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Music makes a mark at Northland College during fall concert series Oct. 28 to Nov. 3

October 24, 2012

Northland College will host three concerts during the week of Oct. 28 - Nov. 3 that show the role music serves in society and people's lives. The Northland College Winds, Chequamegon Symphony Orchestra and Northland College Choirs will hold their fall performances in the Alvord Theatre at Northland. The events, offerings in the Northland College Community Connections series, are open to the public.

The concerts feature themes of new beginnings, as well as journeys of love, self-discovery, trial and triumph.

Dr. Russell Thorngate, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Northland, chose "The Journey Begins" as an appropriate theme for this fall's choir concert. The Nov. 2 concert will feature performances from the Northland Singers, the Chamber Choir, women's community chorus the Accidentals and men's community chorus the Lumberjack Chorus. Choir selections range from Irish and Scottish folk songs about the toll of war to an old English sea shanty about finding love and a biblical tune about coming to terms with one's faith. Some songs that will be performed include "Over the Sea to Skye," "Jericho Road," and "A-Roving."

"Many of the songs have to do with some kind of journey - some a little more metaphorical than others," said Thorngate. "But, also the beginning of the school year, particularly for freshmen, is a new experience for students. These are the journeys that can fill our lives with wonder."

The Chequamegon Symphony Orchestra echoes such sentiments with a special performance by Trevor Thornton, principal trumpet player, during its program on Saturday, Nov. 3. Thornton will perform a Baroque trumpet concerto by composer Johann B.G. Neruda.

Thornton, an independent defense contractor, has journeyed far with his love of music. He studied with prominent west coast classical and jazz musician Roy Cummings at the University of Washington and also under conductor Dr. Paul Elliott Cobbs of Everett Youth Symphony. Thornton says his early experience with Dr. Cobbs and Cummings inspired him to pursue music throughout his career.

"Great mentoring lasts a lifetime," said Thornton. "In my opinion, classical music is the most intensely dynamic of all music genres. Sousa marches, jazz standards, Coltrane and Monk are great, but none have the intensity of Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony or Verdi's requiem for example. Those are enough to keep any trumpet player coming back for more."

Now, his eldest son Aaron is following in his footsteps and his son Tyler has taken a liking to the clarinet. Both play in the Northland College Winds, and Thornton says that's allowed them to pursue their own love of music.

"My oldest brother played clarinet and he was in orchestras and he had a Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass album that I can remember listening to when I was seven," Thorton said. "I think they're lucky to have an orchestra, especially with the size of Ashland and general challenge in funding the arts have faced. A cultured society is an educated society. To have that culture here in a town this size, it's pretty incredible."

The Northland College Winds Concert will help illustrate just that with its concert "Diverse Music for Wind Band" on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Joel Glickman, conductor and instrumental music director at Northland, believes "there is something for everyone" in this short but varied program. The concert features a variety of selections, including toccata pieces from Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi, English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and Russian composer Petr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the Alvord Theatre at Northland College. More information about the concerts and costs to attend can be found online at www.northland.edu/community.