ts Culture
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
The Clackamas Print 5
Above: Alyssa
Smith sings
Above right:
Chris Taylor
slips into the
music.
Nathan Sturgess Clackamas Print
lotieff
itieff takes the lead during a jazz ensemble practice at Clackamas Community College.
?nse of camaraderie in Niemeyer 114 is “guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
face. 99 ”
Right: Wesley
Mason-Shaffer
focuses on his
sound.
’s own “Glee”
ly Erik Andersen
h-Editor-in-Chief
ike I have said before,
music is the heart and
psoul that drives the
ins of everyone on the
If you have ever seen the
[“Rent” or watched the
fGlee,” you might have
of the power a talented
[of individuals can pro-
iproperly placed vocally,
lone goes out to C lackamas
[unity College’s very own
[jazz ensemble, a collec-
iwhat could be Clackamas
B’s best. The harmonious
relationship this group has is
nothing short of outstanding.
• Each practice I attended
sounded more like a professional
performance, my very own con
cert that sent wave after wave of
solid vocal notes which actually
sounded more like a lyrical mar
ble wall without cracks. I like to
think I have a good ear for flaws
in music, both instrumentally
and vocally, but I could not for
the life of me find very many at
all in the positive, upbeat tones
of this ensemble.
This could be because the
instrumentals are performed
by none other than Known as
Anonymous, the band highlight
ed last week. Or maybe it’s
because this group of students
was bom with voices so perfect
that even without instrumentals
they sound flawless.
The truth is, although all of
the above is true, none of it
would be if it wasn’t for the
very animated and scholarly
instruction of Lonnie Cline, the
vocal jazz ensemble’s teacher
and mentor. Cline really gets
into the vibe by standing up
and composing with his hands,
facial expressions and body
movement.
As the band plays and the
group sings, it is hard - if not
impossible - to find a soul that
isn’t smiling.
“My favorite aspect is the
music and camaraderie, we real
ly are a family,” said Tiffany
Vess, who I must say has a very
exceptional voice when1 singing
the lead for several pieces.
I didn’t need Vess to tell me
that' the ensemble was like a
family; it couldn’t be more evi
dent with the vibes and comfort
everyone showed in that room.
This group of 17 singers and
four band members is the largest
single group I have ever had the
pleasure to watch perform. I can
honestly say now that I have, I
feel more complete than I did
before. You can find the group
in the Niemeyer Center in room
114. The vocal jazz ensemble
is guaranteed to put a smile on
your face ancj, lift your spirits
even if you’re in the worst of
moods.
Above: CCC vocal jazz ensemble meets for a jam session.
Below left: Erin Parra feels the moment.
Below right: Mishelle Wesselink practices for perfection.
- If you or someone you know
is in a band or performs any type
of music in Clackamas County
or at Clackamas Community
College, Erik would love to get
in touch with you. Feel free to e-
mail him at chiefed@clackamas.
edu.
FLU: Take a shot at ‘Flu Season,’ catch the
fever starting this weekend at Niemeyer Hall
Continued from Page 1
rathan Sturgess Clackamas Print
• Brandon McFarland.
h Katie Farrell (left)
Nly Robison (right).
Almost all the actors comment
ed on how much they liked the
emotional depth and complexity
of the play but also how challeng
ing it was to play a character that
they found difficult to relate to.
Emily Robison, who plays the part
of Woman, emphasized how dif
ficult it was to be a pregnant and
allegedly insane character when
she has never actually been either.
Justin McDaniels, who plays
the part of Man, also found it
challenging. “(Man is) a mean
person essentially, and I’m not
like that... so to try and learn that
through substitution. Taking how
I felt before and applying it to this
play has been (challenging).”
Making thematic connections
within the fabric of the play has
been an exciting process for many
of the students. One student in
particular, Katie Farrell, who plays
the part of Nurse, has had some
pretty dramatic eureka moments.
“When Katie makes a discov
ery, you can see it for miles ...
she’ll just be in the middle of a
line and go ‘Oh my God!”’ said
Gerber.
Along with the excitement of
the play comes darker themes, and
the emotional nature of the play is
taxing on the students. “There was
one part where it was just so deep
and so emotionally draining ...
and we were just like, ‘Let’s go get
some sushi,”’ said Farrell.
The heaviness of the play was
reflected in some of Gerber’s com
ments about the effects that loom
ing budget cuts may have on the
theater department. According to
Gerber, limited funds played a role
in how they chose the current play
as well. But Gerber expressed how
he’s used to the fact that theater
is often the first on the chopping
block.
“It’s forcing us to make sacri
fices and the toughest part is to try
and come up with what sacrifices
can we make that hurts the student
least,” said Gerber.
Even with the looming cuts to
funding, the theater department
has made a daring move to pro
duce a play that is as new as it is
irreverent to theatrical tradition.
The play promises to both enter
tain and challenge the actors and
the audience with its bold account
of the human condition.
The Flu Season
Ticket Pricing:
Adult: $10
Youth under 18: $8
Students: $8
Seniors: $8
Location:
Niemeyer Hall
Show Times:
Feb. 24 - March 6
Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 2:30 p.m.