The Campus Artist and Lecture Series is a college committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff charged with enriching the cultural life of the college and the surrounding communities. CALS sponsors an annual performing artist series. Artists include professional dance companies, musicians, and off-Broadway performances.
CALS also sponsors a campus wide lecture grant program where both regional and national speakers are featured annually. The program is funded by the Mandatory Activity Fee, ASC Program Grant fund, the Cortland Fund, and the Cortland College Foundation.
Now presenting:
The Campus Artist and Lecture Series (CALS)
2008 - 2009 Season
Brazz Tree
NYC-based violin/guitar duo Brazz Tree continues to astound and endear audiences across the country with their new brand of music: New World Acoustic Rock (otherwise known as Music NWAR). Though it draws on traditional forms born in places as far-flung as Ireland and India, Music NWAR remains firmly rooted in the exuberant, questing ethos of the New World. The duo's musical vision is a fusing of guitarist Brad Hammond's folk-inspired, percussive riff-based guitar lines coupled with traditional folk and fiddle tunes underneath Mazz's conscious lyrics which are sung with soulful originality. Brazz Tree was created in 2004, released a debut album of original songs in November 2005, and began touring in early 2006. They were selected to perform at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, the 2006 NACA National Convention in Boston, 2005 NXNE Festival in Toronto, the Temecula Valley Film Festival, and the Dewey Beach Music Festival in Dewey, DE.
"A sublime, surprising, bristling and hearty stew of Irish lyricism, daredevil jazz aerobatics and punk rock moxie. . . both the elegance and the energy are off the chain." Greg Tate, Village Voice
Where: Corey Union Exhibition Lounge
When: Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 8:00 P.M.
$3.00 All Students
$5.00 General Admission
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a nationally acclaimed troupe with an international cast that combines the rich tradition of Chinese art with contemporary dance. The Company's production takes the audience on an extraordinary artistic journey to places beyond cultural boundaries where tradition meets innovation and freedom arises from discipline. Celebrating the diversity of ideas shaped by the immigrant experience, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company bridges the gap of understanding between East and West. The program offered here will be a mixture of selections from their The Dragon's Tale and Cross-Cultural Contemporary Dance programs. The Company has been awarded Citations of Excellence numerous times by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and received The Golden Lotus Award from the China Dance Association after participating in the First China International Dance Festival in Kunming, Yunan China. Since 1997, the Company has been a resident company at the Harlem School of the Arts and receives support from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. The Company also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
". . . choreographer Nai-Ni Chen has created a work that whispers as quietly as it shouts, alternately reaching out to audiences with symbolism and imagery that is by turns mysterious, subtle, and overt." Karyn D. Collins, Asbury Park Press
". . . like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy. . ." The New York Times
Where: Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre
When: Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7:00 P.M.
$5.00 SUNY Cortland Students
$8.00 Senior Citizens (65 and older)
$10.00 General Admission
Samite
A musician and composer from Uganda, Samite's music celebrates Ugandan culture; he sings in his native tongue of Luganda and performs on African instruments such as kalimba, marimba, litungu and flutes. The Samite trio merges traditional and contemporary music, resulting in a highly accessible fusion. Samite himself emigrated to the United States in 1987 and now makes his home in upstate New York. In 2001, he created and founded Musicians For World Harmony; a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the healing power of music to those who have suffered greatly elsewhere, and to those of us who could be uplifted by knowing that hope is alive everywhere in the world, even in the places we least expect it.
"The multiple rhythms are forceful but not domineering, and Samite's melodies ride over and through them to create a soothing, almost lullaby-like effect. It's modern African folk music. . . " Los Angeles Times
Where: Corey Union Function Room
When: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
$3.00 SUNY Cortland Students
$5.00 General Admission
ETA3
Named after a luminous and spectacular star-forming Nebula in our galaxy, ETA3 also happens to initialize the first letter of each musician's first name: American flautist Emily Thomas, Japanese pianist Tomoko Nakayama and Russian clarinetist Alexey Gorokholinsky. One of the newest chamber music groups coming out of New York City, ETA3 was formed at The Julliard School in Spring 2006 and strives to communicate the intellectual and emotional elements of life by broadening the audience's perspective through a varied range of repertoire. The Trio was recognized by Juilliard as one of the three prominent emerging chamber music groups of 2006.
"It was a truly captivating performance, musically, technically and artistically perfect, and thoroughly enjoyable. It is great to witness the great accomplishments of young, talented performers." Raymond Ocock, Record Argus
Where: Corey Union Exhibition Lounge
When: Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 2:00 P.M.
$3.00 SUNY Cortland Students
$5.00 General Admission
And for our students, CALS will be sponsoring two (2) bus trips to New York City this year to see Broadway shows. Please note that these trips are NOT open to the public.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
BOEING - BOEING
This comedy stars Christine Baranksi, Mark Rylance, and Bradley Whitford and took home two (2) Tony Awards this year (Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Rylance AND Best Revival of a Play). The original London production was a smash hit at the Apollo Theatre where it ran for seven (7) years and over 2,000 performances. It was filmed under the same title by Paramount starring Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis, and Thelma Ritter. In 1991, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world. Playwright Marc Camoletti is a French citizen.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
TBD -- Announcement will be made later in the Fall semester
Tickets for individual events may be purchased through the evening of the performance pending continued ticket availability.
For information about group ticket sales call the Campus Activities and Corey Union Office.
All ticket sales are final; there will be no refunds or exchanges on tickets. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Needs of patrons with mobility challenges are accommodated through special seating assignments.
For ticket information or questions regarding CALS events, please contact the Corey Union and Campus Activities Office at (607) 753-2321 or by e-mail.
