On Nov. 30, NSU’s Performing and Visual Arts department is hosting their biggest musical event of the year: Portraits in Music, featuring NSU’s Mako Band and Pistris Ensemble in a 10 anniversary celebration of the department.
This night of music will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center’s Performance Theatre. There will be performances by music faculty, students, alumni and a rock ensemble.
“Portraits in Music is the 10 anniversary concert celebrating the music program here at NSU. It is going to incorporate music from Christmas and other holidays, popular music and classical music. It will also incorporate alums that will be coming back and faculty performances as well,” said Jessica Collado, director of Mako Band and Pistris Ensemble.
Music from several genres will be performed at the concert. Mario Yi, junior marine biology and music major and Mako Band member, likens the concert to a museum exhibit that opens the eyes of students to new culture.
“This concert basically features all types of different music, so thinking of how portraits are in a museum, all are different, contrasting. This concert is mainly a diversity of all types of music: traditional, pop, classical, rock and Christmas music,” said Yi.
“[The goal is] to expose the audience to as many types of music as possible,” said Missy McClintock, senior biology major and Mako Band member. “There are several different groups who are performing. Each group is doing multiple styles of music in their own style. It’s kind of all about a diversity in music.”
This will also be a moment to showcase the growth of the department. Through the ten years of the music program, the program has seen the formation of two ensembles. According to Collado, the Mako Band has grown from a small group consisting of about seven people to a group of 27.
“Music is important, but it is also a celebration of the ten years of the music program here. One of the great things about it [our department] is that it welcomes all students of all majors, minors and backgrounds to come and be apart of our events. Students on campus that are musicians that don’t know how to get involved, coming to the Portraits in Music concert may inspire them to want to be involved with the Mako Band or Pistris Ensemble and find a connection there with like-minded individuals,” said Collado.
The winter semester will bring changes to expand the music program. Alyiece Moretto-Watkins, administrative coordinator for the department of performing and visual arts, encourages students to keep an eye out for the news.
“We have some exciting things that will be launched next semester and a lot of it will have to do with bringing more students in from producing and recording aspects. They should be looking out for stuff that we advertise, stuff that we post because its an exciting new element that will soon be offered by the department,” said Moretto-Watkins.
The concert will expose students to the opportunities provided by PVA. For students interested in getting involved in the music program, email Jessica Collado at jcollado@nova.edu. More musical events will be occurring on campus in the coming semester. Tickets for Portraits in Music can be purchased for $7 by students and faculty at the PVA office or online at https://cahss.nova.edu/departments/pva.
“We would just like to put on a good show. That is the ultimate goal to put on an enjoyable event, have people come and enjoy good music and maybe bring a new appreciation for music, and definitely an awareness to the music program here in the department of performing and visual arts,” said Collado.
