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Tami Tango Trio performance Sept. 22 at SMSU
The Tami Tango Trio will be the guest artists in a two-day residency at Southwest Minnesota State University on Sept. 21 and 22.
The ensemble will speak with all Spanish classes, do a tango workshop with music majors and give a tango clinic with the SMSU Jazz Ensemble.
Their residency will culminate with a 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday in the Fine Arts Theatre on campus. The performance is free and open to the public. The SMSU Jazz Ensemble will also perform at the concert.
The Tami Tango Trio is led by flutist Eduardo Tami. He has seven albums to his name and has played at universities and conservatories across the globe. He created the Vicente Lopez Chamber Ensemble, which he directs today. Tami has performed all over the world, including Italy, Holland, Poland, Bolivia and the U.S.
The residency is sponsored by the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, and the music and Spanish programs.
SMO presents 'An All-American Celebration -- SMSU at 50'
The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra will present a concert, "An All-American Celebration -- SMSU at 50" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 in the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts at Marshall High School.
The event is part of the SMSU Homecoming weekend and 50th anniversary activities.
The concert will feature the music of:
• Aaron Copland, "Old American Songs," featuring Ryan Ross, 2017 Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Alumni Award winner and professional opera singer
• Robert Whitcomb, "Ear Abounding," music to poetry by Phil Dacey
• Peter Lothringer, "A New Time to Sing," choral fanfare on the poetry of Walt Whitman
• John Williams, featuring music from "Star Wars," "E.T." and others.
Also featured will be the SMSU Chorale, Dr. Stephen Kingsbury, conductor, and George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," Dr. John Ginocchio, conductor, with Dr. Daniel Rieppel, soloist.
Tickets are $15 at the door. Students with a school ID, and children, are free.
This event is funded, in part, by a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the state's general fund.
Banned Books Read-Out Sept. 26, 27
A "Banned Books Read-Out" will take place Sept. 26 and 27 at separate locations.
The Sept. 26 event begins at noon in the William Whipple Gallery in the SMSU McFarland Library.
The Sept. 27 event will be at the Marshall-Lyon County Library at 6:30 p.m.
The Banned Books Read-Out will feature several individuals reading from books that have been banned.
The events are sponsored by the SMSU McFarland Library and the Marshall-Lyon County Library, in conjunction with the SMSU Theatre Program.
Voss named Blue to Brown Connection coordinator
SMSU alumnus Scott Voss has been named the new Blue to Brown Connection Program coordinator and begins his duties on Sept. 18.
He moves over from Residential Life, where he was the assistant director.
Voss is an Adrian native who earned degrees in management and corporate finance in 2008. He earned his MBA this past July.
The Blue to Brown Program is a collaboration between SMSU and Minnesota West Community & Technical College. The program is designed to allow students the opportunity to start their college careers with Minnesota West courses, and complete their bachelor's degree with SMSU while living on the SMSU campus.
Students can directly enroll at Minnesota West to earn an eventual bachelor's degree awarded by SMSU. Students will transfer from Minnesota West to SMSU after successful completion of 24 credits in two to three semesters. The students will take Minnesota West coursework at SMSU, and live on the SMSU campus.
The program started this semester and is an opportunity for students who do not initially qualify for admission to SMSU to enroll at Minnesota West to gain sufficient academic standing to qualify for acceptance at SMSU.
"This is an exciting opportunity to build on a new initiative," he said. "It's a good opportunity to help the students get on the right path early in their academic journey."
Voss said he has had three family members attend Minnesota West and likes the opportunities the Blue to Brown Program offers.
"It's a great new program, and I look forward to assisting students who want to take advantage of the Blue to Brown program," he said.
A multitude of events planned for 50th Homecoming at SMSU
A special 50th anniversary Homecoming at Southwest Minnesota State University will take place next week, with a theme of "Forever Brown & Gold."
A number of events are planned throughout the week, starting on Monday with Founders Day. A Mustang family photo will be taken at 12:30 p.m. on the Alumni Plaza, to be followed by a cupcake reception and the 50th anniversary charter signing. The charter will be available for signing throughout the week at the Student Center Information Desk.
Many student-centered events are during the week, including the Chartwells Stampede Feed on Sept. 25; Candidate's Night, featuring hypnotist Chris Jones on Sept. 26; Mustangs Got Talent on Sept. 27; and coronation and Take 2 Improv on Sept. 28.
The SMSU Planetarium has two shows planned, a music laser light show on Sept. 29, and a planetarium star show on Sept. 30.
The Alumni Awards luncheon will be noon Sept. 29. This year's honorees are: Ryan Ross, '08, GOLD Award, professional freelance opera singer; Emily Deaver, Honorary Lifetime Member Award, Environmental Science Professor; Craig Porter, '79, Alumni Achievement Award, owner of PlastiCert, a maker of specialty plastic mold components in Lewiston; Curtis Weber, '80, Alumni Achievement Award, owner of Midwest Machinery (a group of John Deere dealerships), Glenwood; and Sheila Anderson, '95, Alumni Achievement Award, Chief Financial Officer for Daktronics, Brookings, S.D.
The annual University Gala will take place on Sept. 29. Over $800,000 in student scholarships has been raised to date at this event, and organizers are hoping to exceed the record of 350 attendees this year.
There will be many athletic events on Homecoming weekend. The Mustang volleyball team, ranked No. 1 in the country, will host St. Cloud State on Sept. 29, and Minnesota-Duluth on Sept. 30. The football Homecoming game begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 30 against the University of Sioux Falls.
The Lions Club pancake feed will kick off Homecoming Day on Sept. 30. The Veterans Club will host the Legacy Homecoming Run at 8 a.m. that morning, with registration at 7:30 a.m.
The annual Homecoming parade will run its usual route down Main Street starting at 11 a.m. on Sept. 30. The Women's Tea will be at 1 p.m.
The All-Southwest Reunion will be from 6-10 p.m. at the Red Baron Arena, across Highway 23 from the university, near Marshall High School, on Sept. 30. Alumni, those who attended the university, friends of the university, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend this event and connect with old friends. The Alumni Office continues to receive confirmations of individuals and groups who will be attending this event. Free taxi service will be offered attendees.
An Alumni Brunch will be Sunday, Oct. 1.
Rounding out the weekend will be the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra concert at 2 p.m., "An All-American Celebration -- SMSU at 50," featuring alumnus Ryan Ross, a professional opera singer living in Wales. The concert features the music of Aaron Copland, Robert Whitcomb, Peter Lothringer and John Williams. Also featured will be the SMSU Chorale.
Tours of the university will be offered to those who wish to see firsthand the many changes to the campus layout over the years. Tours will be available on Sept. 29 and 30.
A complete list of events:
Monday
12:30 p.m.
Founders Day celebration
All University photo and birthday cake
Alumni Plaza
3 p.m.
Learn how to play cricket, Central Field
5-7 p.m.
Stampede Feed, sponsored by Chartwells, Alumni Plaza
Tuesday
Queen and King voting opens
3:30 p.m.
RHA Olympics, Central Field
9 p.m.
Candidates Night; Hypnotist Chris Jones, PE Gym
Wednesday, Sept. 27
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mustangs Got Talent! (Tryouts)
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
7 p.m.
Mustangs Got Talent!
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
Thursday, Sept. 28
9 a.m.-noon
Residence hall spirit decorating judging
Office and door decorating judging
5-7 p.m.
VIP night at the Campus Book Store
Student Center Book Store
7 p.m.
Coronation
Conference Center Lower Ballroom
8:30 p.m.
Take 2 Improv
Black Box Theater
Friday, Sept. 29
Brown and Gold Spirit Day
9 a.m.
Foundation Board meeting
Conference Center Lower Ballroom
10 a.m.
Mustang Mentorship program social
Civic Engagement Office
noon
Alumni Awards luncheon
Conference Center Upper Ballroom
2:30 p.m.
Alumni Board meeting
Student Center
3 p.m.
University tours
Founders Hall lobby
6 p.m.
University Gala
R/A Facility
6 p.m.
SMSU Volleyball vs. St. Cloud State University
PE Gym
8 p.m.
Planetarium music laser light Show
SM 108
Saturday, Sept. 30
Homecoming Day!
7-10:30 a.m.
Lions Club pancake feed
Fire Hall
Legacy Homecoming Run 5K/10K
7:30 a.m. Registration
8 a.m. Race begins
Sponsored by the Veterans Club
Social Science parking lot
10 a.m.
Parade line-up
Lyon/Jewett streets checkpoint
10:45 a.m.
Alumni Parade hospitality tent featuring breakfast paninos
Memorial Park, Corner of Main Street and E. College Dr.
11 a.m.
Homecoming parade
Lyon Street to Main Street to 5th Street
1 p.m.
Residence Life Hospitality Room opens
Upper Conference Center
Sponsored by PlastiCert
1 p.m.
Women's tea
Sponsored by the SMSU Feminists Club & Women's Studies Faculty Committee
Student Center -- Women's Center Lobby
2 p.m.
Star show -- Discover the Stars
SMSU Planetarium -- SM 108
2 p.m.
SMSU Volleyball vs. Minnesota Duluth
PE Gym
2:30 p.m.
University tours
Founders Hall
3-5 p.m.
Homecoming tailgate
Family Fun Fest
Food, beverage barden & entertainment
RA parking lot
5 p.m.
SMSU Football vs. University of Sioux Falls
The Schwan Regional Event Center
6-10 p.m.
All-Southwest Reunion
Red Baron Arena
Sunday, Oct. 1
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Alumni brunch
Campus Restaurant
10:30 a.m.
University tours
Founders Hall
2 p.m.
Southwest Minnesota Orchestra concert featuring Ryan Hugh Ross '08
Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts (Marshall High School).