Kyle Virden
Staff writer
The Musical Art Series has been presenting the musical arts to the Durant community since 1973. This is the 40th season of MAS, and the festivities this year will include eight ensembles and soloists.
On Sept. 19, the MAS presented Jay-B and the Zydeco posse on the front lawn of Morrison Hall.
According to the MAS website, the music of Jay-B and the Zydeco posse was a blend of Creole, hip-hop, soul and reggae with a blues influence.
The accordion is the main instrument accompanied by a rub-board. Other instruments include guitars, bass and drums.
MAS offered catered Cajun food for purchase at the event, and approximately 150 people attended, according to MAS Director Dr. Jeri Walker.
Dr. James Wintle, who recently retired, founded MAS, and Walker took over during the 2011-12 academic year. “Our main objective is music education,” said Walker.
Walker also said she looked for a wide diversity in selecting groups to play in MAS.
Upcoming events include the Heinavanker ensemble on Oct. 8. Heinavanker is vocal ensemble from Estonia, and their selections include Estonian folk hymns, ancient runic songs and early sacred music.
The American Brass Quintet will perform on Oct. 24. The ABQ are internationally recognized as one of the premier chamber ensembles in the brass realm. The ABQ perform music of a variety of genres and musical eras from the 1500s to the present.
The Kithara Duo will perform on Nov. 21. They are a guitar duo that has performed across the U.S. and in Europe and South America. Centered in Fort Worth Texas, the duo organizes workshops and other learning opportunities for musicians.
Rocco Parisi and Muarizio Barboro will perform on Jan. 28, 2014. Parisi was born in San Pietro a Maida, Italy. He is currently professor of clarinet and bass clarinet at the conservatory Antonio Vivaldi in Alessandria.
Barboro is on the faculty of the Paganini Conservatory in Genoa and an educator at the International Summer Course in Bergolo.
TorQ, “a Canadian percussion quartet” will perform on Feb. 25, 2014. TorQ has performed across Canada and in many collaborative events, as well as performing at over 70 different schools a year.
Dimitris Saroglou, “a Pianist and Composer” will perform on April 8, 2014. Saroglou is from Athens, Greece, and graduated with honors in piano and chamber music from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and currently teaches piano at the Conservatoire G. Bizet in Paris and at the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth in Belgium.
The Fifth House Ensemble will perform from April 23-25, 2014. The Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble is a versatile chamber of music that engages audiences through their connective programming and unexpected performance venues.
FHE develops young audiences through curriculum-integrated interactive concerts and residencies for students grades K-12. FHE is Ensemble in Residence at Carthage College and members of FHE are active as orchestral musicians.
Upcoming events will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.