Keith Urban “Graffiti U World Tour 2018” Coming To Grand Forks

Grand Forks, N.D.- At a surprise pop-up show last night in Nashville, Grammy Award winner Keith Urban announced his “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR 2018” with special guest Kelsea Ballerini. He took the opportunity to announce that his forthcoming album will be called GRAFFITI U.

The tour will kick off in June and will run through November, making stops in 58 cities, including Grand Forks on Sunday, October 14^th. Tickets will go on sale on January 26^th at 10:00 AM CST at ticketmaster.com, the arena box office or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

“I’ve been full-on writing, recording, collaborating and creating with some incredibly talented people for GRAFFITI U, a lot of whom I’ve never worked with before” said Urban. “I can hear how some of the songs will translate live already, which really makes putting on a new show so exhilarating and I loved having our fans included in the announcement of the tour because it’s their tour too.”

“I remember hearing Keith Urban songs that stopped me in my tracks and made me want to drop everything and chase that kind of lyric and heart-filled artistry” says Ballerini.  “He’s the best in the business and I can’t wait to fangirl and learn from him this year. Truly an honor to tour with him.”

Urban’s tour announcements have become events unto themselves, last night’s yet another in a line of conceptual tour announcements that have included production and performance previews, as well as comedic videos that have been copies since.

For all official Keith Urban tour news including show dates and where to purchase tickets, go to www.keithurban.net.

Luher College Jazz Orchestra to perform at Hope Lutheran in Fargo

As part of their five-stop April tour, the Luther College Jazz Orchestra will perform at Hope Lutheran Church, North Campus, 2900 Broadway N, at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20.  

The performance by the 20-member Jazz Orchestra is open to the public. A freewill donation will be accepted.

Under the direction of Juan Tony Guzman, associate professor of music and education at Luther, the Jazz Orchestra has come to be recognized as one of the outstanding liberal arts college jazz ensembles in the Upper Midwest.

Guzman, a native of the Dominican Republic and a 1990 Luther graduate, has led the ensemble through the many genres of jazz for more than 17 years in addition to maintaining an active career as an arranger and band, orchestral and choral conductor across the world.

The 2013 Jazz Orchestra tour concerts will include classic standards by Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Astor Piazzolla, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker in addition to more recent compositions by Gordon Goodwin, Rick Lawn, and Luther's own composer-in-residence, Brooke Joyce. Traditional Brazilian dance music arranged for the ensemble will also be featured to round out a diverse program of Latin, swing and fusion styles.

The Jazz Orchestra is one of the four main touring ensembles of Luther College with an annual tour schedule including international travel every four years. Recent performances include the Festival No Improviso, in Curitiba, Brazil, the Iowa Jazz Championships, and the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. The Jazz Orchestra has recorded two albums, "Transformations: Celebrating Jazz at Luther" and "On the Move," with a third album to be released later this year.

Luther College is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with six choirs, three bands, three orchestras, two jazz bands and numerous chamber ensembles, totaling nearly 1,000 student musicians. Luther students perform in large ensembles, master classes, and faculty-coached chamber groups and jazz combos. More than 300 music majors study music performance, education, composition, theory, jazz, history, ethnomusicology and church music.

Piano Recital at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – A solo piano recital featuring guest artist John McKay, D.M.A., will be held at the grand piano in Evergreen Hall on the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. McKay, who’s career as a recitalist, collaborative musician, and soloist with the orchestra spans more than five decades, will be in concert beginning at 7 p.m. The recital is free and the public is welcome to attend. Evergreen Hall is located on the south side of the Crookston campus.

The program will feature music by Mozart (including the brilliant Sonata in D major, K. 311), Chopin (including the Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, op. 47), and Ravel (three movements from "Miroirs").

McKay is an American pianist and music educator of Canadian birth who has performed in concerts, recitals and on radio and television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe. Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, he graduated from McGill University. He earned graduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Eugene List and David Burge. McKay spent most of the sixties in Europe studying and concertizing widely.

He taught at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., where he taught piano and the history of music for 28 years. For 17 of those years, he also directed Minnesota Valley Sommarfest, a festival of chamber music held every July at Gustavus. He continues to be in demand as a recitalist.

McKay is married to Sara Hayden McKay, who directs the St. Peter Choral Society and the couple was honored in 2000 by the Minnesota State Arts Board for their contributions to the arts.

For more information on the concert, contact George French, director of music and theater, at 218-281-8266 (gfrench@umn.edu). 

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers 26 bachelor’s degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  “Small Campus. Big Degree.”  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale to Present its Spring Concert

The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale, now in its thirty-third season, will present its spring choral concert, "Love in Bloom" on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4000 28th Street South, Moorhead, Minnesota.

The program music celebrates spring and a time for romance. Choral music includes the Liebeslieder Waltzes, opus 52 by Johannes Brahms, Flower Songs, opus 47 by Benjamen Britten and other songs of love and spring. The program is conducted by Paul Nesheim in his final concert performance with the Chamber Chorale. The accompanists are Susan Nagel and Janet Geston. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $7 for students. Children under ten are admitted free of charge. All seats are general admission and are available at the door, or by calling Sheila Christensen, at 701-401 2910.

The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale strives to educate and inspire its audiences and singers through performance of a variety of outstanding choral music, collaboration with other arts organizations, and outreach to the community. Now in its thirty-third season, the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale continues to provide the Fargo-Moorhead community with the opportunity to experience fine choral music. This performance season, the Chamber Chorale has presented three subscription concerts, and again joined the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony in Bernard Rubenstein's farewell concert with a performance of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy. In February of 2012, the Chamber Chorale will appear in concert with the Valley Troubadours in Valley City, North Dakota, thus beginning a tradition of presenting choral programming to the region. The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale will perform in concert with the Fargo Park District's "Classical Music Festival at Rheault Farm" on June 10, 2012.

The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation,. Funding for the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale is provided, in part, by grants from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, with funds provided by the National Endowment to the Arts; the Lake Region Arts Council, with funds provided by the Minnesota State Legislature, The Arts Partnership, with funds provided by the cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota, and the Alex Stern Family Foundation.

Music Honors Concert

The Music Honors Concert will be held on Friday, April 13 2012 @ 7:00 p.m at the Ada-Borup High School Gym.   Students from Ada-Borup, Fertile-Beltrami, Fosston, Mahnomen, Norman County East, Norman County West, Waubun, and Win-E-Mac are chosen by their directors to form the honor choir and honor band.  Shirley Zietz, from Fargo North High School, is the guest conductor for the honor choir and Dr. James Adams, from Valley City State University, is the guest conductor for the honor band.  There will also be groups and soloists performing who were chosen as best event of the day during ensemble and solo contests.  All are invited to attend this celebration of the musical talent in our area.  Tickets are sold at the door ($5 for adult / $3 for student / $15 for family)

UMC Music & Theater Department to Present "Zombie Prom"

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The musical-comedy “Zombie Prom” will be performed by music and theater students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on November 16-20, 2011. Performed in the historic Kiehle Auditorium, the play is nightly at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19 with a special matinee performance on Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults; $3 for students and children; and U of M, Crookston students are free with their U-Card. Anyone donating an non-perishable food item for the North Country Food Shelf in Crookston will receive a $1 discount on admission.

The musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal. Pretty senior Toffee, played by Melissa Graf, has fallen for the class bad boy, played by Joe Harren. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee's heart. A tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s keeps the action rocking across the stage. It is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Cast members of “Zombie Prom” are (cast names included in parentheses): Nathan Anderson (Jake), Appleton, Minn., a freshman majoring in agricultural education; Austin Czichotzki (Eddie), Barnesville, Minn., a senior majoring in communication; Mark Frenzel (Josh), Blackduck, Minn., a freshman majoring in agricultural systems management; Jessica Girgen (Candy), Madien Rock, Wis., a freshman majoring in health sciences; Melissa Graf (Toffee), Hokah, Minn., a sophomore majoring in animal science; Brooke Hamilton (Miss Delilah Strict), Adams, Minn., a junior majoring in animal science; Joe Harren (Jonny), Eagle Bend, Minn., a senior majoring in agronomy; Alissa Hermandez (Coco), Savage, Minn., a freshman majoring in equine science; Tyler Lowthian (Joey), Richfield, Minn., a freshman majoring in organizational psychology; Liz Massie (Ramona), Eagan, Minnesota, a freshman majoring in communication; Joanie Melichar (Sheila), Bloomington, Minn., a freshman majoring in animal science; Miah Smith (Ginger), Hutchinson, Minn., a freshman majoring n health sciences; and Amanda Wagner (Announcer), Fisher, Minn., a senior majoring in communication.

F-M Chamber Chorale Fall Concert

The Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale will open its thirty-third season by presenting its fall choral concert, “Bach to Bach”, on Sunday, November 6, 2010, 3:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, 3600 25th Street South, Fargo, North Dakota.

The program includes music by Johann Christoph Bach; the Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata #80, Ein Feste Burg (A Mighty Fortress is our God) based upon Martin Luther’s great Reformation hymn; and the seldom performed P. D. Q. Bach Missa Hilarious. A chamber orchestra will accompany the Chamber Chorale for this performance. The program is conducted by Paul Nesheim, the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber Chorale’s artistic director.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $7 for students. Children under ten are admitted free of charge. All seats are general admission and are available at the door, or by calling Sheila Christensen, at 701-401 2910.

Plastic Musik to perform at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Enjoy the eclectic musical style of the percussion based ensemble Plastic Musik on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Plastic Musik will perform in Kiehle Auditorium at 7 p.m. Admission is free for U of M, Crookston students; $3 for non-UMC students; and $5 for adults.

Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment, known as S.P.A.C.E., is bringing the group to campus as part of its weekly series “What's on Wednesday.” The unique musical style of these high energy performers is visually captivating and sure to entertain the audience in a completely new way.

Based out of Las Vegas, Nev., Plastic Musik is a unique performance group that utilizes traditional percussion techniques, along with all-plastic instruments to produce familiar melodies. The combination of a revolutionary product known as "Boomwhackers," (www.whackymusic.com) an energetic stage show, and surprising musicality provides an entertaining experience for musicians and non-musicians alike. When viewing a performance by Plastic Musik, the audience can expect to hear familiar themes ranging from classical favorites, to Motown classics, Hip-Hop hits, 80's movie themes, and original pieces all accompanied by a visually stimulating stage show.

Director of Student Activities Lisa Samuelson is excited about hosting the group on the Crookston campus. “Plastic Musik was showcased at a regional conference in April 2010 that members of the programming board attended and the students immediately became entranced,” she says. “S.P.A.C.E. is so excited to be bringing this group to campus; it promises to be a great event.”

For more information about Plastic Musik, visit www.plasticmusik.com.