Senior class gathering Dec. 5

The senior class gathering Thursday, Dec. 5, will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center lounge. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

This event is intended to honor all senior students, with special recognition for mid-year graduates of the College.

Basketball team invites community to bring toys for Gifts for Winona program

The Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team is partnering with the Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program to collect toys.

On Dec. 7, the women’s team will play the College of Saint Benedict at 3 p.m. in the SMU gym. Attendees are encouraged to bring along a variety of new toys for girls and boys, which will be wrapped and distributed through Gifts for Winona.

The Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program, now in its 12th year, helps more than 1,600 people in the Winona area have happier holidays.

Giving trees go up this week for Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona giving trees will be going up before Thanksgiving. This communitywide program is providing gifts to area children and seniors in need this holiday season.

Tags, each labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes, will be placed on area giving trees this week. Gifts for Winona’s main priority is to provide gifts to children 18 and younger and individuals 60 and older.

In addition to a tree in Saint Mary’s Hall, trees will be located at the three Severson-Sinclair locations, Walmart, the Winona Public Library, the Winona Post, and Security State Bank of Lewiston. Additionally, grocery cards can be purchased for families at both HyVee and Midtown Foods.

The SMU community is invited to take a tag from the Saint Mary’s tree, shop for items on the gift list and return wrapped gifts by Dec. 12 to the Business Office. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $35 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the presents or the bag of presents.

As the gift distribution is early this year — mid- December — the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well. The success of this program depends on the generosity of the Winona-area community.

For more information, call the Gifts for Winona line at Ext. 8719. Other community partners that join SMU to help make this program possible are the Winona Post, Winona Radio and Winona Volunteer Services.

Cardinals hosting fourth Toys For Tots Teddy Bear Toss

The men’s hockey team will hold the fourth annual Toys For Tots Teddy Bear Toss today, Friday, Nov. 22, during the Cardinals’ 7:30 p.m. home game against Saint John’s at the SMU Ice Arena.

Fans attending are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal — preferably new, but those in good used condition will also be accepted and appreciated. Teddy bears will also be available at the arena for a donation of $1. Drop off your stuffed animals at Campus Ministry or the first floor of Saint Mary’s Hall.

After the first SMU goal in the first period — or at the end of the first period — fans will have an opportunity to throw their teddy bears and/or stuffed animals onto the ice. They will then be collected and distributed to children in the Winona area for the holidays.

The men’s hockey team will also have a collection bin in the SMU Ice Arena lobby for anyone wishing to donate a toy other than a teddy bear for Toys For Tots.

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation was formed to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and then distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in their local communities.

‘Lessons and Carols’ Christmas service is Dec. 7

The joyous and uplifting Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” will be presented by the Saint Mary’s University Department of Music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The beautiful service, held in the majestic Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, features the Saint Mary’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea.

“Lessons and Carols” reflects on the Christmas story through several short readings, hymns and Christmas carols sung by the choirs and audience. Music includes familiar carols and selections by composers from the Renaissance to the present.

The Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels is located at Wabasha and Vila streets in Winona.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org. Tickets at the door are available by cash or check only.

Concert Band to present ‘Welcome Christmas’

Student conductors include Katy Kosiek and Marilyn Yennie

Celebrate the music of the Christmas season with the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band and Wind Ensemble 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Page Theatre.

The concert celebrates the rich musical traditions of the season, featuring Gene Milford's “Festival Español,” Johan de Meij’s “Polish Christmas Music,” and H. Robert Reynolds beautiful transcription of “O Magnum Mysterium.” More favorite music of the season will be performed, featuring student conductors Marilyn Yennie (on “The Child and the Kings”) and Katy Kosiek (on “Yuletide Tapestry”).

After the performance all guests and performers are invited to stay for the traditional lobby party Christmas cookie reception, with holiday music provided by band members during the reception.

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

This concert is free to SMU faculty and staff, as well as students (with IDs) arriving 20 minutes before the performance.

For more information, contact Director Dr. Janet Heukeshoven at jheukesh@smumn.edu or Ext. 1675.

Jazz Ensemble to perform jazzy twist on ‘The Nutcracker’

The jazz musicians of Saint Mary’s will bring a modern classic to town as they perform the amazing Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in SMU’s Page Theatre.

Recorded in 1960 by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, this interpretation takes the classic ballet settings and turns them inside out. Noted jazz educator and historian Gunther Schuller wrote, “There are leaps of high imagination on every page. In Ellington’s ‘Nutcracker,’ they seem to come in just about every measure. I consider this one of the great American scores, and you'll probably never hear it at your local symphony!”

The modern arrangement of Duke Ellington’s original scores includes transcriptions of many of the original solos – most notably those of legendary clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton. Regional woodwind virtuoso David Townsend will be featured as guest clarinetist for this performance.

In addition to the Ellington masterpiece, Jazz Combo 1 will perform two arrangements by SMU jazz director A. Eric Heukeshoven that also take familiar holiday themes and infuse them with a healthy dose of jazz.

Rounding out the evening will be vocal performances of seasonal favorites by SMU students Keotta House and Gabriel Verges.

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

For more information contact A. Eric Heukeshoven at Ext. 7292 or eheukesh@smumn.edu.

Chamber Orchestra to perform Dec. 8

The Saint Mary’s University Chamber Orchestra will perform a special birthday tribute concert, “Britten’s Centennial,” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Figliulo Recital Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center.

The English composer Benjamin Britten was born on Nov. 22, 1913. In celebration of this centenary, this concert will include two of his most famous works, “Simple Symphony for Strings” and “Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings.”

The orchestra is composed of Saint Mary’s students and faculty, along with Winona community members, under the direction of Dr. David Leung. The concert will feature the talents of Dr. Mark Mowry, a tenor from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; and Regina Barbosa, a senior public relations major, on French horn.

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

Conservatory news

Fall dance recital

The Dance Repertory Company II, the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts’ youth performing ensemble, will present its fall dance recital 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre, 1164 W. 10th St.

In addition to classes, a large portion of the learning experience for all MCA students is performing. Come support these talented students and choreographers. Dance forms included are tap, jazz, hip hop, and ballet with the second half of the concert highlighting the upper-level students. No reservations are needed; ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors and students, with children younger than 18 admitted for free.

Conservatory jazz combos
to perform Dec. 4 

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the Minnesota Conservatory for the Art’s Jazz Combos will perform at the Acoustic Café, 77 Lafayette St. This community outreach event will showcase talented young musicians in new jazz combos.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers programming in dance, music, visual art and theatre year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for children ages 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center.

These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University.

For more information, e-mail mca@smumn.edu; visit them on Facebook or Twitter or call 453-5500.

Students visit area nursery as part of Entrepreneurship Week

On Wednesday, a group of students saw plentiful greens while they learned about going green. The students got an in-depth tour of Pork and Plants, an area nursery that is diversifying into hydroponics and growing vegetables during the winter months. SMU alum Maria Kreidermacher led the tour.

Students took many cell photos of the greenhouse filled with poinsettias and of the lettuce, strawberries and other seasonal fruits and vegetables being grown by the family-run facility. Kreidermacher explained the history of the business, the constant need to find their business niche, as well as to experiment with new growing processes and time- and energy-saving methods. From renewable energy sources to water conservation, the Kreidermachers are constantly finding ways to improve their processes as well as broaden their market.

This event was part of a week-long schedule of speakers and activities in recognition of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Bake sale raises over $1,000 for Jamaica M.Ed. students

A bake sale Nov. 15, raised just over $1,000 for student scholarships for the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning program in Jamaica, offered by SMU in collaboration with the Catholic College of Mandeville.    

In the News

Here are just some of the ways SMU is making headlines this week:

• Dr. Scott Sorvaag, Dean of the School of Education, was interviewed Wednesday on Winona Radio in honor of National Education Week.

• The Winona Daily News did a story about the students who designed a scale model of Winona National Bank. Go to http://bit.ly/1ek2e3P.

Psychology Symposium planned for Dec. 7

The annual Psychology Symposium will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the President’s Room. The symposium will feature 11 student presentations on original research projects; an alumni panel where recent graduates will discuss their post-graduate experiences; and a poster session that will highlight the research of the department’s collaborative laboratories. Students’ families often come to this event, in addition to their underclass student peers.

Truax exhibiting work in St. Paul

Lisa Truax, assistant professor for the Department of Art and Design, has an exhibition at the University of Minnesota Larson Gallery at the St. Paul Student Center. The show runs through Dec. 10 and is a two-person exhibit titled “The World is a Stage: The Natural Web of Artistry.” For more details, go to http://sua.umn.edu/events/arts/current-exhibitions.

Living Learning Community visits Mayo Clinic

Members of the Wellness Inc. Living Learning Community visited the Center for Complementary Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Wednesday. They attended a stress management/meditation workshop by Dr. Amit Sood.

All-campus student work on display in art galleries

The All-Campus Undergraduate Art Exhibition is on display in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

This juried exhibition is always highly anticipated by both students and faculty, as entry is open to all students, not just art and design majors. This year there are more than 75 entries from students majoring in human services, computer science, education, music industry, literature, theatre arts, Spanish, biology, chemistry, English, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, psychology, art studio, business, graphic design and environmental biology.

Students complete model of Winona National Bank

Five students, under the guidance of Tamara Honesty, assistant professor of scenic design, completed a scale model of the original Winona National Bank, in celebration of the building’s centennial. The students, Ely Mattson, Karina Kim, Miranda Leyson, Julie Frederickson and Matt Schneider (along with adjunct faculty Chuck Hatcher) put in more than 125 hours on the process.

Schneider worked on the model as part of a class project; the others volunteered to help. Each of the women gave up most of their fall breaks to work on the project, as well as additional weekends.

Most of the students had no experience building models, and many had never visited the historic bank. They built the model using original blueprints from 1914, as well as copies of photographs.

The model is  now part of the bank’s balcony level historical display.

Friday’s lunch supports CTIE and typhoon victims

Today everyone can support scholarships for CTIE students in Nairobi, Kenya and the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines.

To be a part of this effort, go to lunch in the cafeteria today, Friday, Nov. 22.

This event is sponsored by Mission Awareness, a student ministry in partnership with the Office of Campus Ministry.  Special thanks to Chartwells for the support of this event and its benefactors.

Paulson to release first Big Band jazz CD, DVD

Dr. John Paulson will release the long-awaited big band jazz CD and DVD, “The John Paulson Big Band Project” at a special CD release party on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Westfield Golf Club.

Paulson retired in 2012 after over 30 years of full-time teaching. He is now an adjunct jazz instructor at Saint Mary’s and Winona State.

The CD will include eight original jazz compositions of varying styles arranged for a 17-piece jazz ensemble; the DVD features video segments of “live” performances, interviews, all the selections on the audio CD, plus three bonus arrangements not included on the CD.

The release party will include “live” performances of Paulson compositions by the core rhythm section from the big band, including drummer Rich MacDonald, bassist Eric Graham, guitarist Scott Gerry, and Paulson on tenor saxophone, plus various JPBB members sitting in and demonstrating their solo skills.

The realization of this ambitious project is due in large part to a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council and the McKnight Individual Artists grant program. Last fall, Paulson secured the grant to support completion of the writing, hiring of the musicians and production of a concert at the Winona Arts Center, which featured original music that he has been working on for nearly 30 years.

The JPBB features outstanding regional players from Winona, Rochester, Austin and Red Wing, Minnesota, and from La Crosse, Wisconsin, plus several outstanding soloists from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

The JPBB CD and DVD will be available for sale at the release party for $10 and $15.  One half of the profits from the DVD will go to support Paulson’s Music Access for All program, which recycles used instruments and gets them to needy students in the Winona Public School system. The CD will soon be available from iTunes and CDbaby.com. Along with music, the release party will include light appetizers and a cash bar.

The event is free and open to the public. For further information on John Paulson or this event, please visit his website at paulsonjazz.com

Reminder: No ‘Campus Notes’ next week

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no ‘Campus Notes’ next week. The next edition will be Friday, Dec. 6. Look ahead on your calendars. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Sympathy for Poling family

Veikko Jokela, father of Cindy Jokela and father-in-law of John Poling (philosophy), died Sunday, Nov. 17. The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Poling family.