Ball State University College of Fine Arts

Featuring collaborations between our BSU School of Music Students, Inclusive Excellence Committee, & Guest Speaker and Performer, Joshua Thompson.

Joshua Thompson is a pianist, social musicologist, teaching artist, and producer. Known onstage as Sock Joplin, he is increasingly recognized on a national scale for his expertise on classical composers of African descent and the inherent cultural connectivity in the broader aesthetic of Black Arts movements. As the 2020 Beckman Emerging Artist Fellow of the Arts Council of Indianapolis, he successfully completed his residence at the Africana Studies Center for Music and Society at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, followed by a performing/teaching residency at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and currently serves as the first Musicologist in Residence for Classical Music Indy.

In 2004, Joshua obtained a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. He deftly merged his music and advocacy paths through performances, appearances and working closely with an expanding range of national cultural arts organizations, social agencies, and universities to facilitate access to educational resources. The Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Indiana Arts Commission, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Marian University, Butler University, the University of Puget Sound, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Winds, Classical Music Indy, Arts for Lawrence, Arts for Learning, Morning Brown, Inc., Indy Jazz Fest have all worked with Mr. Thompson in this capacity.

Joshua has worked with legendary bassist John Clayton, Smithsonian Research Fellow Dr. William C. Banfield, touring pianist Ric’key Pageot, Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Davis, renowned clarinetist Anthony McGill, and international operatic soprano Angela Brown.

In October 2019, he was a featured presenter for the popular TED Talk series. His award-winning podcast series “Melanated Moments in Classical Music” with co-host Angela Brown, is currently in its fourth season of production and won 2020 Best Music Podcast from the Black Podcasting Awards and was recently featured in the British publication, Alternative Classical, and the Miami Times.

Program

Works to Include Florence Price, Wu Na, Ulysses Kay, and More! 

Free Admission

This event is free and open to the public.

Parking

Parking is available in the McKinley Parking Garage (entrance on Ashland Avenue) located immediately south of Sursa Hall. On weekdays, metered parking ($1/hr) is available on the first floor of the garage until 7 p.m. at which time parking is free. This garage is free on weekends.

Thalea String Quartet will perform at 7:30 pm in Sursa Hall. The Thalea String Quartet brings their signature vibrancy and emotional commitment to dynamic performances that reflect the past, present, and the future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world. Fueled by the belief that chamber music is a powerful force for building community and human connection, the Thalea String Quartet has performed across North America, Europe, and China, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. As a part of their two day residency, the Thalea String Quartet will also give a masterclass on Wednesday, April 10 from 11:00 am to 12:50 pm in Hahn Hall. These events are free and open to the public.

This event is made possible by the Arts Alive program in partnership with the School of Music and the College of Fine Arts.

The Last Five Years

Cave Theatre

Written by Jason Robert Brown

Originally Produced for the New York Stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell

Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre

Chicago, IL

Directed by Payten Romig

April 17-20 at 7:30 pm

 April 20-21 at 2:30 pm

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

The Last Five Years

Cave Theatre

Written by Jason Robert Brown

Originally Produced for the New York Stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell

Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre

Chicago, IL

Directed by Payten Romig

April 17-20 at 7:30 pm

 April 20-21 at 2:30 pm

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

Cabaret

Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and
Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Directed by David Little and Andre Garner
Music Directed by Beth Truitt
Choreographed by Megan Farley

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome… to Cabaret, Kander and Ebb’s legendary musical about British nightclub singer Sally Bowles, American writer Cliff Bradshaw, and the decadence of 1929 Berlin. With mounting fear and uncertainty outside, the bawdy Emcee lures you into the world of the Kit Kat Club where your troubles are left at the door.

CABARET is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

The Last Five Years

Cave Theatre

Written by Jason Robert Brown

Originally Produced for the New York Stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell

Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre

Chicago, IL

Directed by Payten Romig

April 17-20 at 7:30 pm

 April 20-21 at 2:30 pm

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

Cabaret

Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and
Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Directed by David Little and Andre Garner
Music Directed by Beth Truitt
Choreographed by Megan Farley

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome… to Cabaret, Kander and Ebb’s legendary musical about British nightclub singer Sally Bowles, American writer Cliff Bradshaw, and the decadence of 1929 Berlin. With mounting fear and uncertainty outside, the bawdy Emcee lures you into the world of the Kit Kat Club where your troubles are left at the door.

CABARET is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

The Last Five Years

Cave Theatre

Written by Jason Robert Brown

Originally Produced for the New York Stage by Arielle Tepper and Marty Bell

Originally Produced by Northlight Theatre

Chicago, IL

Directed by Payten Romig

April 17-20 at 7:30 pm

 April 20-21 at 2:30 pm

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com