Student Musicians Wow Crowd

An audience of more than 300 community leaders enjoyed the talents of more than 20 Ohio State students and faculty from the School of Music at last week’s Columbus Council on World Affairs awards luncheon at the convention center. Ohio State was recognized at the event as the International Organization of the Year; President E. Gordon Gee accepted the award and was keynote speaker. A student jazz combo (left) played cool jazz tunes as people registered and networked in a reception area. Percussion students (above) – led by Susan Powell and Joe Krygier (Music) – provided upbeat entertainment on stage during the event, as did 11 opera singers (below) – directed by Peter Kozma and accompanied by Edward Bak – who belted out the finale from the Marriage of Figaro.

The OSU Urban Arts Space and its February 2008 grand opening event (below) and opening exhibition, Midnight Robbers: The Artists of Notting Hill Carnival (co-curated by Lesley Ferris, Theatre) were honored last week with the Artistic Excellence award by the Greater Columbus Arts Council. The $10,000 prize is given annually to an arts organization that has demonstrated innovation, risk and artistic excellence. Several of the other nominees have close ties to Ohio State too – including the Columbus Museum of Art, led by alumna Nannette Maciejunes (Art History), and its Objects of Wonder exhibition, curated by alumna Melissa Wolfe (Art History), and the Columbus Dance Theater, headed by Dance alum Tim Veach.

Twenty school teachers from central Ohio public schools – including Metro High School, Linden-McKinley High School and its feeder schools, and Reynoldsburg City Schools – have been chosen as the first participants in the Ohio State / Royal Shakespeare Company Partnership. They include 11 high school, 2 middle school and 7 elementary school teachers. Starting this summer, the group will work with RSC actors and educators and OSU faculty in an intensive teacher education program based upon the Stand Up for Shakespeare experiential learning program. Plans are also underway for a one-day workshop next fall for teachers from a wider range of schools.

Speaking of the Royal Shakespeare Company, you can catch its production of King Lear, starring Sir Ian McKellen, on WOSU TV/HD at 8 pm March 25 and on WOSU PLUS digital channel at 8 pm March 26. The 3-hour show is presented by Great Performances.

There’s never a shortage of arts events on campus. . . but the area around campus is ripe with live music and arts events too. One newcomer to the university area is Wild Goose Creative, an organization committed to “creativity, hospitality, education and community.” Formed by six friends who went to college together in Michigan – including Nick Dekker and Jessie Boettcher (Theatre) and alum Beth Dekker – the group recently moved into space at Summit and Hudson Streets. Wild Goose Creative hosts a Third Thursday group – where an artist is invited to share his or her work – as well as a painters’ and writers' groups, a Shakespeare group and more.

Voting has begun in the Music Video Challenge sponsored by the Ohio Film Office. You can give your opinion by logging on the YouTube site and casting your vote.