Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota rose to No. 33 in the Best Regional Universities of the Midwest category, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 ratings of best colleges and universities in the nation. The ranking positions Saint Mary’s in the top 20 percent of all schools listed in this category and denotes a substantial 34 percent increase from its 2019 ranking of No. 50.

Additionally, Saint Mary’s was ranked 13th of 63 schools in the U.S. News category of Best Value Schools Regional Universities of the Midwest. Saint Mary’s ranks first among all Minnesota schools in this category.

The annual rankings, announced Sept. 9, are available at usnews.com/best-colleges.

“U.S. News & World Report rankings take into account areas such as employment outcomes, graduation and retention rates, and student excellence, and these domains are all vitally important to us at Saint Mary’s University as well,” said Father James P. Burns, IVD, president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. “We know U.S. News & World Report is a trusted source for students and their families when they are comparing higher education institutions, so we are excited that our rankings have risen significantly this year. Of course this also reflects our goal of being an affordable and accessible university that doesn’t compromise the quality of the academic, co-curricular, and formative experiences.”

WINONA, Minn. — The Page Series brings leading Latino dance company Ballet Hispánico to Winona Oct.1-4 for residency activities, culminating in a performance at the Page Theatre on Friday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 pm.

Ballet Hispánico, founded by National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez, specializes in the performance of repertory that explores the diversity of Latino cultures and brings innovative ways of experiencing and sharing a cultural dialogue. The Chicago Sun Times hails the company as “quite simply, stellar in both their stylistic malleability and their ability to create characters … [they’re] gorgeous to look at and thrilling to watch — highly individualistic performers who can shift easily from ballet and modern to a whole range of Latin styles.”

In Winona, Ballet Hispánico will perform three works from their Latina choreographers program:

• Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Tiburones, her newest work, which reimagines the world of the street gang, the Sharks (from the award-winning musical West Side Story) from a Latinx and gender-fluid perspective. Ochoa will embrace non-gender specific roles while deconstructing stereotypes and giving new life to an ever appropriated cultural icon.
• Tania Pérez-Salas’ Catorce Dieciséis, which draws inspiration from the number Pi to reflect on the circularity of our movement through life and is set to the music of Vivaldi and other Baroque composers; and
• Michelle Manzanales’ Con Brazos Abiertos (With Open Arms), which explores with humility, nostalgia, and humor the iconic Mexican symbols that she was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas. The work features the spoken word work of Dominican-American poet Maria Billini.

Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro will give a pre-performance talk at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the evolution of the program, the need for more diversity and representation in the dance field, and what it means to be a Latinx dance company in today’s cultural landscape.

Vilaro, who became Ballet Hispánico’s second artistic director in 2009, has infused the company’s legacy with a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America’s changing cultural landscape. Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of 6, he is a frequent speaker on the merits of cultural diversity and dance education. In 2001, he was a recipient of a Ruth Page Award for choreography, and in 2003, he was honored for his choreographic work at Panama’s II International Festival of Ballet. Vilaro was also inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2016 and was awarded HOMBRE Magazine’s 2017 Arts & Culture Trailblazer of the Year award. Vilaro also founded Luna Negra Dance Theatre, which performed at the Page Theatre in 2011.

Thanks to grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Xcel Energy Foundation, and Arts Midwest, the Page Series will also offer activities with the company throughout the Winona community, including:

• Modern Dance Master Class for intermediate and advanced dancers who are in high school or older. The class includes an Afro-Cuban warm up and the opportunity to learn a section of one of Ballet Hispánico’s pieces and will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall, Winona State University. Advance registration is required at pagetheatre.org.
• Happy hour reception to welcome the company to Winona, hosted by the AmericInn Winona (303 Pelzer St) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Movement workshop at the Winona Friendship Center for all ability levels. Modified movement, including participation from a chair, will be offered. The event is Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 10:45 a.m. Please call 507-457-5212 to register.
• A Page in History talk with Eduardo Vilaro on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 12:05 p.m. at the Winona County Historical Society.
• Unlocking Creativity, a professional development workshop led by Vilaro for nonprofit organization staff and board members, business professionals, and community leaders, on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Valéncia Arts Center. Registration is required at pagetheatre.org.
• Ballet Master Class for fast intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12 and older on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center. To register, visit pagetheatre.org.
• Latin Social Dance Lesson and Community Dance, free and open to community members of all ages and abilities on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 7-9 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center.

In addition, the company will conduct workshops for Bluffview Montessori, Home and Community Options, and Project FINE.

To learn more about residency activities, visit pagetheatre.org/project/ballet-hispanico-residency. Performance tickets can be ordered online at pagetheatre.org, or by calling the Saint Mary’s Performance Center box office at 507-457-1715 (noon to 6 p.m., weekdays).

About the Page Series

Now in its 33rd season, the Page Series connects professional performing artists from around the globe with thousands of Winonans each year. With events at the Page Theatre at Saint Mary’s University’s Winona Campus, as well as at locations across the Winona community, the Page Series offers dance, music, and theatre performances, workshops, classes, and more that inspire, uplift, educate, and invite community members to discover the relevance of the arts in their daily lives. www.pagetheatre.org

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Crane Group.

Page Series community programs are made possible, in part, through grants from the Xcel Energy Foundation and the Elizabeth Callender King Foundation.

Photo by Paula Lobo

WINONA, Minn. — Singers in Winona and the surrounding areas are invited to join the Valéncia Chorale, a new adult community choir for mixed voices, under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea. The Valéncia Chorale will explore music from a variety of styles and periods. No audition is necessary to register, but the director will want to hear all singers individually at some point to ensure proper sectional placement.

High school-aged singers ages 14-18 may only register with the consent of the director. Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. in the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, beginning Sept. 12. The first performance will be on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels. The Valéncia Arts Center houses the Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts and is located at 1164 W. 10th St.

About Dr. Patrick O’Shea

A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Patrick O’Shea joined the Saint Mary’s University faculty in August 1997. He holds degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory (voice performance), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Arizona State University (both in choral conducting). He has conducted choirs of all ages, from children’s choirs to adult community choruses, and currently conducts the Saint Mary’s Concert Choir (a 64-voice select ensemble of mixed voices), and the university’s premiere choral ensemble, the Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers (which numbers from 24 to 26 and tours each year, alternating between domestic and international tours).

A composer of choral and instrumental music, Dr. O’Shea’s works have been performed throughout the United States, and in Europe and Asia. He has been active as a church choir director in a number of denominations, and has served as a clinician for numerous choral festivals and workshops. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), American Composers Forum, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

He resides in Winona with his wife, Lindsy O’Shea, who is also a voice teacher, and their five children.

Register online at mca.smumn.edu or in person at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, 1164 W. 10th St.

About MCA

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University, is a nonprofit organization offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theater. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information, go to mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.

WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) is now home to a new piano lab created to serve students of all ages. Though MCA has provided private piano lessons for many years, this new state-of-the-art electronic lab fosters piano instruction in a unique way, allowing students to work together and independently while being taught by a professional teaching artist.

The new lab, which features four student pianos and one teacher piano, was made possible thanks to generous support from the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, William Koutsky, Christopher Mechell, and Barbara Dufresne.

MCA was also selected as a community partner for the fall Winona Hims gospel concert. As a partner, MCA will benefit from concert proceeds and plans to add two more student pianos to the lab. After the final expansion of six pianos, MCA plans to offer specialized classes to groups of children and teens in addition to adults, so that all ages can benefit from the social and artistic benefits of music.

If you’re interested in learning or relearning piano, it’s not too late to register for the fall Beginner Class Piano for Adults, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 10. To register, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.

About MCA

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theater. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.

WINONA, Minn. — As the school year begins again, it’s time to mark your calendars for another great year of programming presented by Jazz at Saint Mary’s.

Fall 2019

Family Weekend performances kick off another year of outstanding music at Saint Mary’s University. Join Jazz, Choir, and Band for a combined concert on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Jazz at Saint Mary’s welcomes the holidays with Jingle Bell Swing on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre. Swingin’ holiday favorites, jazz classics, and surprise guests will be featured, as well as a new arrangement of “Mister Santa” by A. Eric Heukeshoven, director of jazz studies at Saint Mary’s.

Rounding out the fall schedule is the Jazz Final on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Twice a year, all Jazz at Saint Mary’s groups get together for an informal session of great music in a casual setting. For the second year, the Jazz Final will be held at Island City Brewing Company as part of their monthly Jazz Jam. The event is free, and community members are invited to join the musicians as they celebrate the end of the semester.

Spring 2020

Jazz at Saint Mary’s will present Master of the Slide on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. in Page Theatre. The performance will feature Dr. Scott Agster and will focus on music written and performed by some of the greatest players in the history from pioneers Jack Teagarden and Slide Hampton to contemporary artists Delfeavo Marsalis and Trombone Shorty.

The season will culminate with another Jazz Final, and spring brings the festivities outdoors. Grab a lawn chair or a blanket and join Jazz at Saint Mary’s on the Saint Mary’s Winona Campus Plaza on Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m. for a free, fun afternoon of music.

For more information, contact Heukeshoven at 507-457-7292 or eheukesh@smumn.edu. Ticket information is available at pagetheatre.org or by calling the box office at 507-457-1715.

Photo caption: Jazz at Saint Mary’s performs at the 2018 Red Bird Club cabaret event. 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The public is invited to hear the Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J., a moral theologian, bioethicist, writer, and the Canisius Professor of Theology at Boston College, speak about “Vulnerability, the University, and Virtue Ethics” 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Saint Mary’s University’s Minneapolis Campus.

The event is part of the cardinal conversation series, started by Saint Mary’s University in 2011 as a way to strengthen and further the university’s Catholic identity.

A social will follow at 5 p.m.; both events will be held in the University Center, 2540 Park Ave., in Minneapolis.

The Rev. Keenan, S.J., has been a Jesuit of the New York Province since 1970 and an ordained priest since 1982. He received his B.A. at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1976, after which he pursued his Masters in Divinity (M.Div.) at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Having obtained his M.Div. in 1982, he went on to study at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, receiving his S.T.L. in 1984 and his S.T.D. in 1988.

He has taught as an assistant professor of Moral Theology at Fordham University (1987-1991) and Weston Jesuit School of Theology (1991-1999). He taught as professor of Moral Theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology from 1999 to 2005, after which he became a full-time member of the Boston College Theology Department as a professor of Theological Ethics.

The Rev. Keenan has been actively involved in the field of bioethics and has particular experience with bioethics concerning HIV/AIDS. He is also columnist for Chicago Catholic, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Please RSVP to smumn.edu/cvrsvp.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will host two open house information sessions for adults who want to learn more about the university’s many graduate and professional school program options. The events, which are free and open to the public, are happening:

• Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Saint Mary’s University Center, 2540 Park Ave.
• Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Saint Mary’s Apple Valley Center, 14200 Cedar Ave. in Apple Valley

All are invited to attend, especially individuals who are interested in pursuing a Saint Mary’s program offered in Apple Valley, Minneapolis, or online, which includes a variety of bachelor’s completion and advanced-degree options.

Saint Mary’s offers more than 60 programs for adults through its Schools of Business and Technology, Education, and Health and Human Services. For a list of bachelor’s completion, master’s, graduate certificate, specialist, and doctoral degrees offered, visit smumn.edu/academics.

For more information on open houses or programs offered at Saint Mary’s, call 507-285-1410, email tcadmission@smumn.edu, or visit smumn.edu/admission.

HERALDED AS ‘BEST IN TWIN CITIES THEATER,’ UNIQUE WALKING PLAY  EXPLORES LIVES OF NATURE ADVOCATES AND PHILOSOPHERS EMERSON AND THOREAU

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s beautiful woodlands and tree-lined clearings set the scene for the acclaimed outdoor walking play, Nature.  With performances Friday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m., this unique theatrical event about the lives of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau is an experience like no other — as an award-winning ensemble of actors and musicians bring audiences into a playful and deeply-moving journey through their natural environment. Nature, a production of TigerLion Arts, is filled with music, song, story and celebration with scenes unfolding around audience members as they follow the ensemble through the grounds.

Heralded by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as “Best in Twin Cities Theater,” Nature is a vibrant look into the 19th century world of Emerson and Thoreau, renowned writers, friends, and nature advocates. Created and performed by Tyson Forbes, a direct descendant of Emerson, Nature shines a spotlight on the relationship between the prominent essayist and the philosopher and naturalist best known for his memoir “Walden,” in which he chronicles a simple and solitary life in the woods. The play will explore a rift that ended their close friendship and a shared belief that nature is a source of spiritual respite and renewal.

Led by director Markell Kiefer (Guthrie Theater, all Tigerlion Arts productions), the professional ensemble features Jason Rojas (Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ten Thousand Things) as Thoreau; Tyson Forbes (Guthrie Theater, Ordway, Jungle Theater, and all TigerLion Arts productions) as Emerson; Norah Long (Guthrie Theater, Skylark Opera, Nautilus Music-Theater) as Mother Nature, along with Twin Cities actors Paul de Cordova, Alex Barreto Hathaway, Kimberly Richardson, Chelsie Newhard, Thallis Santesteban, Eric “Pogi” Sumangil, Nathan Gebhard and bagpiper Ryan Behnke, as well as a volunteer community chorus led by Lindsy O’Shea (Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Saint Mary’s University). Nine-year old Phoebe Goeldner of Alma, Wis., will play the role of Elly, Emerson’s daughter. TigerLion Arts selected Goeldner for the production after an audition of area child actors. Bagpipes, ancient flutes, drums, and rich choral arrangements are intricately woven into the script with compositions by Dick Hensold (Bush Artist Fellow).  Choreography is by Kimberly Richardson (McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship and Sage Award)

“I have always felt honored to be an Emerson descendent,” Forbes said. “I feel an intimate responsibility to his lineage, and for years I have imagined a play that could bring his spirit and teachings, along with that of his friend and fellow author Henry David Thoreau, to a broader audience. When I read their work, I find answers to burning questions on how to live my life more deeply and responsibly in this world. They were both radicals of their time, calling on their peers to think for themselves and be agents of change. I believe their words and ideas are as necessary now as they were then.”

During the performance, the audience will walk short distances between four different locations. Portable lawn chairs or blankets to sit on are suggested, as there are a limited number of chairs for those who need them most. Guests should dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Audiences are encouraged to come early to visit the grounds.  Picnic meals are welcome and can be enjoyed along with pre-show bagpiping and choral arrangements performed by local community members 30 minutes before the performance begins. The Page Theatre will also offer accessibility accommodations for those with limited mobility; please contact the box office or visit pagetheatre.org/accessibility for more information.

Running time for Nature is 90 minutes, without intermission. Tickets are on sale now and are offered at a suggested price of $15 for the general public and $8 for youth ages 17 and younger. A “pay-what-you-can” option is also available in an effort to make performances accessible to all, thanks to a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council. Tickets may be ordered by calling 507-457-1715 (noon to 6 p.m., weekdays) or visiting pagetheatre.org.

Nature Community Programs

Connect with the outdoors through the theater with the cast of Nature. Professional actors will offer a workshop titled “I Went for a Walk Today” for families on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The workshop will include through walks, theatrical play, and reflective journaling.  Each workshop attendee will receive a Nature field journal to take home. The workshop is free to attend, but registration is required and is available at pagetheatre.org.

The Page Series, in partnership with the Winona County Historical Society, will also offer a Page in History event on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Winona County History Center (160 Johnson St.). This free event will include information about local ties to Ralph Waldo Emerson, a screening of the Twin Cities Public Television short documentary Nature: Walking with Emerson and Thoreau, and Q & A with members of the production.

In addition to these programs, a post-show discussion with the company will follow the Sunday, Sept. 8 performance.

About the Page Series

Now entering its 33rd annual season, the Page Series offers performances workshops, classes, and more that inspire, uplift, educate, and invite community members to discover the relevance of the arts in their daily lives. Featuring professional performing artists from around the globe in events at the Joseph Page Theatre on the campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, as well as at locations throughout the Winona community, the Page Series strives to bring artists and community together through imaginative programming, unique collaborations, a welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service. www.pagetheatre.org.

About TigerLion Arts 

TigerLion Arts, founded and led by Markell Kiefer and Tyson Forbes, is a Minneapolis-based production company with a mission to celebrate human wisdom and the spirit of nature through creative works that awaken, inform, and delight. Since 2009, TigerLion Arts has touched thousands nationwide with four original productions: The Buddha Prince (2009), a walking play about the life of the Dalai Lama performed in New York City’s Central Park; Nature (2010 production); KIPO! (2011), a circus of spirit, song and dance from Tibet, which was the official arts component of the Dalai Lama’s 2011 Minnesota visit, and The Dragons are Singing Tonight (2012), a musical based on the book of children’s poetry by Jack Prelutsky, created in collaboration with Circus Juventas and Minnesota Boychoir.  TigerLion Arts won a 2018 regional Emmy®Award for their documentary “Nature: Walking with Emerson & Thoreau”. Learn more at tigerlion.com.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Page Series Community Programs are made possible, in part, by a grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation.

WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) invites community members to the Ways of Watercolor exhibit at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. Howard St., throughout August.

The exhibit features artwork created by adults ages 55 and older who participated in an eight-session workshop to learn more about the ways of watercolor paint, thanks to a generous grant from Aroha Philanthropies.

Visitors will see a variety of techniques represented in the artwork, from wet-on-wet to still-life paintings.

The exhibit will be on display throughout August. Guests can visit at no cost during regular business hours: Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.

Vitality Arts programs inspire and enable older adults to learn, make, and share the arts in ways that are novel, complex, and socially engaging. The work is driven by teaching artists whose creative process and understanding of older adults bring joy, connection, improved health and well-being, and a renewed sense of purpose to older adults in community and residential settings.

MCA was selected as one of only 15 nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota to receive a grant from Aroha Philanthropies through its new statewide initiative Seeding Vitality Arts MN.

About Vitality Arts

The broad field of creative aging encompasses many things: arts education, arts in health care, creativity for those with dementia, and more. Arts education programs — those that inspire and enable older adults to learn, make and share the arts in ways that are novel, complex and socially engaging — make up a subset of the creative aging field. Often referred to as artful aging programs, they are led by teaching artists whose creative process and understanding of older adults bring connection, improved health and well-being, and a renewed sense of purpose to older adults in community and residential settings.

At Aroha Philanthropies, we’ve come to view these programs as even more than artful aging. With the term “Vitality Arts,” we aim to champion arts programs that keep us vital, joyful, and engaged by unleashing the transformative power of creativity in those 55 and older. More information is available at vitalityarts.org.

About Aroha Philanthropies

Aroha Philanthropies is devoted to the transformative power of the arts and creativity, inspiring vitality in those over 55, joy in children and youth, and humanity in adults with mental illness. We believe that learning, making, and sharing art enriches everyone throughout their lifetime. Aroha Philanthropies works to improve the quality of life of people 55 and older by encouraging the funding, development, and proliferation of arts programs designed to enhance longer lives, and by advancing the development of professional teaching artists working with those in their encore years. More information is available at arohaphilanthropies.org.

About MCA

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.

Photo caption: Artist Linda Speltz practices watercolor painting.