you didn't, you missed the opportunity to hear some really talented students.  No worries though because there are plenty more recitals coming soon.  Check out the concert schedule linked at the top of the post to learn more!

Also, read another review of this weekend's recitals here!

Tony-Award Winning Play "Good People" Performed

While most people were unwinding over fall break, the cast of "Good People" was hard at work rehearsing for their performance this past Friday, Oct. 14.

Following "Tooth and Claw," "Good People" was the second installment in the Moravian College Theatre Company's Friday Night Play Reading Series.

"Good People" was written by American writer and playwright David Lindsay-Abaire.  Here is a brief plot synopsis:

Recently fired, single mother, ex-dollar store clerk, Margie, from Southie (aka: South Boston, a working class Irish neighborhood) decides to visit an old flame (Mike), now a married physician, to seek employment. Through a misunderstanding, Margie ends up at Mike's posh suburban home for his cancelled birthday party. The confrontation between Mike, his wife, and Margie leads us to the question: you can take the man out of Southie, but can you take the Southie out of the man?

Bill Bauman, a Moravian alum, administrative assistant for the Moravian College Music Department, and a long-time advocate for the theater company, is directing the reading.

Bauman has directed productions in the past, including the very well-received reading of "Dog Sees God" last November.  The cast is made up of students and one alum:

• Cindy DaPra '12
• Rob Hercik '11
• Anne Joseph '12
• Luke Muench '13
• Victoria Ruibal '15
• Daina Smolskis '13

Interestingly enough, "Good People" premiered on Broadway this past spring and ran for several months.  During that time, it was nominated for two Tony Awards, one for Best Play and one for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Frances McDormand. McDormand actually ending up winning the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

Feel free to post comments and feedback.  I'd love to hear what you thought of it!