May 03 Friday
The first half of the concert will be centered on music affected by and in response to World War II.
"It is a heavy topic but important music," said professor Justin Swearinger, who directs the Wind Ensemble and was influenced in his education by composer David Maslanka. The group will perform a work by Maslanka during the concert.
"A quote from David Maslanka speaks to some of the reasoning for the program," said Swearinger. "He said, 'We see history as over and done with; nothing can be done about it, so just let it go. Yet certain events - Hiroshima, the Holocaust, exterminations the world over - are not finished, and will not be put aside.'"
The first piece is Daniel Bukvich's Symphony No. 1, "In Memoriam: Dresden," followed by Maslanka's "Remember Me," which will feature both cello professor Steve Jackson and choral director Tim Pahel on the piano, as well as guest harpist Claire Happel Ashe.
The first half of the concert concludes with "Fire in the Distance," which was just completed this spring by Kevin Krumenauer, a student of Maslanka. Swearinger said the second half of the program is "much more positive and uplifting, beginning with an arrangement of 'Be Thou My Vision' arranged by our own Ty Otto."
Also featured will be "Kalos Eidos" by Carol Brittin Chambers, a play on the Greek word for "kaleidoscope," as a nod to the Wind Ensemble's time in Greece this semester.
Seniors in the group will be honored with a small presentation, followed by a performance of "Irish Tune from County Derry" by Percy Aldridge Grainger. The concert will conclude with the "joyous and brilliant" piece "Firebird Finale" by Igor Stravinsky.
May 04 Saturday
The Macomb Farmers Market returns to Historic Downtown Macomb’s Chandler Park each Saturday morning, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon, starting on Saturday, May 4 through October 19. Now in its 49th year, the Market’s vendors offer an array of fresh produce, baked goods, honey & jams, meats, Amish goods, fresh flowers, hand-crafted items, and much more — all sold to you by the people who produced them.
Dan Eilers will be finger-picking and singing songs from a variety of genres, including folk, blues, country, and Americana. He will be performing in the Chandler Park Gazebo in downtown Macomb on May 4, starting at 9 am, during the first Macomb Farmers’ Market of 2024.
Enjoy the first blooms of spring and the peace and serenity of nature on these morning nature hikes in the woods of Argyle Lake State Park. These 1.5 mile hikes will begin at the park visitor center. For more information, please call the park visitor center at (309)776-3422.
WIU Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) RecitalTime: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: COFAC Recital Hall Description: This performance is free and open for general seating.
Related Web Site: WIU SCHOOL OF MUSICContact Information: Joanie Herbert Phone: 309-298-1843 Email: JE-Herbert@wiu.eduSource: School of Music
The Hub - Arts and Cultural Center, in Rushville, is delighted to welcome back award winningpoet and artist Justin Hamm. His exhibit Frames of Reference features digital collages createdby Hamm alongside corresponding poems by 17 poets from around the country. This exhibit’sunique opening reception will be an in-person and virtual hybrid event that will consist of avirtual poetry reading. Visitors to the gallery can view the work in-person starting at noon onMay 4, 2024. At 1:00 pm, Justin Hamm will host a poetry reading that will be viewable at thegallery and online. The poetry reading will feature many of the poets in the exhibit.
To join online register at https://forms.gle/zbxVtCmRmT157gmR7
Originally from the flatlands of central Illinois, Justin Hamm now lives near Twain territory inMissouri. He is the author of four books of poetry, Drinking Guinness With the Dead: Poems2007-2021, The Inheritance, American Ephemeral, and Lessons in Ruin, and a book ofphotographs entitled Midwestern. He is also the creator of Poet Baseball Cards and thefounding editor of the museum of americana.
Justin has been chosen as a 2022 Woody Guthrie Poet, a 2020 Missouri Arts Council FeaturedArtist, a finalist for the 2018 River Styx International Poetry Prize, and the winner of the 2014Stanley Hanks Memorial Poetry Prize. In 2022 he delivered a performance entitled “TheAmerican Midwest: a Story in Poems” at TEDx Oshkosh.
The Frames of Reference opening reception will take place on May 4th from 12:00 - 2:00pm. In-person and online artist talk and poetry reading will begin at 1:00 pm.
Exhibit will be on display in The Hub’s gallery from May 4 - June 21, 2024.
All aboard our 6-passenger emission-free electric cruiser for a captivating 105-minute guided history tour through the iconic Purington-paver brick streets, and alongside some of the 104 miles of train tracks, of Historic Galesburg.
Discover the vibrant arts scene, stunning architecture, sizzling restaurants, rich history, and strong community culture that makes this little-known Western Illinois town one of America’s best-kept secrets!
We also bring some of Galesburg's unsung heroes to life, including women, African-American, and Mexican-American residents whose stories have too long been relegated to the shadows.
Points of interest include: 1. George Washington Gale's Home (Founder of Galesburg & Knox College) 2. Knox College- The Galesburg Colony Underground Railroad Freedom Center & the site of the 5th Lincoln/Douglas Debate. 3. Hope Cemetery 4. The Box Car Family Community Sites 5. The Chambers Street District, including The Silas Willard Mansion aka "The Great House." 6. Instagrammable City Murals & Statues, and much more!
Perfect for locals with out-of-town guests, solo business travelers, traveling couples passing through town, executives with clients in town, and local school groups with students ages 10+ looking for adventurous things to do in Galesburg!
What to expect: The tour picks up & drops off in Downtown Galesburg in the parking lot next to the Galesburg Antiques Mall (140 S. Prairie St), so feel free to grab a bite to eat at one of Galesburg's many fine restaurants before or after your tour.
*We cross 3 sets of train tracks on this tour. Please note that crossing and stopped trains may delay our tour by up to 15 minutes.
Break out your hats and bow ties for a fabulous afternoon of horse races and drag performances! Walk the red carpet & place your bets to support scholarships for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, drag performances by Central Illinois' most fabulous stars, derby day races in real-time, and exclusive raffles & silent auctions.
Cash bar. Must be 21 years of age.
The Western Illinois University School of Music will present the 58th Annual Wind Ensemble President’s Concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) Recital Hall.
The WIU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Matt Thomas, professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands, will perform a concert honoring WIU’s Interim President, Kristi Mindrup, featuring guest pianist Po-Chuan Chiang; Master of Ceremonies; and WIU graduate assistant conductor Adrian Lowry.
The program will include:
We’re Marching On (Western Illinois University Fight Song) (1935) - Walter H. Eller
Fanfare for an Angel (2010/2018) - James Stephenson- Adrian Lowry, Graduate Assistant Conductor
Scherzo for X-Wings (2016) - John Williams (1932b)/ arr. Paul Lavender
Four Dances from West Side Story (1957-/1980) - Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)/arr. Ian PolsterI. ScherzoII. MamboIII. Cha-chaIV. Cool
Introduction and Capriccio (1966) - John Barnes Chance- Po-Chuan Chiang, piano
Ecstatic Waters (2008) - Steve Bryant (1972b)I. Ceremony of InnocenceII. AugursIII. The Generous Wrath of Simple MenIV. The Loving Machinery of JusticeV. Spiritus Mundi (epilogue)
Commencement Ceremony March from University Scenes (1999) – Randall E. Faust (1947b)
This performance is open free for general audience seating and will be live-streamed on the School of Music's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
For more information, call the COFAC Recital Hall office at (309) 298-1843 or visit wiu.edu/recitalhall.