High School Students Invited to 'Pursue Their Passion' with AU Music & Theatre

Ashland University Departments of Music and Theatre invite high school students to 'Pursue Their Passion' at an experiential opportunity on Saturday, November 11 beginning at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to any high school student interested in learning more about music and/or theatre at Ashland University.

Registration is due by Friday, November 3 with limited spaces available. Participants can register online at www.ashland.edu/PursueYourPassion.

At 'Pursue Your Passion,' high school students will spend an afternoon and evening with the faculty and students from the Music and Theatre Departments. Participants will explore music and/or theatre through breakout sessions led by Ashland faculty; attend a live stage performance of Euripides' classic Greek drama The Trojan Women; as well as socialize and dine with current students at AU's award-winning dining facility. Visitors can also have the total AU experience with an overnight stay in a residence hall.

Attendees can elect to participate in two of the following sessions led by AU music and theatre faculty including:

• AU Marching Band Performance: Enjoy the halftime show by the AU Marching Eagles at Jack Miller Stadium during the home football game against Saginaw Valley.
• How Does Blues Work? The twelve-bar blues or “blues progression” is one of the most common chord progressions in popular music. Come harness the blues as it applies to other musical genres! Bring your instrument or voice, or have a seat at one of our many pianos and we will consider the basic concept of the blues, and then play and improvise together. Any level of musicianship is welcome!
• PANIC - Auditioning and Interviewing for University Theatre Programs: So you want to major or minor in Theatre and the school wants you to prepare an audition or interview. In this workshop, we will explore what makes a great audition and interview; what materials need to be collected and prepared; and how to craft a professional theatrical resume. If you have a memorized monologue, we can coach you on making it stronger. 
• Act Before You Think: The Values of A First Rate Actor: Maybe your parents taught you to think before you act? Now, let’s act before we think! Explore the inspiring values of a first rate actor that give the beginning thespian a solid base from which to grow and develop his or her talent. These values will come alive through the experience of group exercises and simple scene work. 

For more information about the 'Pursue Your Passion' event, contact Dr. Teresa Durbin-Ames at tdurbin@ashland.edu or 419.289.5821.

Turkish Musician Presents as 2016 Gretchen French Visiting Artist

Turkish singer, composer and scholar Latif Bolat has been selected for the 2016 Gretchen French Visiting Artist Series in Music at Ashland University. Bolat will visit Ashland University on October 31 and November 1 to present two workshops and a concert. All of the events are free and open to the public.

The first workshop titled "1000 Years of Eastern and Western Music Journeys" is scheduled for Monday, October 31 at 2 p.m. in Room 303 of the Center for the Arts. The second workshop will focus on the religion of Islam and will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at 1:40 p.m. in the Schar College of Education's Ronk Lecture Hall. 

On October 31 at 7:30 p.m., Bolat will perform a concert titled "The Healing Sounds of Turkey:  A Night of Turkish Mystic Sufi Music, Poetry and Images." Specializing in the ancient Turkish mystic-devotional music genre, Bolat provides a unique philosophy and approach to the performance of traditional music. By creating an intimate, almost "storytelling" atmosphere, he explains Turkish folk and mystic music and its sociopolitical and cultural elements. The performance both entertains and invites the audience to ponder questions such as how major sociopolitical factors influence culture and the art it produces.

As an important part of the performance, Turkish devotional poetry from the 13th century mystics Rumi and Yunus Emre as well as later Turkish mystic poets are also sprinkled throughout the program. Also, slides are used to create a complete experience by providing scenes of the Turkish countryside, cities, artwork, architecture, and people. This provides a deeper understanding of the culture by combining the musical presentation with images of its origin.

Latif Bolat, one of the most renowned Turkish musicians in North America, is a native of the Turkish Mediterranean town of Mersin. After receiving his degree in folklore and music at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, he taught traditional music throughout the country. He then went on to manage Ankara Halk Tiyatrosu, a musical theater company, which performed traditional musical plays. Mr. Bolat also received additional degrees in Turkish History and Middle East Religion and Politics from Ankara University and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

Now residing in the United States, Bolat is one of the most distinguished Turkish musicians in this country. With a vast repertory that includes songs in classical, folk and Sufi mystic music styles, he accompanies his singing on the baglama (long-necked lute), and various other traditional instruments from the Turkish folk music tradition. 

The Gretchen French Endowed Visiting Artist Series at Ashland University was established through a bequest from the estate of Gretchen French.  Although Ms. French never attended Ashland University, it was through close friends and alums, Phillip (‘53) and Jean (‘55) Lersch, that she decided Ashland was well suited to demonstrate in perpetuity her values and hopes for young people.  Her entire life was dedicated to people, placing others' needs before her's by unselfishly serving them, in particular her family and many, many young musicians. This is a fitting tribute to her and will be a continual reminder of her love not only of music but most importantly people.

The goal of the Series is to provide Ashland University students close contact and mentoring with an outstanding visiting musician/music teacher. The particular field of expertise for the Series will vary from year to year. It is a goal of the Series to find Visiting Artists that have the widest possible expertise and appeal to students in various areas of music study.