An evening of exceptional artists sums up the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Musica Viva!, which will be held Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. in the UW Oshkosh Arts and Communications Music Hall.
The fifth annual fundraising event invites guests to participate in an exquisite evening of contemporary and historic entertainment as talented faculty, staff, students, alumni—and this year, UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt—perform a broad range of instrumental, vocal, solo and ensemble compositions. The evening’s emcee is Chris Kuborn, host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s Jazz Odyssey.
“The event is always eclectic and outstanding,” said Sarah Flaschberger, a UW Oshkosh senior who is studying vocal performance and is singing at Musica Viva! “The money from the tickets and donations from the event go toward scholarships for music students (majors and minors).”
Musica Viva! begins with the opening reception featuring food, wines and other beverages selected by Professor Emeritus Jim Grine. The 9 p.m. afterglow reception with desserts and live music coincides with the closing of the evening’s silent auction – an array of items and special packages donated by area businesses.
Flaschberger is a classical singer; she is president of the UW Oshkosh Chamber Choir and of the student chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a member of the UW Oshkosh Opera Theatre. She also is the recipient of the Keith Richard Porter Scholarship, which helps fund her music education at UW Oshkosh. She said the scholarship monies help with her tuition and allow her to be involved with her program and other activities that relate to her area of study.
Assistant music professor and UW Oshkosh music program graduate Nathan Krueger also received the Keith Richard Porter Scholarship.
“As a high school student looking at colleges and universities, the scholarship I received from UW Oshkosh was very important in my decision. In fact, it sealed the deal. The world of music is so competitive; knowing that I was valued as a prospective student by the faculty and would receive some financial support made my decision easy,” Krueger said. “Now that I am on the faculty, it’s exciting to work with students who are in what used to be my place. It’s an honor to help students realize their musical and professional goals.”
Hannah DCamp, a freshman working toward a degree in piano performance at UW Oshkosh, describes the UW Oshkosh music program and its faculty as “amazing.” She said the access she has to top notch instruments—like the recently donated Mark A. Chapman Steinway Grand Piano, which will be formally dedicated at this year’s event—makes the program unique and favorable to students.
“The Chapman Steinway has been an amazing gift, which left us for quite long—speechless. We are grateful and deeply moved by the Chapman Steinway every single day when I come to welcome my students to their weekly lesson or seminars,” said Eli Kalman, associate piano professor at UW Oshkosh.
DCamp also is a scholarship recipient, making it possible for her to pursue her dream studying music.
“Many of my friends are worrying a lot about how they are going to pay for college and student loans and they have to juggle multiple jobs at once,” said DCamp, who earned a general music scholarship. “The scholarship I received to help with my education was a huge blessing.”
“The scholarship I was awarded—along with the professors—are the two main reasons I chose UW Oshkosh. We truly have amazing faculty here, world class to say the least,” she said. “Our faculty at UW Oshkosh truly have students’ best interest at heart, and they really know what motivates students to learn so they can point them in the right direction.”
Tickets to the April 11 Musica Viva! are $50, which includes concert tickets, hors d’oevres and entrance to the pre-concert reception. An additional $25 ticket includes the post-concert dessert buffet. Tickets are available online at uwosh.edu/go/viva or by calling the UW Oshkosh Music Department at (920) 424-4224 or musicaviva@uwosh.edu.
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