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Campus News

SPOT Returns!

SPOT 2024 Poster - Courtesy of CAB
By Joey Schunemann ('23)

In the Fall of 2021, SPOT was teetering on the edge. On a post-COVID campus that had grown weary of the campus wide spectacle even before the bi-annual variety show went remote, the chance of SPOT’s permanent cancellation was high. During the host auditions, AC Taylor told stories of previous acts gone awry and hosts who butted heads with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) at every turn. The list of auditionees to host a significant opportunity was low; one duo and one individual. The duo came in with a constrictive theme and a loose set of goals. The individual was Steve Harper. 

Harper, recent graduate with the Class of ‘22 had a vision of a renewed SPOT where the host was not awkward glue between the main event, but an act in and of itself with monologues, songs and games all driven by the charisma of a natural performer. In retrospect, Harper said that when he is an audience member, he wants to laugh more than once, like the host and feel that “when the show is over… to be surprised that two hours just passed.” Harper also said that hosting was not without its challenges, and that if he could have found a partner that would have fit his high expectations he would have rather not work alone. 

Harper said that he “had big plans that didn’t happen and [he] had to be OK with that because [he] was a solo host.” 

This was not the experience of this year’s SPOT 2024 hosts, Levi Webb (‘24) and Sam Carpenter (‘25).

Harper’s extremely high standards of excellence set the standard for spots to come, and the immediately following duo had big shoes to fill and an idea to make it happen. “Blockbuster movies, like the rental store not the concept” was what Luc Pereira (‘23) and Ansley Green (‘22) pitched to the same CAB staff as before, but with a new idea of what to be looking for. 

Pereira and Green brought the chemistry of a pre-existing friendship, not only key for stage dynamics but also the natural expectation for an event where hours of work are needed in preparation. Pereira and Green were on top of logistics and advertising in a way that showed the failings of a single host. While Harper poured all his effort into excellent skits and shaping the evening in a way that ensured highs and lows that would keep people on the edge of their seats, Pereira and Green could split up their manpower enough to start with the goal of getting people in the door. 

“I worked on silly skits and host dialogue while she took on a lot of the overarching logistical issues,” Pereira said. 

Recreations of old movie posters with photoshopped energetic hosts were plastered on walls all across campus. In addition to the advertising, SPOT band candidates were reached out to well in advance, and auditions ran smoothly. When the actual night came, the dual host power showed its merit, and cemented the formula that the last five shows have followed. They did not have to sacrifice quality for logistical mastery, they did not have to sacrifice as many great sketch ideas as Harper did. The night was tight, well planned, and well executed. 

This year so far has largely been a mystery. With a slew of duos auditioning with different plans, Webb and Carpenter had a theme that was creative, interesting and put lots of focus on live entertainment. This felt like an exciting change of pace, but was followed by a bit of radio silence. 

When auditions came, a kindly smiling Carpenter sat casually on the stage and gave encouragement to the groups there that “we believe that if you want to be in [SPOT], you can be in [SPOT], and we will just talk through what that might look like.” 

This was an inclusive change from the careful planning of Harper’s crafted narrative but one that could certainly yield more positive than negative. Without much more from them in terms of follow-up communications to the CAB team, there has been a sense of mysterious anticipation across campus. Will the show follow strongly in Harper’s footsteps of crafted skits with less of an emphasis on Pereira and Green’s advertisement skills? Have other commitments delayed planning for both impacting quality? Or are we on the verge of another revolution in the variety show on the ravines edge? The answer will be on stage Saturday, March 16 at 10 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel. ★

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Campus News

Alumna Returns to Perform in Organ Recital

Jennifer Velázquez playing the organ - Courtesy of Savannah Stitt
By Rebecca Dailey ('25)

At 7:30 p.m. on this Friday Jan. 26, Houghton welcomes back alumna Jennifer Velázquez (‘91) to perform an organ recital in the Wesley Chapel. Velázquez’s husband also graduated in the Class of ‘91, and her daughter and son-in-law both graduated from Houghton with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music.
Judy Congdon—Professor of Organ and Harpsichord, and Houghton’s Organist—speaks highly of Velázquez, “Jennifer is one of many, many very fine organists who have been trained at Houghton over the years. Jennifer is a gracious, lovely person and a musician of formidable talent. Though I was not her teacher I have watched her musical journey through the past several decades, and I consider her a treasured colleague and friend.” 

At eleven, Velázquez began learning to play the piano, and then started playing the organ at fourteen and really liked it. 

“I talked to my teacher about organ junior-senior year of high school,” Velázquez commented, “and ended up at Houghton.”
For 25 years, Velázquez was the Organist and Associate Director of Music and Worship at Independent Presbyterian Church (IPC) in Memphis, Tenn. She has previously performed at Houghton, and in England, Scotland, and Ukraine (for a mission trip). She now focuses on organ repertoire and performance.
Velázquez explained that she “Mostly plays music already written and will be playing One Piece by Dr. William T. Allen [in the upcoming recital].” 

Dr. Allen was a former Houghton Professor of Piano and Theory, and later a composer in residence.
The organ, a unique instrument with a rich history of being played in churches and concert halls, is both a keyboard and a wind instrument. This is due to the varying sized pipes that are grouped together on the instrument. 

 Benjamin VanTine (‘25), a current student studying organ explained, “The organ which is the oldest keyboard instrument is also a wind instrument, different knobs are used to achieve the desired sound. This is where the phrase ‘pull out all the stops’ comes from. An Organ has to be preset to create the wanted sound.”

Wesley Chapel’s organ was built in 1961-1962 by Walter Holtkamp Sr., who was one of the leading American organ builders of the mid-20th century. 

“Its many sounds are produced by 3153 individual pipes,” Professor Congdon shared, “the largest of which are 16’ long and the smallest only about the size of a drinking straw.  The pipes are controlled by a player seated at the 3-manual console . . . the recital will feature sounds from the hushed to the colorful to the robust and magnificent.” 

VanTine leaves off with, “[playing the organ is] a way of expressing what you want to be heard but you need to work to develop music abilities. Inner musical ability, which must be learned but often starts with inspiration or a gift from God.” 

Velázquez developed her gifts through rigorous training at Houghton, which prepared her for graduate school and her church work later on.

“[I am] very grateful the Lord brought me to Houghton,”  Velázquez stated.

All attendees of the recital have the opportunity to hear for themselves the sound Velázquez has developed over years of perfecting her art. ★

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News

Rastrelli Quartet Performs for Houghton Artist Series

This past Friday the Wesley Chapel was filled with a moderately sized but enthusiastic audience to hear the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, an ensemble of four Russian cellists who have toured the world and received much critical acclaim in the 12 years since their creation. Their performance here several years ago left a strong impression on the community. According to former music faculty Dr. Robert Galloway who organized Artist Series concerts in the past, “[They] were a tremendous hit;… and I had students begging me to bring them back.” The Rastrelli Quartet’s repeat performance was certainly not a disappointment and had the audience cheering, begging for an encore which the performers generously provided.

The quartet members were equally pleased to be coming back to Houghton. “The second time back in this beautiful region feels like home,” said Kira Kraftzoff, the group’s artistic director.  “In Russia, young people go to the classical music concerts before going to clubs.  Seeing college students at concerts is wonderful.” They loved not just the audience but the hall, “We’ve played all over the world and this is one of our favorite halls to play in.  You have one of the 5 best stages in the world.”

Courtesy of http://www.1erang.nl
Courtesy of http://www.1erang.nl

“They truly are world class,” said Dr. Stephen Plate, Director of the Greatbatch School of Music who is now in charge of the Artist Series as well. The Irish Times of Dublin says of them, “…each is a virtuoso in his own right, and together they play with a sense of musical purpose and personal camaraderie that is infectious.” Indeed, among their members the quartet possesses numerous awards, honors, and contest prizes and their technical proficiency is truly incredible. However the most inspiring part of their playing is their unity and the deep passion they express in their performances. Whether a tarantella, tango, swings, classical or opera arias, Rastrelli handles all genres with energy and masterful interpretation.

“The artist series is about performances which are otherworldly,” said Plate about his vision of the Artist Series concerts in my interview with him, “They are to inspire us to think larger than we are.” While classical concerts will still be the primary focus as they have been in the past the broader goal is to bring in world-class performers in any genre not easily accessible in Allegany county. “Artists come in all different shapes and sizes… I hope to bring in some excellent jazz performers among other less represented events.” The repertoire of the Rastrelli Cello Quartet is ideal to this goal of a broader definition of “artist.” Their program on Friday contained opera excerpts, arrangements of folk music of various kinds, and modern and jazz music, all the arrangements exquisitely done by the quartet’s own Sergio Drabkin.  “It’s not about ‘classical’ vs. ‘jazz’ vs. ‘popular,’” said Kraftzoff. “What are these anyway? Just names. 150 years ago it wasn’t ‘classical’ music, it was just… music. For me it is simply good music versus bad music whether ‘jazz,’ ‘classical,’ or ‘popular.’”

The next Artist Series event is pianist Ning An, who will perform January 24th.

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Arts

Sanctus Real to Perform at Houghton on “Run” Tour

This Sunday Houghton will be welcoming alternative Christian band Sanctus Real to the stage for a performance in Wesley Chapel. Twice nominated for a Grammy, once for Best Rock Gospel Album, We Need Each Other in 2009, and once for Best Contemporary/Pop Gospel Album, Pieces of a Real Heart, in 2010, the group has achieved both critical and commercial success in Christian spheres.

Courtesy of logancountyfair.org
Courtesy of logancountyfair.org

The stop in Houghton is to be part of a national tour with several stops in Canada for their tenth album Run. Released in February of this year, its single “Promises,” written mainly by the band’s drummer Mark Graalman and lead songwriter Matt Hammitt, reached #1 on Billboard’s US Hot Alternative Christian/Contemporary Radio and peaked high on other Christian charts as well. The album’s title refers to a departure from the walking and stumbling through doors of opportunity in the band’s past and that “with God’s help, [they’re] ready to run.”

Having originally formed the band in 1996 as teenagers interested in ministry through music, the band has since undergone several lineup changes, the most recent being the departures of guitarist Pete Provost and bassist Dan Gartley and the entry of bassist and producer Jake Rye. When asked about the motivating force behind the band’s continued unity, drummer Mark Graalman cited a “career that felt like a steady climb,” explaining that “each record is built upon the one before it.”

Graalman stated that the musical tastes among band members remain varied, spanning from ‘80s and ‘90s pop acts like Phil Collins and Sting to alternative groups like U2 and Coldplay to current alternative bands like Fun, allowing for multiple influences to show in production. Run itself shows a continued departure from the band’s original grunge rock roots that were heavily influenced by ‘90s rock bands like Foo Fighters and Weezer towards a more radio-friendly pop-rock sound.

“Our sounds has definitely changed, grown, evolved,” said Graalman, adding that their current style has a more “mature pop-rock sound … compared to the youth” of their past. However, the band has intentions of exploring their original sound in new releases. When asked about developments in the production of Sanctus Real’s eleventh album, Graalman stated that the record will contain more “youthful angst” with a “throwback feel” comparable to their second and third records. Lyrically, the band intends to explore material that is “deeper and more philosophical,” asking questions such as “Where is God in our worst and best times?”

Despite changes in sound, Graalman says the band’s intent remains the same—that of ministry through music. “I want people to be encouraged,” he said, adding that “God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.”

Sanctus Real will be performing this Sunday, October 6, in Wesley Chapel at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in the Student Center.

 

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Arts

Annual Film Festival

The annual Film Festival is on Friday, April 12 this year, a night for Houghton’s amateur filmmakers to showcase their current creative endeavors. The first event of the evening, a formal event, will first feature a “Blue-Hue” pre-party that will be hosted at 8 p.m. in the Van Dyk lounge.

arts&sports_filmfestThe competition, following the pre-party, will take place in Wesley Chapel promptly at 9 p.m. As in any competition, the judging and awards will follow the screenings. Categories this year range from animation and comedy to commercial and drama. According to one of the judges in the competition, Sally Murphy, points are awarded according to different elements of the films such as acting, directing, and cinematography.

The awards are given for achievements such as best actor or actress, best cinematography, best editing, and of course, best picture. The competitive nature of the festival aside, contestant Aaron Fitzgerald, senior, regards it as an opportunity to “celebrate the work of filmmakers on campus.” Cory Martin, junior, said that the purpose of the festival is a chance for students to proudly “display their art to the public.”

Expectations are high for this year’s turnout. “In the past, the Houghton Film Festival has been a big letdown for me. The content was not good. It did not provide a good context to show something you had worked hard on. It was a popularity contest,” said Fitzgerald. “On further inspection, the quality of work and the attitudes of the people submitting films this year seems to be a much higher level and I am happy that I submitted something.”

Submissions this year range from the serious to the comical; “some are stupid and make you scratch your head and laugh, and others are on a more serious note,” senior contestant Andrew Jones said. From an animation film based on a Richard Simmons’ dance video submitted by Martin, to a short film-poem that adapts Ulysses by Tennyson entered by Fitzgerald, this year’s entries are sure to both entertain and encourage thought-provoking dialogue for filmmakers and attendees alike.

This evening would not be possible, of course, without the interest of Houghton students in the art of filmmaking. Jones is looking forward to the Festival as an opportunity to showcase his videos on a larger scale than the in-class critique. Jones said, “Video is such a big part of our culture and it’s great when I can contribute my own ideas and stories. I just enjoy telling stories through film, and much like writing, acting, singing, or painting, film is just another way you can tell a story in an engaging and entertaining way.”

Senior Nicholas Quigley said, “I wanted to submit my piece to share with my friends what I actually do as a communication major.” His entry, Visions, is a submission in the Drama category; he said that his piece “is an ambiguous piece that takes you on a journey in and out of this guy’s head as he deals with his darkest time in his life. What I love about the piece is its ambiguity that leaves the viewer open to interpreting it as they want.”

This year’s Film Festival is a celebration of film that offers a chance to view some fantastic amateur films by fellow students. Murphy said that it is an opportunity to “feel a little Hollywood glam,” making this an event that students will not want to miss.