2008 Woodie Awards
Sesquicentennial concert remembers history of arts in city
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News
President Kassing also said that it is important for the university to be involved with the community with programs such as this concert.
"It is one of the fundamental things that we ought to be doing," he said. "There is so much energy in this city, we need to be a part of it. This university belongs to the city."
Alumna Susie Wilson said she has been involved with the university in various functions over the years, and suggested that the concert was an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the university.
"I think it is marvelous to be here," Wilson said. "It is wonderful. San Jose State has done really well as a university."
Kassing said that the university's 150th anniversary is just a part of the exciting things that are occurring at SJSU.
"Tonight is just one more example that something special is happening at San Jose State in 2007," Kassing said. "And it is not just our anniversary."
The concert began with the world premier of Craig Bohmler's piece "Overture 1-5-0." Bohmler, who conducted the symphony for his work, is a former SJSU faculty member. He has written seven musicals and three operas in addition to other choral works.
Gwendolyn Mok, the coordinator of keyboard studies at SJSU, performed three pieces on the piano, accompanied by the symphony under the direction of George Cleve.
Two members of Opera San Jose performed in the concert. Sopranos Lori Decter and Sandra Rubalcava are also both SJSU alumna. Each sang two pieces accompanies by the symphony and then sang a number together.
Former faculty member David Rohrbaugh led the symphony during the opera portion of the program.
SJSU students Maryam Parto, Amie Jan, Cole Tutino, Szuying Huang and Greg Messa also joined the symphony for the concert.
The concluding number was from Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 3," chosen in honor of Ira F. Brilliant, the founder of the Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies who died last fall. Brilliant's wife and son were in the audience for the performance.
"It is one of the fundamental things that we ought to be doing," he said. "There is so much energy in this city, we need to be a part of it. This university belongs to the city."
Alumna Susie Wilson said she has been involved with the university in various functions over the years, and suggested that the concert was an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the university.
"I think it is marvelous to be here," Wilson said. "It is wonderful. San Jose State has done really well as a university."
Kassing said that the university's 150th anniversary is just a part of the exciting things that are occurring at SJSU.
"Tonight is just one more example that something special is happening at San Jose State in 2007," Kassing said. "And it is not just our anniversary."
The concert began with the world premier of Craig Bohmler's piece "Overture 1-5-0." Bohmler, who conducted the symphony for his work, is a former SJSU faculty member. He has written seven musicals and three operas in addition to other choral works.
Gwendolyn Mok, the coordinator of keyboard studies at SJSU, performed three pieces on the piano, accompanied by the symphony under the direction of George Cleve.
Two members of Opera San Jose performed in the concert. Sopranos Lori Decter and Sandra Rubalcava are also both SJSU alumna. Each sang two pieces accompanies by the symphony and then sang a number together.
Former faculty member David Rohrbaugh led the symphony during the opera portion of the program.
SJSU students Maryam Parto, Amie Jan, Cole Tutino, Szuying Huang and Greg Messa also joined the symphony for the concert.
The concluding number was from Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 3," chosen in honor of Ira F. Brilliant, the founder of the Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies who died last fall. Brilliant's wife and son were in the audience for the performance.
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