The Redfern Arts Center started its 41st season with a kickoff event on September 8, featuring presentations from faculty across the campus arts departments.
Guests were greeted with an opening statement in the Alumni Recital Hall by Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova, artistic director of the Redfern.
To begin presentations, the 41st season trailer was played with footage of all the upcoming events coming to the Redfern this season.
“[The Redfern has had] 450 events, 500 rentals, 800 TAD events, 3,000 music events, and approximately 150,000 tickets sold,” Wright said.
Wright-Ivanova also mentioned that the Redfern is one piano away from making Keene an all-Steinway school. The college has been raising money for its All-Steinway campaign since 2018, aiming to get the school 20 new Steinway pianos by 2023.
So far, $600,000 has been raised for the final piano, Wright-Ivanova said, which will be for the Alumni Recital Hall.
To reach this goal, a Steinway Gala event will be held October 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Following, Film department chair, Dr. Jiwon Ahn came onto the stage and spoke about upcoming film events, such as a film festival scheduled for October 20.
Other music department faculty performed at the kickoff, including Dr. Evangelia Leontis and Dr. Seelan Manickam. Leontis performed Ashi Day’s “Open Your Mouth” and Florence Price’s “Hold Fast to Dreams”.
“[Both pieces] are by American female composers,” Leontis said. “20th century Florence Price and Ashli Day who is a current composer… they both [have] a really nice message.”
Previewing the upcoming Bala Brass performance, Manickam performed “Song for a Friend” composed by Kevin McKee. Balas Brass will perform at the Alumni Recital Hall on September 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Theater Department Chair Kirstin O’Brien announced the two major theater performances for the semester, “Life Sucks” and “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.”
“We [gave] an idea for people that are interested in the Redfern this season to just come and check out current students and what they’re doing,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien also announced that the spring musical “Fun Home” will have auditions in the Main Theatre December 1, with callbacks the following day.
As part of the announcement, senior Patrick Eckland performed a monologue from “Hell and Back,” which was put on this past spring as part of the senior capstone performances.
In addition to theater, dance’s choreography showcase auditions are set for Sept. 11 with the showcase being December 8 to 9.
To conclude presentations, Art Department Chair Jonathan Gitelson presented a short video previewing what the art department has to offer to students. He announced a barbecue event at the Thorne Art Gallery scheduled for September 22 at 4 p.m.
The Art & Design department is also planning trips to places such as New York, Boston, Brattleboro V.T., and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA).
For more information about upcoming Redfern Arts Center performances, visit keene.edu/arts/redfern.
Nicole Dumont can be contacted at
ndumont@kscequinox.com
