University music faculty members Jane Fiske, Jonathan Harvey, Amy McGlothlin and Justin Casinghino were joined by special guests Kris Layton, Alanna Rantala and Cynthia Schilling for this performance highlighting Fitchburg State's new, nine-foot Steinway Model D concert grand piano. 

Topics: Our Faculty, Programs and Majors, Humanities, Music Programs

Fitchburg State University’s instrumental and choral ensembles performed a joint concert last evening in Weston Auditorium. The concert program served as  a showcase of “bite-sized” performances by the university’s choirs, bands and orchestra. Performers will include Fitchburg State students as well as faculty members Jonathan Harvey, Amy McGlothlin, and Hildur Schilling. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Topics: Programs and Majors, Humanities, Music Programs

John Hughes, an internationally-renowned composer, musician, and educator, held a kora performance yesterday afternoon in the Hammond Main Lounge. The kora is long-necked harp/lute of the Malinke people of western Africa. The instrument’s body is composed of a long hardwood neck that passes through a calabash gourd resonator, itself covered by a leather soundboard. Hughes also visiting two classes earlier in the day - Medieval Africa and World Music.

Topics: Community, Humanities, Music Programs, English Studies

Professor Amy McGlothlin's Jazz Band class jamming in Conlon Fine Arts. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Topics: Humanities, Music Programs

A last day of music class impromptu jam session in Conlon Fine Arts. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Topics: Humanities, Music Programs

Our Women's History Month celebration continued with this afternoon's performance of the female led Myanna Jazz Quartet. Attendees enjoyed their funky soul and jazz in performance in the Falcon Hub.

Topics: Events, Community, Music Programs

Our Women's History Month celebration continued with this afternoon's Women in the Arts at the Kent Recital Hall. It was celebration of women-identified artists and performers, featuring visual artists, musicians, poets, and more. Learn more about our Humanities Programs here.

Topics: Community, Humanities, Music Programs, Fine Art

Professor Amy McGlothlin's Jazz Band class jamming in Conlon Fine Arts. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Topics: Programs and Majors, Music Programs

This afternoon, during our Young Falcons Academy week, where students from Fitchburg and Leominster public middle schools partake in a week full of activities on campus, the Young Falcons were lead by Asst. Professor Jonathan Harvey in the Fitchburg State University Alma Mater, accompanied by the Fitchburg State University Chamber Choir. The choir were asked if they would do an impromptu performance and obliged with a rendition of  a spiritual called "Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name."

Topics: Preparing for College, Student Experience, Community, Music Programs

This past semester, Humanities Professor Amy McGlothlin assisted senior Ryan Gallagher with an independent study for his Music Theory and Composition minor.

According to McGlothlin, "The project was an album release.  Ryan has released several individual songs over the past few years, but never an entire album.  We worked on the concept for his album, which songs belonged on it, and which ones he should save for the next project. Then we picked a release date for the album. Ryan worked on mixing and mastering his music using skills he learned in my Introduction to Music Technology courses, as well as on his own. He created his own merchandise, and worked on getting his music into the distribution pipeline for the release date.  He organized people to help him with the show, including people to run the merchandise table where he sold T-shirts with his logo on them, arranging for catering to bring pizza for anyone who attended and arranging for someone to record the show on video. He designed the poster, and did the advertising. We met or talked about his project every couple of weeks to be sure he was on track and to give him some ideas.  I invited local music producer Young Coff33, who came to the show with his production company and talked to Ryan afterwards, giving him lots of praise for the quality of his work. It was pretty much a full house in the Falcon Hub that night, which goes to show that Ryan did a great job with spreading the word, and also shows what a great group of friends he has that came to support his presentation.

 

"The show lasted about 45 minutes. Ryan talked about each song before performing it. I assisted with running the sound for his background tracks, all of which he wrote the music for.  I'm really proud of Ryan and his work on this project which pulls together a number of skill sets that young musicians must now have to get started on a career."

Here is a link to his album "The Art of Self Defense" by Sly -  https://open.spotify.com/album/37OLXk2t2IyS7SV4sy7sxu?si=dRXcTVvQTDmjCqw6OFXNMQ   

 

Some images provided by social media ambassador, Armando Libier. 

 

Topics: Student Experience, Our Students, Our Faculty, Music Programs