Page Series welcomes Yuval Ron Ensemble Jan. 24

The Yuval Ron Ensemble will enlighten audiences with a mystical, spiritual and inspiring musical celebration Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Saint Mary’s University. This Page Series event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the SMU Performance Center.

The ensemble endeavors to alleviate national, racial, religious and cultural divides by uniting the music and dance of the opposing people of the Middle East. Throughout the program — “Seeker Of Truth” — the ensemble will perform the ecstatic music of the mystical Sufi traditions of the Middle East and Pakistan with the Whirling Dervish Aziz.

These Jewish and Arabic musicians, as well as Christian Armenian artists, have been actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of various faiths and ethnic groups worldwide. Led by Oscar winning composer Yuval Ron (who composed music for “West Bank Story,” the Oscar-winning musical-parody of “West Side Story”) the ensemble features the oud, harmonium and woodwinds.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2011 recipient of an Institutional Presenter Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

Conversation with Yuval Ron Ensemble

Additionally, the Yuval Ron Ensemble will introduce their instruments and lead a conversation about how they differ from or are influenced by the development of European-style instruments that came to America with European immigrants of the 19th century. This event – free and open to the public – will be held 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson St.

Christmas dinner is Tuesday

The faculty and staff Christmas dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 20. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails begin at 6 p.m. in the dining room. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

SMU Jazz Workshop Combos to perform free concert Dec. 18

Members of the "Lucky Seven" Jazz Combo include; Jacquelyn Bongard,
alto sax; A. Eric Heukeshoven, trombone/director; Joshua Rumppe,
piano; and Talib Khan on alto sax.

Two jazz workshop combos from the Music Department will present a free concert from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Acoustic Café, 77 Lafayette St. Included will be the “Lucky 7” Jazz Combo, directed by Eric Heukeshoven and the “Heavy Metal Jazz Combo,” directed by Dr. John Paulson. The free concert will feature student musicians who have been playing together all semester, and it will serve as their “final exam.” They’ll be playing well-known jazz standards by composers like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, as well as some unique hybrid arrangements of popular jazz tunes blended with familiar Christmas tunes by Heukeshoven.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. will perform 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Signatures Restaurant.

It’s a wrap for Gifts for Winona

The Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program is “wrapping up.” Thanks go to everyone who shopped, wrapped, picked a tag, donated money, picked up gifts, did data entry and fielded phone calls. For 10 years, the SMU community has pulled together its talents to help make this communitywide gift-giving program a success. Together we helped more than 1,500 people have a happier holiday season!

SMU 10K dates now set

This year the SMU 10K cross-country ski race will be held twice — on Sunday, Jan. 29 and Sunday, Feb. 19. Details of the Feb. 19 event will be announced at a later date.

On Jan. 29, the public is invited to the classic-style citizens’ ski event at 10 a.m., and a skate race will begin at 1 p.m.

Both races wind through the bluffs and valleys surrounding campus. Tickets are $10 for one race or $20 for both races. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Gary Borash at Ext. 8740 or e-mail gmbora05@smumn.edu.

Conservatory begins visual art division

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is launching a visual art division, offering a variety of classes starting in January 2012. Classes include: Exploring Sculpture, Funtastic BookArts, Bookbinding — Two Sewn-Board Bindings, Intro to Mosaic, and Figure Drawing. Classes will be held weekly throughout semester in The Monet Room at MCA’s Valéncia Arts Center. Instructors include: Monta May, Randi Campbell, Jill Krase and Julie Johnston. Classes are tuition free, but material fees may apply. Classes start Jan. 9. To register, or for more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org.

Christmas picture collage

In what has become an annual Christmas tradition, the Saint Mary’s University Department of Music presented “Lessons and Carols” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels. The beautiful service features the Saint Mary’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, and the Chamber Orchestra. “Lessons and Carols” reflects on the Christmas story through several short readings, hymns and Christmas carols sung by the choirs and audience.

The men’s hockey team held the second Toys For Tots Teddy Bear Toss Friday, Dec. 9, during the Cardinals’ home game against Marian University at the SMU Ice Arena.

Hundreds of students took a break Thursday from studying to enjoy the Christmas Light Service and Pre-Finals Breakfast.

Thanks go to the faculty who served the late-night breakfast!

The SMU Concert Band presented "The Sounds of the Season," under the direction of Dr. Janet Heukeshoven.

Next ‘Campus Notes’ of the year is Jan. 13

The first edition of 2012 will be Friday, Jan. 13. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Jan. 11.