University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students and alumni will take the stage Nov. 10 at the Algoma Club in Oshkosh as part of the Oshkosh Scene newspaper’s Oshkosh Music Artist Series.
The music series will benefit K-12 music education in Oshkosh and will include five concerts spanning various musical genres tentatively planned between 2012 and 2014.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds from each concert will directly support students and teachers through lesson scholarships, the purchase of new instruments and supplies and other music program support,” said Justin Mitchell, editor for Oshkosh Scene. “The first concert will specifically benefit the school strings program.”
The performers for the Nov. 10 concert are UW Oshkosh seniors Jason Cable and Rebecca Ottman, the Arlington String Quartet and UWO alumnus Sean Lynch.
UWO music majors Cable and Ottman will perform a violin and piano duet of A Major by César Franck (movements III & IV) and No. 5 “Spring” by Ludwig van Beethoven (movement I).
The two students said they have never played a duet together but have performed a piano trio ensemble (piano, violin, cello) last year.
“Artistically, we have different voices, but when we play together, we compromise on a singular idea or image to convey through music,” Ottman said. “The opportunity to perform is an equally great motivator to learn new repertoire.”
Ottman has been playing piano since she was seven years old but said since she has started studying with UWO music faculty member, Professor Eli Kalman she has been “reborn” as a musician.
“He has given me the tools to apply abstract ideas and emotions into practical terms at the piano,” Ottman said.
Cable, violinist, UWO Symphony concert master and winner of the UWO Honors recital competition said both he and Ottman have been eagerly rehearsing and practicing.
“We started preparing it together at the beginning of the semester. We rehearse at least an hour a week, and have averaged about an hour of lesson time per week,” Cable said. “That doesn’t compare to the individual practice time.”
The Arlington String Quartet is made up of area educators, Charles Stephan (private cello teacher and faculty at Ripon College and UWO), Jordan King (orchestra director at South Park and Carl Traeger middle schools in Oshkosh), Ann Stephan (private violin/viola teacher in Oshkosh area) and Andy Hutchinson who gives private lessons at Hutchinson Music Studios.
“This event is a way to have the community come out and show support of the great music programs, have a great night out, listen to great music from local musicians and with the help of local businesses give the student musicians and the programs a financial boost to continue the music in Oshkosh,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson, who is a former UWO Symphony Orchestra stage manager, said the quartet will look to play fun and energetic songs.
“I wanted to pick music that we have fun playing and audiences can recognize and like listening to,” Hutchinson said.
Since forming in 1996, The Arlington String Quartet has traveled worldwide for performances including playing a 400-year-old cathedral in France and at a performing arts center near the ocean in Brisbane, Australia.
Vocalist and UW Oshkosh alumnus Lynch said he is excited to come back home to perform. Lynch is a second-year graduate student at the University of Iowa where he is pursuing a master’s in performance.
“This being more of a community-based event is gratifying for me because I am happy to see an event for classical music like this being supported by the community rather than just the university,” Lynch said. “It shows that there is an active interest in Oshkosh for this kind of music, and I am thrilled to perform for such a group.”
Advance tickets are $13 and can be purchased at Heid Music in Oshkosh (1750 West South Park Avenue), Manilla Resto (107 Algoma Blvd) and Apple Blossom Books (200 City Center). Tickets will also be available at the door for $18 on Nov. 10 beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets for children younger than 14 can be purchased at the door for $8. For additional ticket information, please email oshkoshscene@gmail.com or call (920) 410-6180.
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