‘A Recital of Birds’

ORONO – An 11th century Persian parable about a fantastical journey through valleys and over mountains to find a mystical king with answers about spiritual enlightenment has been set to music for a unique performance at the University of Maine.

“A Recital of Birds” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in Minsky Recital Hall, Class of 1944 Hall.

“A Recital of Birds” is an original nine-movement composition for narrator, voice and instrumental jazz ensemble composed by University of Maine at Augusta music professor Don Stratton, a nationally recognized composer.

The performances will feature UM’s Trimorphic Protennoia, a trio composed of music faculty members Nancy Ogle, a soprano, and Ginger Yang Hwalek, a pianist, with poet Kathleen Ellis, an Honors College lecturer, narrating.

Others participating include Stratton on trumpet; Steve Grover, drums; Greg Laughman, string bass; Richard Nelson, guitar; Chris Oberholtzer, trombone; Craig Skeffington, trumpet; and Bill Street, reeds.

At UM, the performance will comprise the second half of the program. The first half opens with Ogle, Hwalek and UM music instructor and organist Kevin Birch performing arrangements by American composer Brian Banks and Canadian composer Jacques Hetu.

“A Recital of Birds” was commissioned by Helen M. Ogle, mother of Nancy Ogle.

The series is sponsored by the University of Maine System, with support from the UMA College of Arts and Humanities and the UMA Senior College. Tickets for the Orono concert are $6; students with a MaineCard admitted free.

Furman Student Center

BANGOR – Husson College broke ground Sept. 27 on its newest addition, the Furman Student Center. The new center is a 4,400-square-foot addition to Peabody Hall and an extension of the 2,000-square-foot kitchen and cafe area renovated this summer. The center is expected to be completed in January.

Based on President William Beardsley’s vision for Husson and master planning work done by WBRC Architects-Engineers, it was determined that a place just for Husson students did not exist on the constantly developing and ever-changing college campus in Bangor.

“We wanted something different than any other place at Husson,” said John Rubino, dean of the college, “and this design promises to give us just that Husson students’ hang-out we desperately need.”

The new Furman Student Center, designed by WBRC in cooperation with Nickerson & O’Day, construction managers, will be suitable for daytime and after-hours student use.

Whether enjoying a snack lunch from the new Marketplace; a cup of Starbucks coffee and a sweet roll from Willey’s Cafe between classes; playing an evening game of billiards, air-hockey or ping-pong; participating in a lively open mike night, coffeehouse concert or student dance on the weekends; or just hanging out with friends, students will find it all at the Furman Student Center.

The layout is open and flexible, with radiant heat flooring.

The only internal wall is a bold, angled partition dividing the Student Center into distinct zones – electronic and table gaming on one side and club-cafe atmosphere on the other.

Diverse and vibrant colors and patterns enhance the walls and floors, and the partially exposed structure above features a floating cloud ceiling with built-in sound system and dimmable stage and dance floor lighting.

The project features commanding views of the Husson Bell Tower and grounds, and is positioned to function as much as possible as an almost fully detached student building, linked only via the new cafe with its eight-monitor Husson College media wall.