Students from an upper-level theatre course had the opportunity to put their directing skills to practice in a Directing Showcase, which was presented on Tuesday, May 7 in the Vonnie Borden Theatre.   Instructor James Winter helped students develop their directing capabilities over the semester.

Students performed the last clarinet studio recital of the semester as the academic year draws to a close. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts held the recital on Tuesday, May 7 in Pottle Auditorium. Eight students performed in the recital with two students performing twice.

Music fraternity collaboration becomes one-org show

A group of music students performed original works along with modern covers of popular songs during an end of the year showcase. The Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity played 12 pieces to a small crowd in Pottle Music Building Auditorium on Thursday, May 9.

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a brotherhood united by its members’ love of music, is one of three musical fraternities at the university. The music fraternity performed on Monday, May 6 in Pottle Auditorium. The first half of the performance consisted of the Sinfonia Chorus and the second half consisted of the Sinfonia Jazz Ensemble.

Graduating senior teaches class

The kinesiology dance studio was booming with hip-hop beats last week as the Moxie Dance Project held a hip-hop master class taught by Flipside Dance organization member and aspiring choreographer Kendrick Griffin. Dancers let oneself go while the graduating senior taught the class a dance to Justin Timberlake’s “Let the Groove In” from Timberlake’s new album “20/20” before he graduates next week.

Many musicians trickle through Southeastern as students, only for each to take their own path after graduation.  These alums, all from various years of schooling at Southeastern, came together Monday, April 29 in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium to create the Alumni Jazz Ensemble as the first of four concerts of the Bill Evans Jazz Festival.

Southeastern Chior and Northshore Choral Society collaborate to honor Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms, a champion of the 18th century Romantic Movement in music, was honored in a joint performance by the Southeastern Choir and the Northshore Choral Society last Tuesday. “A Night of Brahms” was held on April 30 in the Pottle Auditorium.

Jazz saxophonist James Carter joined the Southeastern Jazz Combos and Jazz Ensemble II for the 12th annual Bill Evans Jazz Festival. The recital was the last under the direction of Dr. Richard A. Schwartz, assistant director of bands, director of Southeastern Jazz Ensemble and instructor of saxophone, who has worked at Southeastern for nine years.

Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” has enchanted many minds, but playwright Tommy Jamerson’s “Alice the Brave and other Tales from Wonderland” presented a new story that included puppets, a live band and audience interaction with some classic characters.

The Symphonic Band performed original pieces of the orchestration class during their final concert.  Each student was given the assignment to write a piece, but only nine were chosen.  Rebecca Harris, music education senior and composer of “Sunny Sunday,” explained the process of being chosen.

The Columbia Theatre closed out its main stage season with The Travelin’ McCourys. The bluegrass band hailing from Nashville returned to the Columbia to play a set on Friday, May 3. They previously played the Columbia in 2003 as The Del McCoury Band.

Columbia Theatre was honored to welcome Ivan Rutherford to their stage for the Wind Symphony Concert last Thursday night. Ivan Rutherford was nominated “Best Actor” for his 2,000 performances as Jean Valjean in the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Miserables” on Broadway in New York and across the country.

The 2013 Guitar Festival ended with a performance by the Guitar Ensemble, including pieces from the likes of Georges Bizet. The venue for the performance changed from the Pottle Auditorium to the recital hall but still took place at 7:30 p.m. in spite of the location adjustment.

Lewis Carroll’s story of “Alice in Wonderland” takes on a new twist in the production of “Alice the Brave and Other Tales from Wonderland.”   The production, co-sponsored by Alpha Psi Omega and the Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre Department, is a three-venue traveling tour with the final performances taking place at Southeastern’s Vonnie Borden Theatre Wednesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.

As students prepare for their final exams, 32 graduating seniors in the visual arts major are relaxing because their hard work on final art pieces have been judged, graded and passed. As a reward, the Senior Exhibition displays each graduate’s work for the entire community to view.

Banachek, a mental illusionist from England, wowed dozens of students at the University Center on Tuesday, April 23 at 8 p.m. thanks to the Campus Activities Board. Banachek began the show with  a card trick. He asked the audience members to memorize any card from a deck in their mind.

The Southeastern Dance Program will soon present a spring dance concert performance titled “United 424,” which will combine a wide variety of dance styles choreographed by both dance students and instructors. The concert will take place in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall on Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 p.

Jazz Ensemble I played alongside Graham Breedlove, trumpet soloist, music composer and arranger of the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.”    Breedlove played as a soloist in four of the concert’s pieces, all of which were composed by himself, and finished the concert playing with the trumpet section.

Southeastern’s 2013 Guitar Festival continued with All Styles Night on Monday, April 15. Students, teachers and coworkers brought together genres such as jazz, bluegrass, pop, Christian and classical. Soloists Trey Bourgeois and Shane Zeringue opened the performance with acoustic guitar.

Students were given the opportunity to witness firsthand the thrills of theatre at the Southeastern Theatre performance of “Baby With the Bathwater.”   The play, written by Christopher Durang, portrays the struggles of parenting, marriage and defining oneself in a chaotic atmosphere.