Family Weekend showcases student talent

Grove City College’s upcoming Family Weekend provides a public showcase for the arts on campus, with a series of Music Department concerts, the Spring Orchesis dance show, One-Acts, and All-College Sing.

All Family Weekend concerts and performances are free and open to the public.

Orchesis gets a jump on the weekend, opening at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center on campus. The theme of this year’s student dance show is “On the Radio,” a sesquicentennial nod toward Grove City College’s history as a pioneer in broadcasting. The show will be reprised at 8 p.m. Friday, April 24 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25. Orchesis is free and open to the public. The Saturday show will be livestreamed here.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday the Symphonic Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will present a concert, “Joy in All Things,” in Ketler Auditorium of Pew Fine Arts Center. This year’s performance holds special significance, marking the 50th anniversary of band concerts in Ketler Auditorium, where the first Family Weekend concert took place in 1976.

“During this remarkable season of milestones and celebrations, we are especially grateful to add this anniversary to the list,” said Director of Bands and professor of Music Andrew Erb.

The Symphonic Concert Band will feature two student conductors. Sarah Altman will lead the ensemble in Percy Grainger’s “Irish Tune” from County Derry and “Shepherd’s Hey,” while Kassiani Kustos will conduct Brian Balmages’ “Arabian Dances.” The Wind Ensemble will perform Alfred Reed’s “Hounds of Spring” alongside Benjamin Barker’s “Bamboo Shoots and City Streets.” Livestream will be available at gcc.edu/livemusic.

The Student Art Exhibit in the Pew Fine Arts Center is open from 4 - 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Alpha Psi Omega, the College’s theater honorary, debuts the One Act show at 5 p.m. Friday in The Little Theatre of Pew Fine Arts Center, with encore performances of the short plays at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday.

On Saturday, the Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band will play at 1:30 p.m. in Ketler Auditorium. The concert will feature guest artist Tony Bellassai on bass and two of his original compositions.

The Jazz Ensemble program includes vocal performances by students Naomi Salansky and Liam Cummings; a Mr. Rogers song with the solo trombone of David LaBarbera; an original jazz composition by ensemble director and professor of Music Dr. Joseph Hasper. The Stage Band, a seven-piece jazz combo, features the dual guitars of Jude McKay and Bryan Foley, along with keyboardist Ryan Eckert, bass player Alex Thompson, drummer Patrick Gold, and Olivia Massucci and Brayden Ruotolo on saxophones. Livestream will be available at gcc.edu/livemusic.

All College Sing, a family weekend highlight that pits Grove City College’s Greek and housing groups in a friendly song and dance competition, is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in the Arena of the Physical Learning Center on campus. Livestream available at gcc.edu/liveevents.

Sunday features a 2 p.m. concert featuring the Revelation Ringers, a handbell choir featuring Grove City College students, at Tower Presbyterian Church on South Broad Street in Grove City and a performance of Haydn's “Creation” by the combined Concert Choir and Touring Choirs at 4:30 p.m. in Harbison Chapel on campus.

The 1797 horal masterpiece tells the story of Creation as told through Genesis, the Psalms, and parts of John Milton's "Paradise Lost" via exciting choruses and solo arias. The choirs are conducted by professor of Music Dr. Katherine Mueller and accompanied by Wesley Morgan on the organ.

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