Halloween, Polonia and Chaplin
Nobody loves Halloween like Kathy Rumsey. Here’s a video tour of the fifth floor decorations and the office of the kindest witch on campus.
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Mark Polonia has produced 32 independent films over the past 25 years, most with his late brother John. They developed a loyal following around the country (See Happy Polonia Day). Mark talks about his campy classics in this episode of Conversations. There’s also a four-part podcast in which he talks in more depth about his avocation.
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Ken Sarch teamed up with Ben Franklin a couple years ago to arrange the restless genius’ music. Now Ken dons a derby and has composed a music score for a clip from Charlie Chaplin’s The Rink. His concert, including the MU String Chamber Orchestra debut performance of this music will be Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Steadman. It’s free and open to the public. I saw a sneak preview of the clip and the music and it’s brilliant. For complete information, click here.
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The first Steinway piano was dedicated Thursday, Oct. 22. The piano was bought by former trustee Marcella and MU Foundation Board member Marcella Hyde-Smith ‘56. For history, the first song played on the Steinway was the last movement of Beethoven’s “Appassionata Sonato (Op. 57)” played by student Tyler Wetherbee.
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MU grad and retired art teacher Paul Bozzo is teaching a drawing course at MU. His blog records student works as they’re created through the semester. Check out the site. There’s an amazing variety of drawing and techniques. Not to be missed: drawing done with shaving cream, ink and a toothpick.
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And, finally, a Halloween gift to the president’s house from an Alpha Kappa Lambda student.