Spring Break
'Salute' honors freedom
David Taintor
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: News
The annual "A Salute to the Big Bands" jazz concert was held in Zorn Arena on Sunday, featuring Jazz Ensembles I and II conducted by director of jazz studies Robert Baca.
The event's theme was "Let Freedom Ring." Both Jazz ensembles were positioned at opposite ends of the stage in front of a backdrop of a tremendous American flag, and alternated performances throughout the concert.
Senior Martha Seroogy coordinated the event and said the event is to honor Wisconsin military veterans.
"Because this year is an election year, we wanted to make it special," Seroogy said.
The concert is also a way to raise money for the jazz program at the university and in the community, she said.
Seroogy was involved in all aspects of the planning process of the event, from checking out the arena to working with community volunteers. She was most excited about the student performers and guest performers that were featured in the event.
"I think everything's going to be great," Seroogy said. "I think a lot of our featured artists are going to be great, and Nachito is going to bring the house down."
Two to Tango, a campus social dance club was asked to swing dance in the performance by Baca in order to get everyone excited about dancing and music, Carlos Villagran said, who is in charge of public relations for the group.
Kristine Gehlhar, president of Two to Tango, said the group was asked to perform during four songs - "Stardust," "Traffic Jam/Bugle Call Rag," "In the Mood" and "Sing Sing Sing." Everyone from small children to elderly couples could be seen dancing alongside the members of Two to Tango throughout the concert.
Both jazz ensembles kicked-off the event with the "Star Spangled Banner" as arranged by Stan Kenton. Baca greeted the crowd and announced that it would be a fun concert, an opportunity to clap along and chat with others during the performance.
He jokingly mentioned that the performance would be a battle between jazz ensembles I and II. It was unclear whom the audience favored, because both groups received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Among the guest performers in yesterday's event were internationally renowned pianist Nachito Hererra, the Bethesda Lutheran Church Bell Choir, UW-Eau Claire's Singing Statesman and several vocalists from the surrounding community.
George Day was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the concert. The award is dedicated to someone who was in the armed services and is from the Eau Claire music community, Baca said.
"Day expressed tremendous valor in his service in the war but also in Eau Claire," Baca said.
Sophomore Joe Tierney received a standing ovation for his tenor saxophone solo during "Georgia on My Mind." He fed off the energy from the crowd during his solo, he said.
"I think we played really well as a group," Tierney said. "It's all about what you see in the audience - the crowd is a big part of it."
The event's theme was "Let Freedom Ring." Both Jazz ensembles were positioned at opposite ends of the stage in front of a backdrop of a tremendous American flag, and alternated performances throughout the concert.
Senior Martha Seroogy coordinated the event and said the event is to honor Wisconsin military veterans.
"Because this year is an election year, we wanted to make it special," Seroogy said.
The concert is also a way to raise money for the jazz program at the university and in the community, she said.
Seroogy was involved in all aspects of the planning process of the event, from checking out the arena to working with community volunteers. She was most excited about the student performers and guest performers that were featured in the event.
"I think everything's going to be great," Seroogy said. "I think a lot of our featured artists are going to be great, and Nachito is going to bring the house down."
Two to Tango, a campus social dance club was asked to swing dance in the performance by Baca in order to get everyone excited about dancing and music, Carlos Villagran said, who is in charge of public relations for the group.
Kristine Gehlhar, president of Two to Tango, said the group was asked to perform during four songs - "Stardust," "Traffic Jam/Bugle Call Rag," "In the Mood" and "Sing Sing Sing." Everyone from small children to elderly couples could be seen dancing alongside the members of Two to Tango throughout the concert.
Both jazz ensembles kicked-off the event with the "Star Spangled Banner" as arranged by Stan Kenton. Baca greeted the crowd and announced that it would be a fun concert, an opportunity to clap along and chat with others during the performance.
He jokingly mentioned that the performance would be a battle between jazz ensembles I and II. It was unclear whom the audience favored, because both groups received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Among the guest performers in yesterday's event were internationally renowned pianist Nachito Hererra, the Bethesda Lutheran Church Bell Choir, UW-Eau Claire's Singing Statesman and several vocalists from the surrounding community.
George Day was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the concert. The award is dedicated to someone who was in the armed services and is from the Eau Claire music community, Baca said.
"Day expressed tremendous valor in his service in the war but also in Eau Claire," Baca said.
Sophomore Joe Tierney received a standing ovation for his tenor saxophone solo during "Georgia on My Mind." He fed off the energy from the crowd during his solo, he said.
"I think we played really well as a group," Tierney said. "It's all about what you see in the audience - the crowd is a big part of it."
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