The Tune of the Season at Seattle U
I often extrapolate on the virtues of Seattle’s rich music scene; this past week I
experienced the strengths of Seattle U’s own music programs.
On Friday, Gwen, Shametrice, and I ventured to the inspiring
confines of St. Joseph
Church on Capitol Hill to
take in A Festival of Christmas, the
annual candlelit concert put on by the Seattle University Choirs. The evening
incorporated a host of Christmas mainstays—songs like “Silent Night” and “Hark
the Herald Angels Sing”—but the highlight for me were two pieces that closed
the show: a soulful gospel tune written by Lee Peterson, SU adjunct professor
and choir accompanist, and “Betelehemu,” a traditional Nigerian Christmas song that came alive with drums and shakers galore.
Come Monday evening, I was at the Lee Center
taking in the Jazz Band’s Fall Concert.
In its third year and under the leadership of Clarence Acox,
a local Jazz legend, the concert was concise but enjoyable. A favorite moment
was their rendition of “Sugar Rum Cherry,” a Duke Ellington take on “Dance of
the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
After we in Admissions met with a number of Fine Arts
faculty a couple weeks back, seeing these performances only provided further
proof that Music (and Fine Arts as a whole) is growing pretty well at SU: degree
options are increasing, new facilities are inspiring jealousy around Seattle,
and relationships with members of the city’s arts community continue to be
strong. (These being relationships that often lead to those ever-important internships
or experiences one can put on a resume.)
Some notes I made regarding Music from that recent meeting:
- a new Bachelor of Music in String
Performance will be offered for fall 2008.
- SU has
four choirs: Men’s and Women’s chorale, the University Chorale, and the
Consort Singers.
- music
lessons are available for all students in piano, voice, guitar, and
string, brass, wind, and percussion instruments.
And, as always, information on Music and all Fine Arts
program can be found here:
http://seattleu.edu/artsci/finearts/