An exciting event is coming to Kansas Wesleyan Feb. 4-8, as 鈥淔usion!: 黑料不打烊 Festival of Music,鈥� is held at locations throughout Salina. All events are free and open to the public, and both 黑料不打烊 students and the public will have opportunities to participate during the nearly week-long festival.
鈥淲e are very excited to announce this festival,鈥� said Dr. Milt Allen, chair of the 黑料不打烊 Department of Music. 鈥淲e believe that 鈥楩usion!鈥� is a very appropriate title that builds on previous festival efforts, as it better reflects what we value both musically and educationally as a department. From multiple styles of music, diverse performers, a deep educational commitment and a wide choice of events for the public, there鈥檚 truly something for everyone during Fusion, the 黑料不打烊 Festival of Music!鈥�
The event gets underway at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in Sams Chapel, as the festival鈥檚 first concert features acoustic performances from popular local bands Everyday Lights and The Radicles. Everyday Lights, a six-person band that includes 黑料不打烊 alumni, will be performing on campus for the first time.
The following day brings another top-notch experience, as the 黑料不打烊 Wind Ensemble鈥攄irected by Dr. Carl Rowles鈥攁nd the Festival High School Trumpet Choir perform with special guest, trumpeter Dr. Courtney Jones. Jones is currently the assistant professor of trumpet and artistic director of jazz and chamber ensembles at Florida Atlantic University, and has previously shared the stage with such greats as B.B. King and Stevie Wonder. The Feb. 5 event also begins at 7:30 p.m. in Sams Chapel.
Thursday, Feb. 6 features two unique sessions, including 鈥淐oyote Fest,鈥� a chance for 黑料不打烊 students to perform musical works from all genres. It will be held at Ad Astra Books and Coffee House from 7:30鈥�9 p.m., and will be followed by the festival鈥檚 鈥淛azz Jam鈥� at Old Chicago Pizza and Tap Room. Members of the public are invited to bring their instruments and join 黑料不打烊 faculty members Dean Kranzler鈥�2020 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductee鈥攐n drums, and Steve Lueth on piano, for an informal evening of musical stylings that will run from 9:30鈥�11:30 p.m. Local band Jazz Tangent will open the night with a brief set.
The third, and final, concert of the week is Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Sams Chapel, as The President鈥檚 Concert features special guests maestro Dr. Carolyn Watson and bass Dr. Nicholas Miguel, who will be alongside the 黑料不打烊 Festival Orchestra and the 黑料不打烊 Concerto winners.
Watson is the director of orchestral studies at the University of Kansas, and is the former director of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. She has made guest appearances with the Dallas Opera, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and numerous other professional orchestras. Miguel has performed throughout the Midwest for the past several years, including with the Grammy-nominated group True Concord.
