Elizabeth S – Page 3

Art Biz with Liz: Family, Friendship, and The Arts

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021 Elizabeth S 2 Comments

The past two years have been filled with love and loss among countless others emotions and events. There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of trial and tribulation. Throughout the isolation, the arts have been an escape, even if I took a break from participating in the performing arts myself. But as much as I have always loved the arts, they wouldn’t be as monumental in my life without the influence of other people.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I took some time to reflect about where I am in life and what I am grateful for. Looking back at the recent U-M Women’s Glee concert, I considered how great it felt to be there in person and have a live audience, even if the evening did include masks. Yet, despite reminiscing over the semester’s music-making and energy from the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest when I remembered one person wasn’t there.

My boyfriend, grandmother, father, and I standing outside the Keene Theater after an RC Singers concert.

My grandmother was always a huge part of my life. She lived less than a ten-minute drive away and came over several times a week. Among the million memories or character traits I could share, when it came to the arts, she was my biggest support system. She was at every choir concert, theatre performance, and piano recital. In fact, I don’t know if I would have continued taking piano lessons throughout my childhood without her. Without fail, she always asked me to “play her a song” when she visited. I did so, though oftentimes more begrudgingly than not (I used to hate playing for other people, even my own loved ones).

When it came to college and I no longer kept up with the piano, my grandmother came to my choral performances. Most notably, she came to my RC Singers and U-M Women’s Glee Club concerts. Below is a picture of me and my grandmother after a glee concert, the last one “pre-COVID.”

While I could give a lot of credit to personal interest, my participation in the arts wouldn’t be what it is without the support of loved ones behind me. I’m thankful for all the people who encourage me in my writing, music-making, or other art endeavors. I thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to take piano lessons, coming to my choir concerts, and even enrolling me in ballet, even if I only did it for one year when I was eight. I thank my sister for giving me a paint set for Christmas, taking me to concerts/musicals, and driving from Ohio just to see my performances. I thank my family abroad for always reading my writing and sharing their thoughts, even if they are half a world away.

My family members and I following the U-M Women’s Glee concert on 11/20

As much as I disliked playing the piano for other people when I was a child, the support of my parents and grandmother at recitals always meant the world to me. These days, I am thankful for the support of other loved ones as well, like friends, cousins, aunts, and uncles. While my grandmother might not have been in the audience at my last glee concert, these people were, along with my parents, siblings, and adorable three-year-old nephew. I’m also grateful to all the people who couldn’t be at Hill Auditorium but cheered me on from home or in their own way.

Some friends who came to support me and Fiona at our glee concert on 11/20

It’s been over a year since I lost my grandmother to COVID-19. The dreams, grief, and guilt still haven’t gone away. There are so many things I wish I could say, sing, or play for her, but I’ll continue to honor her memory in my heart as I participate in the arts, just as she would’ve wanted me to. And although Grandma isn’t around anymore, I have a lot of friends and family members who continue to support me. In a way, her love for me and the arts still shines through. And that’s something to be grateful for.

Art Biz with Liz: U-M Women’s Glee Club Presents “Together”

November 20, 2021December 2, 2021 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

After a year online, the University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club (WGC) is excited to present “Together” live and in person!

While I took a hiatus from Glee Club during the ’20-’21 school year, I feel like I never left. It’s been wonderful to not only sing again but also connect with a genuinely great group of people. All the work we’ve done this semester culminates in a concert at Hill Auditorium, which just so happens to be tonight. Why should you come? I sat down with some of the executive board members to hear their thoughts about the club and tonight’s concert.

“It’s fun being able to make decisions and attend to the interests of a large group while also just getting to hang out with my friends,” senior Daniela Martinez said. Martinez is the organization’s president, which means she presides over general WGC business and executive board meetings. She also acts as the official representative of the Women’s Glee Club, works closely with Dr. Skadsem, the music director, and ensures that officers are performing their duties.

Vice President Fiona Lynch said her favorite part of the executive board position is getting to give back to the club that has been a special part of her college experience. “This is our first solo in-person concert in two years,” Lynch said. “We are all back together again in person and we wanted to capture the importance of that in our concert theme.”

The theme, “Together,” reflects the club’s excitement to be back together and singing in person. Andrea Ramsey’s arrangement of “Crowded Table” calls for people to band together while J. David Moore’s arrangement of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” is a song of hope and perseverance. These themes of finding strength and life in the face of adversity continue to be important throughout the continuation and aftermath of the pandemic.

Regarding the repertoire for tonight’s concert, Martinez believes that there is something for everyone to enjoy. “It’s entertaining in the sense that the pieces are cohesive but not to the point where it’s the same number again and again.”

While the first half of the concert features more serious pieces, it takes an upbeat turn for the second half.

“I just think it’s a really well rounded choral production which is not something you always get. And then the second half is really fun with songs like ‘Vichten’ and Blues so I just think it’s a really fun combination of our semester.”

By “Blues” pieces, Martinez is referring to the traditional U of M songs that the Women’s Glee Club often sings at fundraisers, football tailgates, and other events. These songs are personal favorites of mine, including “Laudes Atque Carmina,” “The University,” and of course, “Varsity and The Victors.”

Lynch’s favorite song, on the other hand, is Gwyneth Walker’s “I Thank You God.” The song of praise features text from a poem by E. E. Cummings and holds special meaning to many returning Glee Club members. “We get to sing it with our GSI from 2019, Maggie Burk, who was supposed to conduct it with us before COVID-19,” Lynch said. “She’s coming back as a guest conductor and it feels very full circle. It feels cathartic and kind of healing.”

Along with Maggie Burk, Julia Morris and head conductor Dr. Julie Skadsem will lead the choir. As president, Martinez will conduct the choir in singing U of M’s alma mater, “Yellow and Blue.”

Lynch’s friend, senior Samuel Winter, is a frequent audience member at WGC concerts. Winter said, “I’ve been going to glee concerts since my freshman year, and I’ve been enjoying how even though it’s largely a group of non-music majors, the quality of the performance is always spectacular.”

If you want to see what Winter means, check out our concert tonight at 8:00 pm! There is also a FREE livestream of Hill Auditorium.

Art Biz with Liz: A Time of Reopening

November 12, 2021December 10, 2021 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

It’s been over a year since I’ve been to an in-person concert or performance (besides my own for Grand Night for Singing). While I’m not very well-versed when it comes to classical musical, I’m ecstatic to be seeing the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra at Hill Auditorium tonight. I don’t know much about Pictures at an Exhibition, but the A2 Symphony describes it as a 10-piece suite “originally composed for piano in 1874.”

Thinking about the concert tonight, I can’t help but reflect on how the pandemic has affected the arts. It still wows me when I consider the changes that have taken place to keep the arts alive. Prior to the pandemic, I never considered how a concert or other live event might have to navigate public health advice or consult with public health professionals to get the okay to go on. It’s interesting to think about the way some venues have even connected with a team of public health professionals to get advice on reopening strategies. While COVID-19 is an ongoing concern, groups have implemented policies to keep people safe. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, for example, requires proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Whether live or online, people in the arts have to be resilient. Early on, theaters and art galleries shut down in efforts to mitigate the spread. At the same time, people need the arts to survive dark times. They give us meaning, expression, and a sense of community. For many, the arts help us form connections to family, friends, and strangers around the world. Creativity is one of the key things that has sustained us throughout the pandemic. With means of livelihood threatened, there was no other option for some artists and groups but to adapt quickly to new circumstances. Museum collections moved online, collective concerts were put together, and art classes sent people materials for crafting at home. Artists bonded together, concentrating on their artistic visions and goals just as much as survival.

Moving forward, the unexpected will continue to happen. It’s important for people in the arts to be transparent when it does, which means communicating new information promptly to artists, donors, or the public. Even before the pandemic, I was impressed by the communication and camaraderie of many arts organizations with their staff and public. Throughout the pandemic, these factors have been even more valuable. There’s a mutually beneficial relationship between patrons and artists, and it was tested during a period where everything else fell apart. Sustaining this relationship, which endured even a pandemic, will be key to the arts’ continued success. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of community support in giving vitality to the arts.

I’m glad to be supporting the arts tonight, and I look forward to be back in Hill Auditorium. We bought tickets before we knew the concert would appear in Passport to the Arts, but if you’re strapped for cash and would love to attend tonight’s concert, you’ll be delighted to find it in this week’s Passport to the Arts. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Art Biz with Liz: An Artsy Halloween in Ann Arbor

October 30, 2021October 30, 2021 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

One of the best things about campus life at the University of Michigan – and living in Ann Arbor in general – is that there is always something going on. On any given weekend, you can see a musical theatre performance by SMTD students or a concert by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Halloween weekend is no exception, and if you’re looking for something to do other than attending parties or watching the long-awaited U-M versus MSU football game, there are plenty of arts events to consider.

Whether you visited the haunted bell tower at Lurie Bell Tower or watched one of the horror films offered through Halaloween: An Online Muslim Horror Film Festival, I hope you had a great start to the Halloweekend festivities. Last night, ComCo presented “Wait, That Zombie Is Sexy.” ComCo, or The Comedy Company, is the oldest improv comedy troupe at the University of Michigan, and the event was an affordable, entertaining event for students to attend at $2 a ticket in Angell Hall. For anyone else, the Hill Auditorium hosted the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, which offered a night of magic playing music from Harry Potter. There have been virtual events, too, like today’s virtual Saturday sampler tour at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. The event, “Spooky, Weird, and Magical: Halloween with the Kelsey,” offered audiences to engage with the museum virtually and experience Halloween with headless sculptures, mummies, more.

While Friday has come and gone, tonight you have another chance to see Ripper by Penny Seats Theatre at the Stone Chalet. The performance is conveniently one of the arts events featured on the most recent Passport to the Arts! Of course, there is also plenty of stuff going on this Sunday, Halloween itself. On October 31st at 3:15 pm, the carillon guild will play a variety of pieces for the public at the Burton Memorial Tower. Shortly after that at 4:00 pm, the SMTD University Symphony and Philharmonia Orchestras will present their annual Halloween concert. The Halloween tunes will be made more entertaining by the costumed musicians, and audience members are invited to dress up as well.

For students, also be sure to check out what’s going on in your residential halls and student organizations. Many dormitories are offering activities like open mic nights and Halloween arts and crafts! Whatever you decide to do, have a safe and fun Halloween!

Note: Apologies for the delay in this post; I forget to publish it last night, so everything has been updated to what has already passed and what is yet to happen.

Art Biz with Liz: Learning About Accessibility

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 Elizabeth S Leave a comment

This year, I have the pleasure of taking CARILLON 150: Performance, a two-credit course for non-SMTD students. If you aren’t sure about what the carillon is, check out a great piece that another arts, ink. columnist wrote about “the bells above campus.” You’ll hear about my experiences with the carillon throughout the semester, but I’d like to share about how the course has exposed me to not only new repertoire and performers, but also lessons on accessibility.

Earlier this month from October 3-6 was the 61st Annual Organ Conference. This was my first time hearing about the conference, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The conference featured a series of lectures and recitals put on by student performers, guest artists/lecturers, and the Organ Department faculty. I knew there would be conversation surrounding the music of the organ, harpsichord, and carillon, but I had no idea how diverse the repertoire and lecture topics would be. As part of my class, I was tasked with watching several of the carillon events at this year’s virtual conference, which included a talk on accessibility by Laura Marie Rueslåtten, a lecture on recent Polish carillon music by Dr. Monika Kaźmierczak, and a faculty recital by Dr. Tiffany Ng (with an introduction by Dr. Sile O’Modhrain).

The faculty recital by Dr. Tiffany Ng and Dr. Sile O’Modhrain was called “Not Sighted, but Visionary: Music by Blind Carillonist-Composers.” Truthfully, I had never spent much time thinking about this topic before watching the recital, but it was interesting to learn about Braille music and the different tools used to create and work with braille music notation. Historically, it has often taken a lot of time and resources to transcribe music to braille, but advances are being made to create tools for creating braille music scores. In keeping with the topic of accessibility for the visually impaired, the performance aspect of the recital began with an audio description was included, describing the setting and what was going on in the video. The music ranged widely in genre and time period.

Another event I watched as part of the Annual Organ Conference was “Using Cognitive Accessibility to Improve Clear Communication,” a talk given by Laura Marie Rueslåtten. The idea of sensory overload in arts venues was new to me, as was the emphasis on being clear and direct when engaging with different kinds of neurodivergent experiences. The lecture not only made me reconsider how to make music facilities more accessible, but how we can be more accommodating in our everyday conversations. With this week being invisible disabilities week, I’d like to end with the takeaway that we should continuously strive to grow and improve in the ways we communicate and approach situations, which can help us become better artists, friends, and people.

Art Biz with Liz: Thank you, arts, ink.

October 15, 2021October 16, 2021 Elizabeth S 2 Comments

At the start of my freshman year, I picked up a pamphlet at Festifall that called for new arts, ink. and [art] seen bloggers. I didn’t really know what Arts at Michigan was at the time, but based on the pamphlet, writing for arts, ink. sounded like a cool thing to do. I was in search of ways to maintain my connection with the arts while simultaneously looking for opportunities to write for fun. I went ahead and submitted my application along with a few writing samples. Not long after, I received the email that I had been selected to become an arts, ink. columnist. In October, I met Joe—the Arts at Michigan Program Director—for an orientation meeting and have been writing for arts, ink. ever since.

A lot has changed since then. If I ever need a reminder, I simply take a walk around campus, as there’s always some new building under construction in Ann Arbor. During my first week of school in 2018, I opened a bank account and got a debit card at the PNC bank on the corner of South U and East U. The branch has relocated, its old building torn down to make room for yet another skyrise. As another example, I previously wrote an arts, ink. post about a boba place that has since been replaced by another one. In fact, the majority of bubble tea shops in Ann Arbor—Unitea, Quickly, Tea Ninja—didn’t exist then. The opening of Chatime and Coco’s was a big deal my freshmen year, whereas now it seems like there’s a new boba place every few months (that’s a big of an exaggeration, but you get the point).

My friends and I went to the grand reopenings of the U-M Museum of Natural History, the Union, and more. I stood in line for a slice of Joe’s Pizza a few weeks after it opened, watched Espresso Royale switch to a different coffee place, and mourned the close of China Gate after its thirty-two-year run in Ann Arbor. Last year, while on a walk around a quiet campus due to a year of online learning, I found the sidewalk in front of the School of Kinesiology Building free from the fencing that had closed it off throughout my undergraduate career up until that point.

A lot of things have changed about me, too. The clubs I participate in, the types of classes I’ve taken, and the people I’m friends with have all changed over time. My part-time job has changed each year as a result of what new opportunities arose. Even what my average weekend looks like has undergone changes. All these things were undeniably affected by an unprecedented pandemic, but what I want to do and who I want to be have been influenced by what I’ve learned and experienced throughout college.

As I think about how quickly graduation is approaching, arts, ink. has been a unique way to document little moments in time. I look at my writing—most of which makes me cringe—and it makes me think about everything I’ve experienced over the past few years. I can look back on the time I braved the polar vortex or the semester I took an acting class. I can reflect on my experiences in RC Singers, Women’s Glee Club, and RC Players. The arts have given me a way to reflect upon my identity as well as topics such as race and class, and arts, ink. enables me to put such reflections into words. This year, I’ll enjoy documenting more artsy activities and memories, like my adventures with novella writing or learning how to play the carillon.

In the meantime, I’d like to say thank you to those who have been with me on this arts, ink. journey, and thank you, arts, ink.