Senior composition major Wendell Leafstedt is serious and thoughtful, pausing often to think while articulating himself inquisitively with his hands. Curious and open, it is with this same reflective earnestness that Wendell approaches music. “The desire to make music comes from everything I encounter in daily life,” said Leafstedt. As an example, he gestured to…
Faculty shows high caliber talent at recital
On Friday, Jan. 25, four Conservatory faculty members collaborated for an excellent recital in Harper Hall. Lecturer of Music and soprano Esther Oh Zabrowski, Associate Professor of Music and oboist Nora Lewis, Assistant Professor of Music and horn player Ann Ellsworth and Assistant Professor of Music and pianist Andrew Crooks performed a variety of classical…
Literary Review “Educated: A Memoir”
I am normally not a big fan of memoirs, but Tara Westover’s story, “Educated,” reads so well it is hard to believe everything she is writing is true. Westover begins her story depicting her childhood in the mountains of Idaho. She familiarizes readers with the landscape: hills and mountains she and her brothers explore, the…
Easily Amused “In the Beginning there was Word”
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the role of the artist in the artistic process. My friend Aaron had to contend with this topic when an essay prompt asked him to argue for one of two apparently antithetical positions. One theory holds that art is a product of one or more human minds and…
Singers engage Lawrence audience
Junior Emily Austin performs in the Pusey Room. Photo by Taylor Blackson. On Saturday, Jan. 19, junior Emily Austin and senior Clover Austin-Muehleck gave a lovely, non-required vocal recital. They both sang throughout the evening, with Austin opening and closing the show. Each sang a variety of tunes in different styles and languages and I…
Faculty performs new music at recital
Instructor of Music and bassoonist Carl Rath gave a recital of new music in Harper Hall on Sunday, Jan. 20. Rath’s affable personality and stage presence showed immediately when he talked to the audience before the first piece and promised to give game score updates throughout his performance (which he did). He first performed “Low…
Lawrence alumna inspires during book reading
Lawrence alumna Madhuri Vijay ‘09 reads to a packed audience in Main Hall. Photo by Julia Balestri. Running in from another class, I burst into the Main Hall lecture room on Jan. 16 to find it packed with buzzing students and teachers. Madhuri Vijay ‘09 stood at the front of the room speaking with the…
Riepenhoff and the understated art gallery
John Riepenhoff, Milwaukee-based artist and gallery owner, talked to the Lawrence community on Jan. 15 in the Wriston auditorium. Riepenhoff, who was born and raised in Milwaukee, has a knack for starting non-traditional galleries and running art events. He attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his art has been displayed around the world. His passion for…
Professor debuts new script
Scott Crane and Aram Monisoff read “Boys Grown Tall.” Photo by Taylor Blackson. One aspect of Lawrence that I have always admired is how often our faculty members share their talents with us. As students, we sometimes forget that their job isn’t just teaching; they have projects and ideas they pour just as much…
Easily Amused “Moxie and talent at Open Mic Night”
On Saturday, Jan. 12, Open Mic Night took place in the Mead-Witter room at Warch Campus Center. The open mic, hosted by junior Daniel Green, was an after-hours event that attracted a sizeable audience. Green kicked things off himself at 10 p.m. with a short set of original music. After he performed a few songs…