Danielle Douglas ’17 offers her selection of events and activities to do this weekend. Find daily information on upcoming events on the University Events Calendar at www.rochester.edu/calendar.
#1: Experience ‘Winterfest Weekend’
Join the fun during Winterfest Weekend on the River Campus—Friday, February 3 through Sunday, February 5. Highlights include “Winter Wonderland,” a free event at the Campus Center (Frederick Douglass Commons and Wilson Commons) and Wilson Quadrangle, from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, February 4. Bring your family for this inside-outside seasonal festival that features free s’mores, carnival activities, cookie decorating, a chance to play with huskies, live ice-carving demonstrations, and music by WRUR. On Saturday evening, there’s the Varsity Vocals International Championship A Cappella Quarterfinals, featuring the University’s own YellowJackets and Vocal Point, happening at 7 p.m. in the Larry and Cindy Bloch Alumni and Advancement Center Auditorium. Tickets are required. Catch comedian and Mississippi native Tig Notaro, who will perform at 9 p.m. in Strong Auditorium. Tickets to the comedy show are $15 for faculty and staff; $20 for the general public. See the online schedule of Winterfest Weekend activities.
#2: Catch Squash Championships at Goergen Athletic Center
Cheer on the men’s squash team as they host the Liberty League Championships this weekend. The team is up against top teams St. Lawrence University, Vassar College, Bard College, and Hobart College in round-robin play on both Saturday, February 4, and Sunday, February 5. After an important win this past weekend against Franklin and Marshall College, the ’Jackets enter the championship ranked as the number one team in the nation. Matches will be played throughout the day. The signature match will be against seventh ranked St. Lawrence and will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 4, on the Lyman Squash Courts. See the tournament schedule.
#3: See Multisensory Collaboration of Music and Dance
Experience an Eastman Wind Ensemble concert that is not only auditory, but uniquely kinetic as well. In a Friday, February 3, performance, the ensemble will be accompanied by dancers from the University’s Program of Dance and Movement and by BIODANCE, a professional dance ensemble. Students, directed by Missy Pfohl Smith, will join the BIODANCE artists in a series of jazz and modern style dances that pair with diverse musical arrangements by Darius Milhaud, Roshanne Etezady, and John Corigliano. “This concert creates an opportunity for musicians to interact with other artists, and creates connections between the University’s River Campus and the Eastman School of Music,” says Eric Laprade, a doctor of musical arts student and concert conductor. The concert is free and begins at 8 p.m., in Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theater.
#4: Search for Love in Art at ‘Valentine #Schmalentine’ Event
Celebrate your excitement—or disdain—for Valentine’s Day at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Valentine #Schmalentine event on Friday, February 3, from 8 to 11 p.m. Participate in a self-guided competitive scavenger hunt across the museum, indulge in chocolate and wine, get your own personal “10 Cent Story” by Rochester doctoral student Karl Smith, and more. While you take in the art, enjoy music from DJ Alykhan and performances by Roxanne Ziegler and her melody of harpists. Tickets cost $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. This is an 18+ event, and museum admission is included. Tickets.
#5: Watch Tales of Survival at Eastman Opera Theater
In an artful collaboration between American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer ’81E, ’82E (MM), the Eastman Opera Theatre presents two productions: Out of Darkness and Into the Fire, from Thursday, February 2, through Sunday, February 12. Out of Darkness depicts two emotional stories of the Holocaust, while Into the Fire delves into the themes of relationships and isolation. Scheer and Heggie have collaborated on many projects, including the critically acclaimed opera Moby-Dick, the opera Three Decembers, and the choral opera The Radio Hour. The duo also worked on an operatic adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life. The performances will be staged in the Eastman School of Music’s Opera Studio, Room 804 in the school’s annex (seating is very limited). Tickets are $20 for general admission, with discounts available to University ID holders.
