70 Past Events at Pruis Hall, Ball State University

The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, & Humanities is proud to announce that alumna Andie Redwine (Class of 1992), writer and producer of the film "Paradise Recovered", will be in person for a reception on Friday, May 18th at 6:00PM. The reception will precede the screening of the film and will be held in Wagoner Hall, Jeep Lounge.

The film will be shown at 8:00PM in Pruis Hall on the Ball State University campus. "Paradise Recovered" was an official selection at the Heartland Film Festival 2010, the Austin Film Festival 2010, and Film Courage Interactive 2010. For more information about the film, please visit http://paradiserecovered.com.

Those who have followed Ruthie Foster’s eclectic musical history know that she can burn down any stage with her combustible blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel. Ruthie’s astonishing voice has taken her on an amazing ride. She came from humble church choir beginnings in rural Texas, followed by a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy Band, and ended up in New York City. In Austin, she became a regular nominee at the Austin Music Awards, winning Best Folk Artist in 2004-05 and Best Female Vocalist in 2007-08. Broadening her sound by blending blues and soul aspects into her folk roots, Ruthie added a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for her last studio release, 2009's The Truth According to Ruthie Foster. She then won seemingly contradictory Blues Music Association awards for both Best Traditional and Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist in back-to-back years.

Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band's name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acousitc music circles since the group's creation in 1999. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has gained legions of loyal fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances. Mountain Heart's musical virtuosity, unmatched energy, and keen sense of entertainment dynamics have helped them to forge a highly unique sound, and stage show, which appeals to an incredibly wide variety of musical tastes. From large outdoor folk music and bluegrass festivals, to sold-out arena shows opening for Southern Rock icons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, to co-headlining concerts with the acoustic guitar legend, Tony Rice, Mountain Heart always makes an undeniable connection to an audience. In short, this rare combination of abilities makes Mountain Heart one of the most versatile acts ever assembled.

Katie Armiger's powerful vocals and skillful songwriting are clear in her music. At the ripe age of 19, Katie does not hold back and has an inspiring combination of determination and passion that shines through in her music. She was just voted Country Weekly's #1 Hottest Bachelorette in Country Music, her latest video, "Best Song Ever," was voted #1 on GAC's Top 20 Countdown for 4 weeks. Katie reached out to her faithful fans to choose the album title for her latest release, Confessions of a Nice Girl. Katie has learned from her unique experiences and has grown in her artistry, totally giving over to the music. The new record is full of the heartfelt confessions of an assertive, hopeful and vibrant young woman. Katie wrote 9 of the 12 songs giving the world a peek into her mind. Her story is unconventional, but her music is universal.

Live at Birdland features The Birdland Big Band directed by Tommy Igoe in a setting designed to recreate the ambience and experience of a night at Birdland - named after famed alto saxophone player Charlie Parker, nicknamed "Bird," Birdland was founded in New York City in 1949. This dynamic new ensemble, straight from the jazz mecca of NYC, provides an unforgettable musical event that goes beyond the traditional and sets the standard for the 21st-century jazz orchestra. Live at Birdland will feature fresh treatments of iconic Charlie Parker compositions as well as innovative arrangements from contemporary composers such as Chick Corea, Arturo Sandoval, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Lennon/McCartney and Leonard Bernstein. Featuring New York's finest musicians and directed by one of the world's greatest drummers, The Birdland Big Band has become New York City's most popular weekly musical attraction.

Their name, Montana Skies, is a metaphor for musical freedom, and they continue to follow their creative insticts far beyond traditional boundaries. In concert, these award winning musicians delve into music from Pink Floyd and Rush to Vivaldi, and House of the Rising Sun, as well as their own originals that have been featured everywhere from NPR to the Travel Channel. Combining elements of classical technique, jazz improv and the power and energy of rock n' roll; Jonathan's guitar wizardry and Jenn's blazing electric cello combine to create a sound that is truly remarkable. While the music defies simple categorization, it is a fusion in the truest sense of the word. It's been called everything from chamber rock to psychedelic strings. Whatever you want to call it, rest assured, this ain't your grannies chamber music.

Susan Werner has cultivated a reputation as a daring and innovative songwriter with a killer live show - and we're thrilled to welcome her back! Composer of skillfull songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz and pop, Susan delivers all with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. She boldly endeavors to weave old with new to create altogether new genres of music when existing ones do not suit her muse, and she regularly keeps audiences guessing and laughing simultaneously. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner's talent, and pure genius in capturing the human experience and setting it to music, and those who were lucky enough to see her on her last journey to Muncie were clamoring for more. Well, we delivered!

Contact: Roger McConnell                                                       Tel. 765-289-2041

Email: businessoffice@amhometownband.org

With a new year comes a new concert season and America’s Hometown Band will be kicking off their season at 4:30 p.m. on February 24 at Ball State University’s Pruis Hall. Their concert will be the first in the band’s 2013 concert season.

The show, aptly named “Band Stars,” will highlight some of the band’s most talented members in several featured pieces. Pianist Dr. Philip Cooley will perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Will Frazier will play solo trombone to Arthur Pryor’s “Thoughts of Love.” Piccolo player Rachael Eldridge will also be highlighted in a rendition of Vivaldi’s “Concerto I n C Major.”

 Other feature pieces will include oboist Dr. Aryn Sweeney and saxophonist Dr. George Wolfe.

 A professor of saxophone at Ball State, Dr. Wolfe is a well-known performer who has played across North America and Europe. He has performed with such groups such as the United States Navy Band, The Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and the Royal Band of the Belgian Air Force, among others. He will be playing soprano saxophone on AHB’s performance of “Los Andes” by Adriana Isabel Figueroa Manas which he premiered with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra last year.

 Rounding out the night of star performances will be Dr. Aryn Sweeney’s presentation of “Concertante” by Emilie Paladilhe. Also a Ball State professor, Sweeney is the principal oboist for Muncie’s Symphony Orchestra as well as the Lexington Philharmonic. Sweeney has taught and performed with many artists around the world and in 2005 was prizewinner at the Barbirolli International Oboe Competition.

Other pieces AHB plans to perform include such favorites as “Amazing Grace,” “Star Wars,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

The show is free and open to the public, in keeping with AHB’s stated mission of performing for “town and gown.” Upcoming performances include a St. Patrick’s Day performance, a first Thursday performance on May 2 at Vera Mae’s Bistro, as well as a Memorial Day service at Beech Grove Cemetery on May 27.

For questions regarding the upcoming performance or performances contact Roger McConnell. For more information regarding the band, visit their website at amhometownband.org or call 765-289-2041. 

Paige in Full is a visual mix-tape that blends poetry, dance, visual arts and live music to tell the tale of a multicultural girl growing up in Baltimore, MD. The production expolores how a young woman's identity is shaped by her ethnicity and popular culture, telling a personal, yet universal, story through the lens of hip-hop. To create Paige in Full, sibling duo Paige Hernandez (writer and performer) and Nick tha 1da (musician) worked with Danielle A. Drakes (director) and Bryan Joseph Lee (dramaturg) to develop a story that speaks to a dynamic hip-hop-influenced generation. Paige in Full draws upon a range of creative disciplines such as literary, musical and visual arts. The story unfolds on a backdrop of multimedia projections provided by Flashpoint Gallery veteran Tewodross Melchishua.

At a time when cross-cultural music has tended toward highly-caffeinated electric pop and dance music, Ballake Sissoko, who plays a lute-harp from Mali (traditional kora), and Vincent Segal, the French cellist who plays for the trip-hop band Bumcello remind us that there is room - and maybe even a need - for something quieter, something more refined. The cello, of course is not a traditional African instrument. But Chamber Music, in its depthe of feeling and variety of moods, is authentically African. The kora my not appear in the duos, trios, or quartets of Beethoven, Schumann, or Brahms; but the obvious musical and personal connection between Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal also marks this as an organic, authentic, of original, type of chamber music. And perhaps the combination of kora and cello works so well, frankly, because there are no expectations for it.

Presentation by author, Zach Wahls.

Part of Women's Week 2013

Contact the Women's and Gender Studies Program at (765)285-5451 for disability accommodation or more information.

BSU Feminist for Action Presents...

The Vagina Monologues

Join us for Eve Ensler's ground-breaking play that has raised more than $75 million worldwide for anti-domestic violence initiatives and women's empowerment.

ALL proceeds benefit A Better Way in Muncie!

For more information contact Courtney Jarrett cjjarrett@bsu.edu

What You Really Really Want:  How to Pursue a Real Sexuality in the Real World

Presentation by author and activist, Jaclyn Friedman.

Part of Women's Week 2013

Contact the Women's and Gender Studies Program at (765)285-5451 for disability accommodation or more information.

Ken Carter is a coach, author, educator and inspiration for the movie Coach Carter which recounts Carter's decision to literally lock his undefeated, state play-off bound basketball team out of the gym and force them to hit the books. Carter is the founder and chairman of the Coach Ken Carter Foundation, a non-profit that promotes and provides education, training and mentoring programs for minority youth. He also founded the Coach Carter Impact Academy, designed to enable disadvantaged youth to reach their full academic and life potential.

Sponsored by Student Affairs, the Multicultural Center and the Office of Institutional Diversity

Free and open to students, staff, faculty, and the Muncie community.