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Brandenburg and Kessler to Present Joint Senior Recital
Released February 22, 2008
((Aberdeen, S.D.) Northern State University students, Darcy Brandenburg, Edgeley, N.D., and Lauren Kessler, Jamestown, N.D., will present a joint senior recital on Sun, Mar. 2, at 3 p.m. in the Berggren Recital Hall of Johnson Fine Arts Center.
Darcy Brandenburg is a 2004 graduate of Edgeley High School and is an instrumental and vocal music education major at NSU. He has participated in Collegiate Choir, Chamber Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Wolves, Percussion Ensemble, Aberdeen Civic/University orchestra, Concert Band and Jazz Band while at NSU. Upon graduation, Brandenburg plans to attend NDSU Graduate School for pharmacy. He is the son of Mike and Diana Brandenburg of Edgeley, N.D.
“I chose to attend Northern because the campus was just the right size, and not to mention, beautiful, the music professors are great, and it was close to home,” said Brandenburg.
Some of his proudest moments include winning the 2007 annual Concerto competition, the SDMTA Woodwind competition in 2005 and 2006, and placing second in the SDMTA Piano competition in 2005 and 2007. He also won the John Cavacas Composition competition and was a Bandmasters winner.
He has served as the president of the NSU chapters of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) and Sinfonia.
When asked to share his most enjoyable and memorable experience at NSU Brandenburg responded “To pick one most memorable would be very difficult. Some of my highlights include being chosen by my peers to serve on the Homecoming Court and meeting all the candidates. It was a great time. Also playing Ko-Ko in Northern’s production of “The Mikado” is probably one of the most enjoyable and frightful experiences of my life.”
Brandenburg studies clarinet with Dr. Alan LaFave and piano with Dr. Marcela Faflak. He will be performing “Ballade No.1 in G Minor Op. 23,” by Frederic Chopin on piano, and “Deuxieme sonate,” by Francois Devienne on clarinet. He will be accompanied by Dr. William Wieland.
Lauren Kessler, the daughter of Dale and Linda Kessler of Jamestown, N.D., is a 2003 graduate of Jamestown high school and is majoring in vocal and instrumental music education.
Kessler decided to attend Northern because she felt that Northern had very strong music and education departments. She was also attracted to the small class sizes which allowed for more personal attention which she feels is very important when studying music.
While attending NSU, Lauren has participated in Collegiate Choir, Chamber Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Marching Wolves, Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band. Upon graduating Kessler plans to teach vocal music at the high school level and eventually pursue graduate studies in choral conducting. She has also taught voice lessons at the Aberdeen Community School of Music, directed a children’s chorus through the Aberdeen Recreational and Cultural Center (ARCC), directed a church choir, and is a peer minister for Collegians in Christ’s Service (CICS). Performing the role of Pitti-Sing in the 2007 production of “The Mikado” is one of Kessler’s fondest memories of her time at NSU.
Kessler, a mezzo soprano, studies voice with Darci Bultema and piano with Dr. Marcela Faflak. She will be performing “Poem,” by Zdenko Fibich on piano and singing the song cycle entitled “Frauenliebe und Leben,” by Robert Schumann. She will be accompanied by Dr. Marcela Faflak.
The recital is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a premier residential institution characterized by outstanding instruction, extraordinary community relations, and unparalleled extracurricular opportunities. In August of 2007 NSU was named by US News and World Report as one of the best undergraduate public institutions in the Midwest. For more information about NSU, visit our Web site at www.northern.edu.
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