Cool Jazz on the Green on a Warm Spring Day at Peru State College

Thursday presented the college community with one stunner of a beautiful day, welcome weather for this year's Jazz on the Green with the Hoyt Street Jazz Ensemble.

And the band wowed everyone on a wonderful day.  As the photographs underscore, the food, weather, and great music attracted a god sized and appreciative crowd.

I uploaded a video of "snapshots" from the program, including solo performances in the afternoon sun by Dan Perkins, Jade Gordon, Michaela Wolverton, and Xavier  Gibson.

Show Choir and Jazz Band Spring Concert

On Tuesday evening at 7:30 in the Peru State College Theater, the Show Choir and Jazz Band entertained at the annual Spring Concert.

The Misty Blues took the stage first, all  glitter blue and filled the theater with their voices. 

Take the time to view a slide show from the evening and download photographs that appeal to you. 

You should also view three of the Misty Blues' songs: "Jail House Rock," "I've Been Everywhere," and the performance's final number, the exciting "Safety Dance."

After the Misty Blue's final number, the Hoyt Street Jazz Ensemble took the stage.

I recorded three of their energizing performances, "Getaway" and two solo numbers, Dan Perkins' "Superstition" and Xavier Gibson's "I Got You."

Getaway

 

Superstition and I Got You 

Student Senate Annual Awards Banquet

 

On Sunday evening, April 22, the Student Senate's annual Awards Banquet took place in the Burr Oak Room, as the photographs from the evening indicate.

As we have all come to expect who work with her, Glenda organized a great meal to go with the festive evening.

And as VP Micki Willis noted, Student Senate members accomplished a lot this past year, from a fall trip to a conference with student leaders from Wayne State College and Chadron State College, to a successful Homecoming.

In addition to honoring its own members for their service, each year, Student Senate--and I am pleased to continue serving as this important organization's Faculty Advisor--honors outstanding students, faculty members, and staff of the college.
This year, the Scroll and Service Award went to Jennifer Trapp, a most deserving representative of the many who earned a nomination.


As happened last year when both Dr. Bill Snyder and Brenda Trail won the Barb Lewellen Award for their exceptional service to the college and to the students, Student Senate members again honored two people who have for many, many years served with distinction and energy PSC students, Kristi Nies and Antonia Spangler.

 Kristi Nies and Dan Perkins

Antonia Spangler  and Dan Perkins

The evening also featured the annual change in leadership, the passing of the gavel,  for Student Senate for the next academic year.

Outgoing president Dan Perkins and vice-president Spencer Woltemath did a splendid job, taking over the helm in the middle of the school year, and providing both humor and direction to their fellow members of Student Senate.

And this past Tuesday, after the passing of the gavel Sunday evening, new president Ellen Larsen (far right) and new vice-president Lexi Neemann  assumed their responsibilities at the final meeting of the term.

Congratulations to everyone involved with Student Senate this past year and with Sunday's Awards Banquet, for which Jacob Buss merits special praise.

 

An Evening of Music with the Madrigal Singers

 

Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21, Peru State's Madrigal Singers put on a colorful and song-filled show in the Fine Arts Recital Hall, "From Madrigals to Musical Theater."
I took most of the photographs available for viewing and downloading of the event at the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, concentrating on making video when I attended the performance on Friday evening.

The show impressed me so much, that I did more than the planned filming of the two medleys and included as well all the numbers after the opening section of madrigal songs of which you will find one, "Oh Ye Who Music Love" in the first part of the recordings.

Just click on the links after the following photographs. 

All Ye Who Music Love (Madrigal Singers) and A Simple Song (Blake Lofing)

O Mia Babbino Caro (Zayra Flores) and Anyone Can Whistle (Jacob Buss)

Stephen Sondheim Medley

 

 

Pretty Women (Deven Holman), If Momma Was Married (Michelle Vongphakdy and Jessica Merrill), Agony (Blake Lofing and Daniel Perkins)

 Giants in the Sky (Daniel Perkins), Popular (The Women), Wilkommen and Luck Be a Lady (The Men)

Selections from Sweeney Todd and Encore

Saturday Morning at Indian Cave

Early Saturday morning, April 21, I headed to Indian Cave State Park at the invitation of Kristen Boos, PSC Graduate, who works part time at the state park.

Quite a few festivities went on at the part that day, beginning at 8:00 with a quick birding walk--but only Kristen and I showed up that chilly morning.

We then went to the St. Deroin school house to set up for a showing of my slides at around 9:00.  A few people stopped in, but I enjoyed seeing the photographs on the large screen, especially the newer ones. 

I also visited the Broom Shop next to the school and want to return another time when the person who runs the place makes a few brooms--not expensive.  

The shop itself, like the school house, offers some interesting features you can see in the series of photographs I posted.

 The park looks stunning in the early spring, and White Pelicans flew along the Missouri River, gathering here and there in small pockets.

I enjoyed the quick visit and might get out there once more before I head to Ripon, Wisconsin, for the summer on 8 May.