UNK Department of Music and Performing Arts, 380.865.8618
Local and area youth who are members of the National String Project Consortium (NSPC ) at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
NSPC is a coalition of 32 String Project sites based at colleges and universities across the United States. The NSPC is dedicated to increasing the number of children playing stringed instruments and addressing the critical shortage of string teachers in the U.S. The UNK String Project is sponsored by the National String Project Consortium and the Dana Foundation. Participating students, a beginners group and an advanced group, have received two hours of weekly instruction throughout the school year for a $35 fee as part of the project.
Dr. Noah Rogoff, UNK cello lecturer, directs the program. Dr. Ting-Lan Chen, UNK assistant professor of music, drafted the proposal to bring the NSPC to UNK. Rachel Weinberg of Kearney serves as a student instructor. The concert is free and open to the public.
The beginning level class will open the concert with the musical selection “Lightly Row.” They will also perform “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variations,” “Antrim Hills,” “St. Anthony Chorale” and “Ode to Joy (Valentine’s Day).”
Members of the beginning level class, and the instruments they play, include: Julia Bauer, violin; Mika Braddy, violin; Abigail DeLoach, violin; Hannah Gillming, violin; Danielle Houtz, violin; Katlin Linn, violin; Hannah Lundell, violin; Ryan Lundell, violin; Jessica Mowry, violin; Makenna Russell, violin; Katelyn Wells, violin; Jarod Zikmund, violin; Hannah Leclair, viola; Jordan Wong, viola; Megan Falconer, cello; Marlaena Sucha, cello; and Sydney Shield, cello.
The advanced level class will perform “March of the Meistersingers,” “Allegro” from “Violin Concerto in A Minor,” “Night at the Ballet,” and “Fortuna Brawl” on themes from “Carmina Burana” and “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.” Members of the advanced class, and the instruments they play, include: Elizabeth Gillming, violin; Griffin Mims, violin; Samuel Hayes, violin; Mary Spencer, violin; Margaret Spencer, violin; Sarah Bettles, cello; Grant Williams, cello; and Edward Spencer, bass.
In addition, there will be selected duets, including “The Irish Washerwoman,” performed by Elizabeth Gillming and Margaret Spencer, both on violin; “Cripple Creek” performed by Edward Spencer, bass, and Grant Williams, cello; “Bile Them Cabbage Down” performed by Sam Hayes and Griffin Mims, both on violin; and “Overture” from “La Gazza Ladra” performed by Sarah Bettles, cello, and Mary Spencer, violin.
