The Sound (and Color) of the Season
Photo by Wesley Lickus '17.
Music and gallery events make the season bright
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
The holiday season is here, and the Dickinson arts community is celebrating big, with concerts tuned to the spirit of goodwill and gallery events that de-Grinchify finals week.
The jazz ensemble kicked off the end-of-year events Nov. 22 with an annual concert showcasing time-honored American tunes and holiday hits. American choral songs, anthems and carols were the focus of the popular annual choral concert by the Dickinson College Collegium and faculty organist Brian Rotz, held this year in St. John’s Episcopal Church Dec. 5 and in Memorial Hall Dec. 6. (The Collegium also is participating in a Dec. 7 carol sing, hosted by the Center for Service, Spirituality & Social Justice.)
Upcoming Department of Music events are the festive Clarinets, Cookies and Cheer concert; a short clarinet concert, led by Contributing Faculty in Music Elisabeth Stimpert (Dec. 8, Underground, noon.); and a Dec. 10 chamber-music concert featuring performances by students in faculty-led chamber ensembles (Rubendall Recital Hall, noon).
As in years past, the college’s five a cappella groups ring in the most popular student-led events of the season. The Octals and Syrens kicked off the series with performances on Dec. 4 and 5, respectively. Thursday, Dec. 10 will see a 6 p.m. concert by the D-Tones in Allison Hall, followed by an 8 p.m. Crescendevils performance in ATS. The Infernos will present the final 2015 a cappella concert on Friday, Dec. 11.
The Trout Gallery is harnessing the power of art to calm pre-finals nerves during Trout Study Days (Dec. 11-17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Students can enjoy free snacks and free printing in the gallery, along with study spaces on polar ends of the learning-style spectrum. Those who prefer quiet can concentrate in silent galleries decked with clean-lined contemporary art, while the gallery's art-education area provides bean bags, kinetic sand and vivifying community. The gallery also presents its final Slow Art meditation session this week (Friday, 4:30-5 p.m.), providing a space for a calming shared experience as students gear up for the winter break.
In addition to these arts-themed respites from the rigors of studying for finals, the Dining Hall and the Waidner-Spahr Library are planning study-break events for students ranging from Exam Treats in the Biblio Cafe to Chili Night.
View concert photos.
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Published December 7, 2015