REVIEW: Behind The Seams at Sheifest

Christine Hildebrand

Shei Magazine hosted a party Sunday night in celebration of their new spring and summer issue. The fashion show was the highlight of the evening, showcasing University of Michigan students, each nominated for their signature style. The show was tailored to all tastes, ranging in handmade pieces and vintage treasures. The new models represented fresh, Ann Arbor street fashion. Maureen O’Brien, a freshman studying Art History and Design at the University sits down with me at Bert’s café at the UGLi. She’s wearing two pieces from the show, a nautical themed sweater and a mustard yellow scarf.

Christine: How were you nominated to model for Sheifest?

Maureen: My friend Gabe Carels works for the Publication and told about the online casting call, so I sent in a photo and nominated myself!

Christine: Being a student, how you do incorporate fashion into your busy lifestyle and afford to stay stylish?

Maureen: College is a challenge to my style, but fun. I’ve learned how to mix and match different looks, especially when I haven’t done laundry in a while! On occasion I’ll go out, buy new pieces, and incorporate them into what I already have in my closet. I stick to my classic ensembles and wear them a lot. I like shopping but I have to budget what I buy. It’s a luxury staying up-to-date with current trends, but there’s always the occasional splurge!

Christine: Can you give [art]seen readers a behind the scenes glimpse at what goes into a runway production?

Maureen: There is a lot of chaos. Who goes where and who does whose makeup.  Shei invested a lot of time into organizing the final looks. The models chose what to wear but our outfits had to be approved by Shei’s styling team. There’s a lot of uncertainty. We didn’t even know the lineup until the day of the show. Like I said, it was chaotic running back stage through a kitchen between the first and second look, people tucking in tags and checking the time, but nothing too bad!

Christine: If we asked you to empty your purse of all its belongings, what would we find?

Maureen: You would find a pack of stride 2.0 Spearmint gum, pens, a Moleskine journal, an iphone, headphones, brown bobby pins, six different lip glosses (not an exaggeration), a piece of fruit stolen from the cafeteria, peanut butter packets (also pocketed from the dining hall), and a wallet.

Christine: In your own words, what is your signature style?

Maureen: Classic, combined with vintage, modern pieces and bright colors. It’s up in the air some days. I just see what happens!

Christine: What’s your favorite color?

Maureen: Maroon and mustard yellow. It’s a tie.

Christine: Do you have a favorite piece(s) in your closet?

Maureen: High waisted skirts and scarves.

Christine: What was the high and low of being on the runway?

Maureen: The high was being able to showcase something people don’t normally acknowledge. Sharing my love of fashion with other students was also a high. As for the low, I’d say the wait backstage and seeing the audience through the curtains, which only added to the anticipation!

Christine: What are your favorite fashion publications?

Maureen: Vogue and Elle.

Christine: What about Shei?

Maureen: I’m a new reader but a definite fan! It’s hard to believe that Shei is a student led publication. The photography is beautiful and the articles are well written. A lot is put into the magazine and it certainly shows.

PREVIEW: Sweet Treat

Christine Hildebrand

Is there any better way to wave goodbye to winter and welcome the warm weather than eating ice cream? Ben and Jerry think so, by hosting their annual Free Cone Day, tomorrow April 12th! Every year, Ben & Jerry’s warms hearts and cools taste buds with a little bit of heaven. Celebrate the arrival of spring with a FREE scoop from any local Ben & Jerry’s parlor. Most people have to search the freezer section of their local grocery store to find the quirky, frozen treats but lucky for us Ann Arborites there’s a Scoop Shop smack dab in the thick of downtown AA. Go between 12PM-8PM to receive a free treat. Ben & Jerry’s is located on 304 South State Street. The company considers it a small thank you to their customers for thirty-three years of “scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet.” Looking for traditional chocolate or vanilla? Try Stuchhi’s down the street because Ben and Jerry “classics” consist of Cherry Garcia, Everything But The Kitchen Sink, and Phish Food. Infamous for their fun flavors and hippie roots, the question for Ann Arbor isn’t whether you’re going, but what flavor are you going to get?

PREVIEW: Sheifest 2011

Christine Hildebrand

Sunday, April 10th from 7pm-10pm, Shei Magazine will host their annual event in honor of their new issue. Shei Magazine is a student-led publication on campus that dedicates itself to the arts, culture, and fashion. The night will celebrate University students who have been nominated for their signature style. The selected group of students will model their looks, each showcasing their good taste in fashion. The fashion show guarantees an eclectic mix of clothing, ranging from vintage finds to current trends. To reserve tickets, email sheifest@sheimagazine.com. Simply include your name, the number of tickets you would like to purchase, and the ticket type. Presale tickets cost $7 for general admission and $12 for VIP tickets as opposed to $10 general and $15 VIP at the door Sunday evening. A VIP ticket includes a copy of the magazine and a gift bag. For those who preordered, tickets can be picked up and paid for at the doors of The Michigan League Ballroom the night of the event. 

REVIEW: The Campus Symphony Orchestra

Christine Hildebrand

The Campus Symphony Orchestra preformed Monday night at Hill Auditorium. The grand venue amplified an outstanding performance, one that showcased the hard work of University students, faculty, and their instruments. Musicians practiced throughout the semester for the one night concert as student conductor Eiki Isomura harmoniously orchestrated the chamber of violins, viola, violoncello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and percussion. Isomura is the participant of the Helen Wu Graduate Conducting fellowship, which offers one University student the chance to conduct a full orchestra of musicians. The fellowship advocates for real life experience as a paramount part of training a professional conductor. The Campus Symphony Orchestra also provides non-music major students, like freshman violinist Adriana Saroki, the opportunity to pursue new talents on campus without sacrificing their love of classical music while receiving credit.

“Joining The Campus Symphony Orchestra exposed me to a diverse group of people who are equally passionate about classical music.” -Adriana Saroki

With Hill’s self-proclaimed “perfect acoustics,” the music swept listeners away on lofty notes. I felt my self drifting into a dream as the music dipped from a soft melody into a powerful crescendo. Isomura waved his arm and the entire orchestra stirred to create a sea of movement and music on stage. My senses were awakened and my life turned into a movie. It reminded me of the timeless ballroom scene from My Fair Lady; I was Eliza, a helpless flower girl, who was overwhelmed by the blending of art, culture, and music.

The evening was broken into three songs Richard Strauss’s “Serenade for Wind Instruments in E-flat Major, Op.7,” George Gershwhin’s “Cuban Overture,” and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64.” Gerswhin’s Cuban Overture added a flavorful twist on classical music. The audience swayed to the rhythm, ready to jump into dance: perhaps even salsa. The crowd was equally entranced by Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Musicians played for an impressive twenty minutes straight, their arms fastidiously moving and eyes glued to their sheet music. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the musicians endured.
“I couldn’t imagine how their arms weren’t about to fall off!” said one spectator.
“My heart went out to them,” said another.
Nevertheless, the musicians stayed focused. I scoped the stage for signs of weakness, yet no one was phased. The music continued as their hands automatically knew what to do. This skill and dedication produced a performance that was nothing less than magical. It was a successful night, one that expanded the love and support of classical music in everyone.

REVIEW: The Friars: 55th Annual Best Concert Ever

lysperez

I’ve been a big fan of The Friars for a while now.  Excited for our last Friars concert as graduating seniors, my friend and I were very much looking forward to the ‘Best Concert Ever’.  My friend actually insisted we leave the house at 7 pm for the 8pm show because she’s so particular about the seating in Rackham.  “You don’t have a good view of the stage unless you’re in the middle rows,” she said.  So we left early, got seats in 4th row center, and anxiously awaited the Friars to jump out onto stage.

The Friars, as always, were energetic.  A few of the songs they sang included Starland Vocal Band’s  “Afternoon Delight”, Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams” , Taylor Swift’s’ “You Belong with Me”, Maroon 5’s “Misery”, and The Turtles’ “So Happy Together”.   But of course, everyone knows that the Friars are famous for their parodies.  One new parody song they sang was about a certain “unkempt” group of people on campus: humanities majors.  The song poked fun at LSA and subjects in the humanities in comparison with majors viewed as more practical, such as computer science and engineering.  The song was of course introduced by Tenor II, LSA junior, Aaron Bindman as he joked about his concentrations in History and Classics.  Another well-known parody they performed was “Formal Rush Dropout”  to the tune of ‘Beauty School Dropout’.  As many know, the Friars love singing about Greek life.  (Another one of their parodies mocks the sorority girls’ winter dress, ‘North Face Girl’).  I’m not sure they’ve gone one show without singing either one of those songs, but it’s all in good humor.

Later into the show, they brought up the ‘Prior Friars’, as they call them, to sing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”.  About 7 of them were in attendance, both from recent years and many years ago.  Their presence is usually very noticeable because the Prior Friars are the ones making jokes and calling out to the stage during song intros.  They are also usually all wearing turtlenecks, in all kinds of colors.  After being to a couple shows where the Prior Friars came up and sang, my friend and I realized it must be a tradition.  These kinds of traditions are what the Friars are really all about, whether it be their parodies, hilarious, but unrelated introductions to songs, or the Prior Friar joint performance.

Closing their 2-hour concert, Tenor I, junior, Bryan Kendall, led the Friars in singing, “G-d Bless the U of M”, their version of “G-d Bless the USA”, which I would say is one of their best parodies, one that’s not full of jokes, but more sentimental and full of UM Friar pride.

PREVIEW: Campus Symphony Orchestra

Christine Hildebrand

The Campus Symphony Orchestra performs tonight, Monday April 4th at Hill Auditorium. The Orchestra is largely comprised of non-music major students, faculty member, staff, and alumni of the University. The program includes musical performances from Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, and the Strauss Serenade for Winds. The concert runs from 8-9:30pm and admission is free of charge.