University of Minnesota, Crookston News

Cantus to Tour Greater Minnesota as Classical Minnesota Public Radio's Artists-in-Residence

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:53:25 -0600

Renowned vocal ensemble to perform a concert in

Crookston on Thursday, March 31

Cantus will tour Greater Minnesota as part of Classical MPR's Artists-In-Residence program. The group will perform at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on March 31.

The second-ever Artists-In-Residence for Classical MPR, Cantus is "the premier men's vocal ensemble in the United States," (Fanfare magazine). As part of their tour of Minnesota, Cantus will also give a series of master classes at high schools and colleges around the state.

Cantus and Classical MPR are also creating a special project called Sonic Architecture--an online, sound-based exploration of Minnesota. The project has already accompanied Cantus to capture the majestic performances inside the limestone bluffs of St. Paul and documented the group's concert in the depths of the Soudan Mine in Minnesota's Iron Range. More information about this can be found at classicalmpr.org/air.

More about Cantus
The members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, working without a conductor or music director. Committed to a cappella presentation of significant music, including newly commissioned work, their artistic excellence and programmatic accessibility have made them audience favorites in their Twin Cities home and in concerts around the world.

More about Classical MPR's Artists-In-Residence program
Now in its second year, Classical MPR's Artists-In-Residence is a year-long commitment to bring outstanding artists to both Minnesota audiences via Greater Minnesota concerts, and to a national audience via American Public Media's "Performance Today." The residency is also marked by a strong educational component, where the artists set out to share their musical expertise with Minnesota high school and college students. The acclaimed Parker Quartet was the first-ever Classical MPR's Artists-In-Residence during the 2009-2010 concert season.

The Cantus Artists-In-Residence is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Crookston: Thursday, March 31
7:30 p.m.
Kiehle Auditorium
2900 University Ave
Crookston, MN
Tickets: $15; $8 for students; $5 for children (12 and under). MPR members receive a discount. For tickets, call 218-281-8266.
Reception: There will be a reception following the concert performance.

Tune In: Classical MPR is heard throughout Minnesota, including in Crookston on 91.5 FM and streaming online at classicalmpr.org.

Minnesota Public Radio® (MPR) operates a 40-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Reaching 900,000 listeners each week, Minnesota Public Radio produces programming for radio, Internet and face-to-face audiences, and is home to the largest and most experienced radio newsroom in the Upper Midwest. Programs produced by Minnesota Public Radio's parent company, American Public Media™, reach 16 million listeners on nearly 800 radio stations nationwide each week. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be found at www.minnesotapublicradio.org.

Reach for the Sky Program (Nearly) Goes to Outer Space; Balloon launch on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, preparations begin at 8 a.m.

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:43:11 -0600

Fifty 4th through 8th grade students from the summer's "Reach for the Sky" Science and Math Academy on the White Earth Indian Reservation will go where few have gone before, without space suits and years of training. They will launch science experiments to the edge of outer space ("near-space" - the upper reaches of the atmosphere, above 80,000 ft) with 30 or more experiments that the students will build, to test science theories and to apply hands-on science and math to their world. On-board cameras will document the view from so high in the atmosphere that the sky is black even in the daytime, and the curve of the Earth is visible.

The Reach for the Sky program will be launching experimental packages on two large helium-filled weather balloons early on Wednesday morning, June 9, 2010, from somewhere near the Circle of Life School (exact launch location is weather dependent and will be selected by Tuesday afternoon). Preparations will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The two balloons will carry 8 student-built miniature spacecraft, with about 5 science sensors plus a camera in each one, as well as tracking radios. The students will work in teams on Monday and Tuesday to build their flying spacecraft laboratories and outfit them with sensors and cameras. The data they collect will be sent down by radio to computers on the ground, or downloaded once the payloads are retrieved.

Working with university students from the U of MN's High Altitude Balloon Team, the students will use the data to address questions that they set out to answer earlier in the week when they built their experiments. "What does the landscape look like from that height?" and "Are we really facing global climate change?" and "How does the sun's radiation change as we go up?" and "How does the temperature change with the changes in atmospheric pressure?" are just some of the questions students may be trying to answer. The balloons will have GPS units on them for tracking and will be recovered after the flight by the University's High Altitude Balloon team, directed by Professor James Flaten from the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium.

The Reach for the Sky project is in its 3rd year where culturally relevant science has been used to study various aspect of physics of flight, engineering, renewable energy, wind energy, human powered machines, and more. It is sponsored with the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development and the College of Extension, by a grant from the National Science Foundation ITEST division, and by the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium through the U of MN's Institute of Technology.

Contact Stephan Carlson at 651-283-7261 or Deb Zak at 218-686-6141 with additional questions.

The White Earth Academy of Math and Science, celebrating its twelfth anniversary in 2010, is an innovative summer program that provides opportunities for students and teachers to learn science and math using a curriculum that is relevant to the Ojibwe culture and leading to improved academic performance. The students will be visiting the Crookston campus of the University of Minnesota on Monday and Tuesday, June 28-29.

Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Symposium on Monday, September 21, 2009

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:52:25 -0600

The first Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Symposium sponsored by the University of Minnesota Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute, and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Obesity Center, will take place on the university campus at Cowles Auditorium (Hubert H Humphrey Center) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 21, 2009.

Nationally and internationally renowned speakers will present state-of-the art science on four highly controversial topics related to the effects of food consumption on human health: food processing, consumption of organic foods, high fructose corn syrup, and antibiotic use in animals. Each talk will be followed by an interactive discussion involving local academic and industry experts and the audience.

A lunchtime panel will debate the issue of diet versus drugs for obesity prevention and treatment. The purpose of the symposium is to generate exciting discussions that may lead to consensus on the controversial topics and/or recommendations for research needed for their resolution.

Register by visiting this link. Early registration (until September 11) is $10 for students, $50 for University of Minnesota faculty and staff members, and $100 for non-university attendees. After September 11, registration will increase by $10 for all groups. Online registration ends on September 14, unless space remains, in which case online registration will continue until the conference is fully booked. Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Visit www.hfhl.umn.edu for the symposium information.