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February IAS Features Bobby McFerrin, LEGO, and More

February brings more than just Valentine’s Day this year, with a medley of arts events across the state. This month’s edition features:

•                    Charles Swanson, Executive Director of Hancher, filling us in on the upcoming Bobby McFerrin concert and their plans to move into their new performing arts center.          

•                    Tim Schiffer, Executive Director of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, providing the inside scoop on several exhibits coming to the museum this month.

•                    Cedar Rapids Beethoven Club Member Alice Hoffmeier diving into Iowa’s rich performing arts history.

•                     The 2014 Midwest International Piano Competition junior division winner MayukiMiyashita talking about her contest experiences and performing a work.

•                     Patti Cotter, Iowa State Center Development and Sponsorship Manager and Sara Compton, Outreach Coordinator sharing details about the upcoming Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra concert at the Iowa State Center in Ames.

•                    And More!
 

Hancher marks the end of their post-flood journey by closing out their 2015-16 season with the phenomenal 10-time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin. McFerrin will be joined by local musicians Damani Phillips (saxophone), Rich Wagor (bass), Ed East (percussion), and members of Iowa City’s Zion Lutheran Choir. Executive Director Charles Swanson fills us in on McFerrin’s concert and Hancher’s plans to move into their new performing arts center post flood of 2008.

Mississippi River Views and The Art of Architecture: LEGO® Sculptures come to Davenport’s Figge Art Museum in February. The River Views exhibit is on loan from the Muscatine Art Center, and the sculptures were created by LEGO®-certified architect-in-training, Adam Reed Tucker. Executive Director, Tim Schiffer provides details about the exhibits.

Alice Hoffmeier, a member of the Beethoven Club in Cedar Rapids, recently was assigned the task of researching all the famous musicians who have performed across the state. She presents her unbelievable list of stars to us.

The University of Northern Iowa’s Midwest International Piano Competition hosted their first festival in 2014. 15 pianists competed in the junior division and 20 were admitted in the senior division. The Second Annual festival will be held this June. Last fall, the 2014 junior division first place winner Mayuki Miyashita came to IPR’s Studio One to chat and perform for us.

For over 45 years the Iowa State Center in Ames has presented world-class orchestras in concert. On March 1st the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra under artistic director and conductor Ernest Van Tiel will present an all-Beethoven concert featuring Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Egmont Overture. Guest piano soloist Marcin Koziah will also perform Beethoven’s magnificent Emperor Concerto. The Iowa State Center’s Development and Sponsorship Manager Patti Cotter and the Center’s Outreach Coordinator Sara Compton share details about this amazing concert and Iowa State Center’s long orchestral tradition.

alicehoffmeierbackgroundandinterestinmusic.mp3
Alice Hoffmeier talks about her background and interest in music.

Jacqueline Halbloom is a Sr. Music Producer and Classical Music Host