Bakersfield College will offer a variety of fine arts and musical events through the end of the year.
On Sunday, “The Winds of Fall,” presented by the BC Wind Ensemble, and directed by Robert Martinez, director of instrumental music, will showcase selections from John Williams, Jean Sibelius, Henry Fillmore and other composers and artists that are programmed to “usher in the fall,” he said. “It is fun music, it is spritely, with some traditional concert band music, and some newer things.”
“The Kern County Young Artists Concerto Competition” will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. at the BC Recital Hall. The competition “will be fierce,” said Martinez, “because the choices of selections are of symphonic orchestra concerto repertoire. “Competition is open to young solo artists, including vocalists of ages ranging from middle school through college,” said Martinez. Three cash awards will be given with the first place award including the opportunity to perform a concerto with the BC Orchestra on March 23, 2003. For information and applications, contact Martinez at 395-4546.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., the Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble will present The Small Groups. It will be held on campus in the Fine Arts 30 auditorium. Jim Scully, in charge of the jazz group, could not be reached for comment. Tickets will be $4/general admission, $2/students and seniors.
The BC Jazz Ensemble will again perform on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Indoor Theater on the BC campus. Tickets are $5/general admission, $3/students and seniors.
“A Christmas in Kern” will be December’s major musical event, held at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield. Billed as “our Christmas card from BC to the community,” Martinez said that this is a family concert, a Boston Pops-style of Christmas concert, with the BC Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra. It will even have the BC Deaf Club Sign Choir, as well as an appearance by Santa Claus.
Guest artists, according to Martinez, will be Ginger De Paris of France, a singer and dancer who currently resides in Los Angeles, who will perform various songs.
Jazz guitarist/composer, Hirth Martinez, a recording artist from Los Angeles and Japan, will be premiering a new Christmas song, which he hopes to record for next year’s Christmas market. All proceeds from the concert will go to a scholarship fund for BC student musicians.
At the BC Indoor Theater Nov. 14 through 23, students will present “Student Originals.” Kim Chin, professor of theater arts, said she developed the concept of the student original works “to give the students a chance to shine and the opportunity for hands-on work which is vital to their growth. “They write, direct and act in their own work.”
Andrew Hupp, a theater student, said, “All shows are pretty absurd, calling the production, ‘the Absurdist Theater.’ ” The production, open to everyone, is a collection of three student originals and one bonus feature written by playwright David Ives. For information and tickets, contact the BC Ticket Office at 395-4326.
On Dec. 2 and 3, the semi-annual ceramics sale will be held in the Fireside Room in the Campus Center. Marlene Tatsuno, art professor and a teacher for 29 years, is in charge of the student art sale. A fund-raiser, the event sells a collection of students’ art objects, vases, bowls, and cups including some alumni work.
“Proceeds from the sale,” according to Tatsuno, “all goes to benefit the students with 75 percent going back to the students and 25 percent going to either the ceramics or glass studios to buy the needed supplies to keep them going.”
Another fund-raising event of the holiday season will be the European Tour Auction and Dinner, put on by the BC Chorale and Chamber Singers on Nov. 21.
This event is a major fund-raiser for the BC Chorale, said Brenda Davidson, professor of music. This will be the world premiere of Eric Whitacre’s work. Whitacre, a young composer and conductor, as well as a Grammy nominee, is premiering a new genre.
Davidson explains that the genre will be an “opera electronica” or “a taking of the components of electrical music and marrying it to opera,” Davidson said. “In music they call it a seminal work, the seed of a whole new idea.”
Whitacre personally invited the chorale after they had premiered several of his works, according to Davidson.
“He was enthused by their musicality, their musicianship, and their enthusiasm. He has just opened up this special opportunity for the students and for Bakersfield College.”
Davidson said the auction is a first, and is expected to be the biggest fund-raising event for the tour. She said her goal is $50,000. The auction will be live, but part of it will be silent.
For the approximately 52 people going, the tour will cost each student about $3,000. Davidson’s goal is to fund at least half of the cost with the proceeds from the auction. Donated items include antiques, computers, massage therapy sessions and theater tickets, she said. The catered dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and include the auction, which will be from 7 to 9 p.m. The price will be $2 for the auction. The cost of the catered dinner will depend on what menu is selected. Wine tasting, which will be a separate event from the dinner/auction, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Plan on a “dressy” event with everyone invited.
Another chorale and chamber singers event will be Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3200 Gosford Road. Tickets will be $10/general admission, $5/students and seniors. For information and ticket sales, contact 395-4326.