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  • Sam Cusumano

    Join us for a virtual Arts-Engineering talk/performance/workshop with Sam Cusumano. Cusumano is an Engineer for the Arts living in Philadelphia working with students, artists, musicians, and curators to create educational interactive electronic devices and installations. As part of his creative practice, he has connected plants and fungi with synthesizers to make music. Biodata Sonification is the process of representing invisible changes in plants to create music. By detecting microcurrent fluctuations across the surface of a plant’s leaf, these changes are used to generate MIDI notes which can be played through a synthesizer or computer to create sound. In this virtual presentation Sam Cusumano will explain methods used to tap into the secret life of plants, showing how to translate data for making music, and discuss the implications of interpreting biodata. Audio examples of Biodata Sonification will be performed live using analog synthesizers, digital audio workstations, and synth apps along with a Snake Plant, large Monstera, and various Cacti.

    When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation.

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

    This event is being recorded for educational and archival purposes and it may be posted on our website. By participating in this presentation, you give permission for Monmouth University to record the presentation for University purposes. You understand that your name, likeness, voice and statements may be recorded. If you do not wish to be recorded, a recording of this presentation will later be available upon request, and you can contact Amanda Stojanov, Assistant Professor of Digital Media (astojano@monmouth.edu) with any questions you may have regarding the presentation.

  • Atlantics Virtual Panel Discussion

    Join us for a World Cinema Series zoom discussion illuminating the theme “Living on the Edge: Displacement, Identity, and Resilience” by analyzing the message and impact of the 2019 film, Atlantics.

    Atlantics (French: Atlantique) is a internationally co-produced supernatural romantic drama film directed by Mati Diop, in her feature directorial debut. It was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Diop made history when the film premiered at Cannes, becoming the first Black woman to direct a film featured in competition at the festival.

    The film is centered around a young woman, Ada, and her partner, Souleiman, struggling in the face of employment, class, migration, crime, family struggles, and ghosts. Working mostly with unknown actors, Diop focused in the film on issues such as the refugee crisis, remorse, loss, grief, class struggle, and taking responsibility (or not) of one’s actions. The Atlantic Ocean is used in many ways throughout the film, including as a symbol and engine for change, growth, life, and death.

    The discussion of the film will be led by Dr. Julius Adekunle, Professor in the department of History and Anthropology and Dr. Lisa Vetere, Associate Professor in the department of English.

    The film is available for streaming on Netflix.

    When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation.

    Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

  • Sin Nombre – Virtual Panel Discussion

    Join us for a World Cinema Series zoom discussion illuminating the theme “Living on the Edge: Displacement, Identity, and Resilience” by analyzing the message and impact of the 2009 film, Sin Nombre.

    Sin nombre (English: “Nameless”) is a Mexican-American adventure thriller film written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, about a Honduran girl trying to immigrate to the United States, and a boy caught up in the violence of gang life.

    The discussion of the film will be led by Dr. Manuel Chavez, Lecturer and Director of Philosophy program; Dr. Priscilla Gac-Artigas, Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature; and Chilean-American writer, playwright, actor, theater director and editor Gustavo Gac-Artigas.

    The film is available for streaming on a number of platforms including Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies and TV, or iTunes (for rent or purchase).

    When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation.

    This event is part of Hispanic American Heritage Month

  • Special Edition Tuesday Night Record Club: Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising

    During this special Thursday-night edition of Tuesday Night Record Club, host Ken Womack and guest Bob Santelli, GRAMMY Museum Founding Executive Director, and Monmouth ’73, mark the twentieth-anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that inspired one of Bruce’s most moving albums.

    When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom

     

  • Monmouth University Music & Arts Festival 2021

    Entering its 2nd year on the virtual stage, this year’s Monmouth University Music & Arts Festival will feature members of the Garden State Philharmonic performing music from Civil War era Marches through Ragtime, Dixieland, and Jazz featuring music by composers George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, C.W. Handy, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. The festival will also highlight selections and solos from The Monmouth University Chamber Choir, a performance by the Blue Hawk House Band and a special reading by former United States Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Tretheway. The festival will premiere at 7:00 PM on July 1st and be available to view through July 31st. To receive the streaming link for the festival you will need to register.

    The Monmouth University Music & Arts Festival is designed to provide Monmouth County communities and beyond, along with the students, faculty, and staff at Monmouth University, with the opportunity to enjoy a top-flight music and arts event each summer.

    In 2022, we are looking forward to presenting a robust program of offerings as the festival will host its inaugural in-person event. Our university is the year-round home for working musicians and artists, not to mention scores of students honing their talents as instrumental and theatrical performers, visual artists, and arts administrators. With the Music and Arts Festival becoming a yearly tradition, we hope to attract nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians and other fine artists to our campus. Not only will they supplement our students’ arts education, they will be on site each summer to provide visitors with opportunities to experience premiere concerts and exhibitions right here on the Shore.

    PROGRAM:

    The Garden State Philharmonic – Brass Quintet and Percussion
    STRIKE UP THE BAND!

    Strike up the Band  – George Gershwin, arr. Holcombe

    Signal March      – G.W.E. Friederich

    The Entertainer     – Scott Joplin arr. Arthur Frackenpohl

    High Society –     Cole Porter,  arr. Luther Henderson

    Beale Street Blues – C.W Handy, arr. Luther Henderson

    Sweet Georgia Brown – Ben Bernie & Maceo Pinkard,  arr. Luther Henderson

    It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing – Duke Ellington, arr. David Kosmyna

    Sousa Stars and Stripes –  John Philip Sousa – Holcombe

    The Monmouth University Chamber Choir

    Steal Away – American Spiritual, arr. Gwyneth Walker

    A Gershwin Jazz Trio – Words and music by Ira and George Gershwin, arr. Jay Althouse

    1. “Nice Work if you Can Get it.”
    2. “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
    3. “I Got Rhythm.”

    Seasons of Love – Words and music Jonathan Larson, arr. Steve Zegree
    Soloists:  Brynn Coy, Jordan Dilone, Tyler Oden, Kailey Rouse, David Wilderotter

    Vocal Solos by Members of the Monmouth University Chamber and Concert Choirs

    Shenandoah – American Folk Song, arr. Jay Althouse
    Brynn Coy – soprano

    Desperado – Eagles –
    Samantha Jordan, mezzo soprano

    She Used to Be Mine – from the Broadway musical “Waitress,” Sarah Barellies
    Rachel Wilson, soprano

    Wayfaring Stranger – American Spiritual, arr. Nick Garrett
    Nick Garrett, guitar and voice

    Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday
    Jenae Louis-Jacques, mezzo soprano

    Run Away with Me – Words and music Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk
    David Wilderotter, baritone

    Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
    Georgette Abinader, mezzo soprano

    Who I’d Be – from “Shrek the Musical,” Words and music David Lindsay- Abaire and Jeanine Tesori

    Mitchell Hendricks, baritone, Mia Heim, mezzo soprano Jordan Dilone, tenor

    Summertime – from the Opera “Porgy and Bess,” George Gershwin
    Jenae Louis-Jacques, mezzo soprano

    Somewhere Over a Rainbow – Words and music by Edgar Harburg and Harold Arlen, arr. Murray Cutter.
    Kristen Wilczewski, soprano

    Blue Hawk House Band
    Cover version of “Freedom,” composed by John Lomax, Jonny Coffer, Alan Lomax, Frank Tirado, Dean McIntosh, Kendrick Lamar, Carla Marie & Beyoncé

    Performance Groups:

    Garden State Philharmonic – Brass Quintet and Percussion:
    Diane Wittry – Music Director and Conductor
    Michael Baker (Trumpet 1), Olivia Pidi (Trumpet 2), Karl Kramer-Johansen (Horn), Roger Verdi (Trombone), Wes Krygsman (Tuba), Gregory Landes (Percussion), Michael Avagliano (Score Reader)
    For more information on the program and performers click here

    Monmouth University Chamber Choir:
    Dr. David Tripold, director,     Maggie Tripold, accompanist
    Georgette Abinader; Kendall Brighton; Brynn Coy; Jordan Dilone; Mia Heim; Mitchell Hendricks; Arina Martin; Erin McGinniss; Tyler Oden; Lindsay Ploskonka; Delaney Rivera; Kailey Rouse; Nicholas Sewell; David Wilderotter; Rachel Wilson

    Blue Hawk House Band
    George Wurzbach, Director
    Mani Kissling (vocals), Mark Rodriguez (Guitars/Keyboards,) Dee DiMeola (Drums), Max Adolf (Guitar), Michael Rabbits (Rap) Dillon Schindler (Keyboards) Sara Wojciehowski (Bass/producer), B. J. Biedebach (engineer)

     

  • The History of Simon & Garfunkel…Together and Apart

    Class Schedule: Thursdays – Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 16 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    The History of Simon & Garfunkel…Together and Apart – If you took the sweet harmonies of the Everly Brothers and matched them with the lyricism of Bob Dylan the result might be Simon & Garfunkel. Often considered the thinking person’s rock ‘n’ rollers they were also one of the most successful musical acts of the 1960’s.

    This three-session virtual course taught by Gary Wenstrup, uses  audio and visual content to trace the arc of Simon & Garfunkel’s career from their surprise teenybopper hit “Hey Schoolgirl” …to the folk-rock classic “Sound of Silence” to the ever popular “Mrs. Robinson” …to the majesty of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It will also cover their careers post-breakup with special attention paid to Paul’s world-wide smash “Graceland.”

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • Podcasting for Beginners

    Class Schedule: Thursdays – Oct. 21, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    In this three-session virtual course taught by Robert Rodriguez, students will learn how to produce a podcast from the planning stage to the final upload. From developing a concept to basic recording technology, post-production and finally launching onto Apple and Spotify the course will provide step-by-step instruction to producing your own podcast! No previous podcasting experience is required.

    Robert Rodriguez, host of the podcast Something About the Beatles podcast, is an award-winning author; penning or contributing to a dozen books. He’s written extensively about The Beatles: five books so far, including the latest Solo in the 70s and 2012’s acclaimed Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘N’ Roll. He’s also contributed numerous articles to Beatlefan magazine, and has been a regular interviewee on radio and TV about the group.

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • History of Philadelphia Soul

    Class Schedule: Thursdays – Sept. 9, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    This three-session virtual course taught by Kit O’Toole, traces the history of Philadelphia or “Philly” Soul, which greatly impacted not only the sound of 70s soul but the development of disco. Its lush string arrangements, horns, seductive vocals, and varied lyrical content added an element of sophistication to funk and soul, paving the way for disco and the 1990s neo-soul movement.

    The class will begin with influences such as Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production, Motown’s pop/soul gloss, and James Brown’s “on the one” funk. Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the chief architects of the Philly Soul sound, will be explored in depth, as their compositions and productions resulted in classics by the O’Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and Billy Paul. The duo would also form the Philadelphia International label, whose legendary house band MFSB helped craft the sound. Along the way, the sound helped create disco and influenced acts as diverse as David Bowie, Hall and Oates, and Jill Scott. In addition to multimedia presentations, group discussions will further enhance understanding of this greatly influential genre.

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • Tuesday Night Book Club: Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run

    Join us for Tuesday Night Book Club! Hosted by Monmouth University’s Ken Womack, each month we’ll explore a different novel. All you have to do is Zoom in and join the discussion!

    This month’s novel is Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run.

    In 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the Super Bowl’s halftime show. The experience was so exhilarating that Bruce decided to write about it. That’s how this extraordinary autobiography began. Over the past seven years, Bruce Springsteen has privately devoted himself to writing the story of his life, bringing to these pages the same honesty, humour and originality found in his songs.

    Born to Run will be revelatory for anyone who has ever enjoyed Bruce Springsteen, but this book is much more than a legendary rock star’s memoir. This is a book for workers and dreamers, parents and children, lovers and loners, artists, freaks or anyone who has ever wanted to be baptized in the holy river of rock and roll. Rarely has a performer told his own story with such force and sweep. Like many of his songs (‘Thunder Road’, ‘Badlands’, ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’, ‘The River’, ‘Born in the U.S.A.’, ‘The Rising’, and ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’, to name just a few), Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography is written with the lyricism of a singular songwriter and the wisdom of a man who has thought deeply about his experiences.

    We are still waiting for more information about whether we will be able to hold this event in person. However, we are also committed to continuing offering access virtually to Tuesday Night Book Club for all our new audiences! You can register now for Zoom access to the event. When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation. 


    Please stay tuned for more details about an in-person location for this event when more information becomes available. 

  • Tuesday Night Book Club: Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower

    Join us for Tuesday Night Book Club! Hosted by Monmouth University’s Ken Womack and Michael Thomas, each month we’ll explore a different novel. All you have to do is Zoom in and join the discussion!

    This month’s novel is Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower.

    This acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel of hope and terror from an award-winning author “pairs well with 1984 or The Handmaid’s Tale” and includes a foreword by N. K. Jemisin (John Green, New York Times).

    When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others’ emotions.

    Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.

    We are still waiting for more information about whether we will be able to hold this event in person. However, we are also committed to continuing offering access virtually to Tuesday Night Book Club for all our new audiences! You can register now for Zoom access to the event. When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation. 



    Please stay tuned for more details about an in-person location for this event when more information becomes available.