Two weeks after classes start, we host a job fair to connect students with local off-campus employers. We anticipate about 20 employers in attendance and 50 students. Students from Lakeshore Technical College and UW-Sheboygan will be invited to attend as well.

Solas, one of the most popular, influential and exciting Celtic bands to ever emerge from the United States, will bring its Irish folk music to Lakeland College's Krueger Fine Arts Series.

Solas will perform on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Lakeland's Bradley Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for non-Lakeland students and can be reserved by contacting Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536.

Even before the release of its first Shanachie CD, the Boston Herald trumpeted the quartet, which formed in 1996, as "the first truly great Irish band to arise from America," and the Irish Echo ranked Solas among the "most exciting bands anywhere in the world."

Since then, the praise has only grown louder. The Philadelphia Inquirer said they make "mind-blowing Irish folk music, maybe the world's best." The New York Times praised their "unbridled vitality," the Washington Post dubbed them one of the "world's finest Celtic-folk ensembles" and the Austin American-Statesman called them "the standard by which contemporary Celtic groups are judged."

Solas is virtually unique in the new territory it has opened up for Celtic music. It has performed at all the major Celtic and folk festivals, including Philadelphia, Edmonton, the legendary National Folk Festival, and Milwaukee's Irish fest; but also at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and the chamber music summer series at Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

In New York City, where the band was based in its early years, it has played at the legendary Bottom Line folk club, but also at vaunted classical venues Town Hall and Symphony Space.

Although Solas can play undiluted traditional Irish music as well as anyone, they are always varying the mix of fire-tested tradition and contemporary sensibility. As a result, they transcend musical genres into the realm of pure musical expression.

The internationally-acclaimed supergroup has not only captured the hearts and ears of Irish music fans, but fans all around the globe with their blend of Celtic traditional, folk and country melodies, bluesy sometimes jazz-inspired improvisations and global rhythms.

The Solas sound today is anchored by founders Seamus Egan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran, and fiddler Winifred Horan. They are two of the most respected - and imitated - musicians anywhere in acoustic music.

Mick McAuley from Kilkenny plays accordion and concertina; Eamon McElholm from Tyrone plays guitar and keyboards.

One audience suggestion sets in motion a night of laughs in the spirit of William Shakespeare as The Improvised Shakespeare Company brings its unique brand of humor to Lakeland College's Krueger Fine Arts Series.

The Improvised Shakespeare Co. will perform on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Lakeland's Bradley Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for non-Lakeland students and can be reserved by contacting Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536.

You'll marvel as The Improvised Shakespeare Co. creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style right before your eyes. Each of the players has brushed up on his "thee's" and "thou's" to bring you an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language and themes of Shakespeare.

The evening could be filled with power struggles, star-crossed lovers, sprites, kings, queens, princesses, sword-play, rhyming couplets, asides, insults, persons in disguise and all that we've come to expect from the pen of the Great Bard. The night could reveal a tragedy, comedy or history. Nothing is planned-out, rehearsed, or written. Each play is completely improvised, so each play is entirely new.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company has been performing its critically-acclaimed show every Friday night at the world famous iO Theater for over four years and continues to entertain audiences around the globe with its touring company.

The ISC has been featured at the Piccolo Spoleto Fringe Festival, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival and the prestigious Just For Laughs festival in Montreal. It has been named Chicago's best improv group by both the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Examiner, and has received a New York Nightlife Award for "Best Comedic Performance by a Group".

The ISC was recently honored by the Chicago Improv Foundation as its "Ensemble of the Year".

Learn more, and watch videos of previous performances, at www.improvisedshakespeare.com. Follow them at Facebook.com/improvisedshakespeare.

Gizzae, a mix of Grammy-award winning musicians who have played with some of the biggest names in music, brings its award-winning reggae music to Lakeland College's Krueger Fine Arts Series on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Gizzae will perform at the college's Bradley Theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for non-Lakeland students, and can be purchased at the door or by calling Deb at 565-1536.

Rocket, Ruphael, Clem, Evans and Ralph have over 100 years of musical experience collectively and a combined four Grammy awards. They have played and recorded professionally with such acts as Ziggy Marley, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Third World, Burning Spear, Carly Simon, The Talking Heads, Judy Mowatt, Sam Ghansah, Rude Beat Society and many others.

Working and playing with such a vast array of musical styles and talents has enabled Gizzae to create a unique blend of Roots Reggae. Hailing from the beautiful Caribbean island of Dominica, the Ancient and Holy Lands of Ethiopia and the South Side of Chicago, the members of Gizzae play a brand of reggae that's always backed with strong guitar riffing, pads and ambient vibes from the dual keyboardists.

Some songs are heavily influenced by Soca and Calypso and other genres such as jazz and even rock. Just when you think you've heard everything Gizzae has to offer, the band instinctively and seamlessly transitions into a blues reggae finale to satisfy the organ and guitar solo fans.

Formed in 1992 after the breakup of Dallol (Ziggy Marley's Touring Band) and Moja Nya (New York), Gizzae soon became a fan favorite in the Chicago and Midwest reggae scene. A Sunday night staple at the fledgling Wild Hare, fans started to come out to hear this new reggae band in force, and 15 years later, they still rock the house every Sunday night.

Learn more about the band on their website at http://gizzae.com/.

Several changes in direction will mark the 2011 Lakeland College Student Art Exhibition, a show which features works by Lakeland students enrolled in the college's various art classes this school year.

Lou Ashley - Digital Art

A reception and awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on the Lakeland campus. The show will run through May 13. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session.

Historically, the student show included hundreds of works, but Bradley Gallery Co-Directors Denise Presnell-Weidner and Bill Weidner have scaled back the number of works in a quality over quantity approach. The show will features the two best examples of any given assignment, and works that required more than one class period to complete.

Rie Sakahara - Watercolor

"The show will feature works that demonstrate the depth of experience that a student may have in an art class," Presnell-Weidner said.

Students who hail from throughout the U.S. and several different countries will be stationed throughout the gallery and will discuss their coursework and field any questions from the attendees.

Tory Hayner - Charcoal

The opening reception features an awards ceremony, which will include a People's Choice Award.

Courses represented are drawing, two and three-dimensional design, computer design, oil painting, black & white film photography, illustration and graphic design.

Lou Ashley, Tassy Dimmer, Rie Sakahara and Ann Souik will discuss their work during an opening reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Gallery, located in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on Lakeland's Sheboygan County campus.

The exhibit, which will feature works created by these students during their time at Lakeland, will run through April 1. The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The senior art show is a requirement for all Lakeland art majors. Students gain the experience of having their own exhibit, and are responsible for planning the show, putting the public relations together, hanging their work and any other details.

Bottom Left by Lou Ashley

Ashley, who lives in Sheboygan, is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a graphic design emphasis. He joined the Army after graduating from high school, and he spent time in Egypt and throughout the U.S. Upon returning home, he made it a personal goal to graduate from college.

"Graphic design intrigues me because the field has so many different facets and opportunities," Ashley said. "My ideas stem from a twisted sense of humor and a desire to create designs that will stand out amidst everything else. I like bright contrast and loud colors when they are set within an elegant setting."

Break Time watercolor by Tassy Dimmer

Dimmer, who lives in Sheboygan, is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a graphic design emphasis. She earned an associate's degree in marketing from Lakeshore Technical College in 2007 and a PowerPoint certificate from LTC in 2006. She would like to earn her master of business administration from Lakeland and land a job with a large advertising agency. She enjoys corporate identity and commercial art.

"Every piece of artwork I create I try to incorporate some type of personal meaning or emotion," Dimmer said. "When I work on a piece of art, every stroke from that brush, every line from that pencil, or even a click from that mouse has to have a piece of life in it."

Landscape Watercolor by Rie Sakahara

Sakahara, an international student from Japan, is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a studio and graphic design emphasis. She is the recipient of the Helga Duechler Dawurske Art Scholarship and an LC Presidential Scholarship. She earned an associate's degree from Lakeland College Japan.

"While working on most of my art pieces, I tend to express a sense of Japan," Sakahara said. "I like to create designs that relate to Japanese culture. I prefer to work on landscape, still life and design which relates to Japanese culture. I like to paint landscapes - especially nature - such as views of the ocean, forests, and rivers because I feel a sense of my hometown and beauty of nature in the landscape."

Firelight Oil by Ann Souik

Souik, who lives in Sheboygan, is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a studio emphasis. She is serving an internship at Two Fish Gallery in Elkhart Lake with owner Pat Robison, who is also an adjunct art instructor at Lakeland. She was a senior high youth group leader with Campus Life Youth Group, and went on mission trips to Ecuador in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She prefers to work with graphite and clay.

"Working with Pat at Lakeland and at his studio has shown me that it's possible to not only be an artist and sell my pieces, but also be a teacher and a business owner," Souik said. "Most of my artwork is produced to meet the requirements of a class, but some pieces also reflect special memories I have."

Pine View Gala Poster by Darramia Perteet

Darramia Perteet, Yiyun Wang and Jackie Stephan will discuss their work during an opening reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Gallery, located in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on Lakeland's Sheboygan County campus.

The exhibit, which will feature works created by these students during their time at Lakeland, will run through Feb. 25. The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The senior art show is a requirement for all Lakeland art majors. Students gain the experience of having their own exhibit, and are responsible for planning the show, putting the public relations together, hanging their work and any other details.

Self Portrait by Jackie Stephan

Stephan, a 2008 Plymouth High School graduate, is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a graphic design and studio art emphasis. She is currently working as a designer and photographer at Jacklyn Ann Photography & Design. She was a graphic design intern with Lakeland's career development office, and advertising director with Level Teen Lounge, Inc., in Plymouth.

"When I am creating, I find most of my inspiration in people," Stephan said. "I simply love to watch and observe how people interact with one another. I believe that the human form itself is beautiful. Bones, skins, muscles, eyes, and hair are things that we all have in common. By incorporating human characteristics into my artwork, I believe people will be able to relate."

Perteet, who is working toward a bachelor's degree in art with a graphic design emphasis, was born in Chicago and raised for a few years in Las Vegas, and the lights and glitz of the Strip was a big early influence. She has won numerous awards for both her art and academic work. She works as a graphic design assistant in the college's marketing department, and has assisted several college departments with her talents.

"My current work has a lot to do with what is going on in my life at the time: my relationships, my interests, sports or otherwise," said Perteet, who hopes to land a job as a graphic designer after graduating.

"Nothing I have done has a clear meaning to it - you take from it what you want. My artwork may have a personal message behind it, but I do not like to hinder people's perception of my pieces. I think it is more fun to explore art and make up your own meaning."

Self Portrait by Yijun Wang

Wang is from Jiangsu, China, and is studying to earn a bachelor's in art with a graphic design and studio art emphasis. He painted a mural as Rocky Knoll Health Center in Plymouth as part of an internship. In addition to his work in campus, he has worked at Sheboygan North and South high schools as a Chinese teaching assistant.

"The whole world around me attracts my thoughts," Wang said. "With this in mind, I travel a lot. I am an observational traveler who likes adventure, and I am curious about everything that is new to me, especially different cultures in different lands."

"Painting I" by Jackie Stephan

"Digital Illustration" by Tassy Dimmer

"Color Theory" by Tory Hayner

The 2010 Lakeland College Student Art Exhibition will feature approximately 700 pieces by 200 students enrolled in the college's various art classes this school year.

A reception and awards ceremony will be held on Friday, April 16, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on the Lakeland campus. The show will run through May 14. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session.

The work in this show represents the best of the work done in Lakeland art classes over the past academic year. Students, who hail from throughout the U.S. and several different countries, will be stationed throughout the gallery and will discuss their coursework and field any questions from the attendees.

The opening reception features an awards ceremony as students will receive Best Body of Work and Honorable Mention awards in each area. There will be a Best of Show, a People's Choice Award and the art department's three major scholarships for upper classmen will also be announced.

Mediums represented are charcoal, ink, oil paint, acrylic, black and white photography, computer design, plaster, clay, foam board construction, watercolor, pastel, graphite and conte crayon. Examples of subject matter include portraiture, interior space, landscape, abstract design, theory studies, figure drawing, still life, commercial and graphic design, among others.

Courses represented are drawing I & II, two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design, color theory, painting I and II, watercolor I & II, pastels, digital illustration, digital imaging, black & white film photography, illustration, graphic communications and a new course, typography.

The program will include music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Percy Grainger, John Philip Sousa, David Maslanka, Kevin Walczyk and Dmitri Shostakovich. Admission is free.

The featured soloist with the concert band will be Arthur Johnson, piano faculty member at Lakeland. Johnson will give the Wisconsin premier of David Maslanka's "Concerto No. 2 for Piano, Winds, and Percussion." The concerto is programmatic in nature and presents an array of novel imagery including Bugs Bunny, St. Francis and Groucho Marx.

The concert band will also perform Sousa's "King Cotton March," written during the summer of 1895 for the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta. The march was (and is) a rousing success.

Also on the program are Shostakovich's "Folk Dances," the Overture "Il Re Pastore" of Mozart, Kevin Walczyk's "Children's Folk Song Suite" and Percy Grainger's "Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon."

"At Lakeland College, talented students and select community members work to perform great band repertoire on a regular basis," said Russell Pettitt, instructor of music and director of bands. "We are excited to feature Dr. Johnson and present an outstanding concert."

The performance is free and open to the public.

The program will feature both sacred and secular music. There will be a significant mix of world music, including pieces sung in Latin, Russian, Spanish and Xhosa, an official language of South Africa. Several pieces by contemporary composers will highlight the program.

It will feature the Lakeland College Frauenchor, the Concert Choir, the Lakeland Singers and the Lakeland Schilcutt Handbell Ensemble, as well as several featured soloists. Janet Herrick-Stuczynski serves as conductor and the groups are accompanied by Arthur Johnson.

A group affectionately dubbed the "Four Divas" will perform a women's quartet by Schubert (Psalm 23). The group includes Lakeland students Clarissa Dimel, Brittany Wierzbach, April Wasmer and Emily Rendall-Araujo.

The Lakeland Schilcutt Handbell Ensemble will play Herrick's arrangements of Journey's "Open Arms" and Coldplay's "Viva la Vida." Lakeland junior Cody Linder wrote an arrangement based on AC/DC's "Big Balls" entitled "Big Bells." It's the first time a Lakeland student has written a handbell arrangement for performance.

The annual tour takes Lakeland students to various churches around the Midwest. This year's tour includes the following performances:

• April 8, Rhinelander, First Congregational Church
• April 9, Wausau, Grace United Church of Christ
• April 10, Kiel, Saint Peter UCC
• April 11, Chilton, Ebenezer UCC

The sounds of traditional and contemporary China will fill Lakeland College's Bradley Theatre as Orchid Ensemble brings its unique take on World Music to the college's Krueger Fine Arts Series.

Orchid Ensemble will perform at Lakeland on Tuesday, April 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by contacting Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536 or faledj@lakeland.edu.

Established in 1997, Orchid Ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound that is both creative and distinct. The ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire that includes creative improvisation.

Acclaimed as "One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene" (Georgia Straight), the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians.

Orchid Ensemble's 2004 release, "Road to Kashgar," was nominated for a Juno award in the Best World Music category.

The Orchid Ensemble regularly collaborates with musicians from a wide variety of world cultures and actively commissions new works by U.S. and Canadian composers for its unique instrumentation.

The ensemble has performed in concerts across North America, and at prominent world, jazz and folk music festivals. Recent appearances include The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery; Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa; Festival Miami, and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Orchid Ensemble includes Lan Tung on vocals and erhu, Haiqiong Deng on zheng and Jonathan Bernard on marimba and percussion.

The erhu is a two-string stick fiddle that is played resting on the lap. It was introduced to China in the Tang Dynasty. A popular instrument in a variety of Chinese folk traditions, the erhu has now become a principle instrument in both instrumental and opera music.

The zheng is a plucked half-tube wood zither with movable bridges, over which a number of strings are stretched. The history of the zheng can be traced back to 2,500 years ago.

The ensemble uses a wide range of percussion including dumbek, def (frame drum), pai-gu (set of 5 Chinese tuned drums), udu (Nigerian percussion pot), Tibetan bells, zils (Egyptian finger cymbals), Turkish bells, kempul (Javanese gamelan gongs), Buddhist temple bowls, Chinese wind gong, Sichuan opera cymbals, Beijing opera gongs and cymbals, crotales, Chinese temple blocks and ban (Chinese wooden opera clapper).

"Corn Field by Sarah Roob"

Sarah Roob, Samantha Mohr, Sara Willadsen, Kyoko Yasuda, Jessica Dunning and Tyree Curry will discuss their work during an opening reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Gallery, located in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on Lakeland's Sheboygan County campus.

The exhibit, which will feature works created by these four students during their time at Lakeland, will run through April 5. The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The senior art show is a requirement for all Lakeland art majors. Students gain the experience of having their own exhibit, and are responsible for planning the show, putting the public relations together, hanging their work and any other details.

Roob, a Sheboygan native and South High School graduate, transferred to Lakeland from The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago in Chicago. She said art is a way for her to communicate her thoughts and hopes.

"My intentions were to incorporate my feelings in my artwork and to portray those same feelings to my audience, this sense of peace and happiness I find while I am working on a piece of art," Roob said.

Mohr earned an associate degree from UW-Sheboygan before coming to Lakeland. It's there that she gained experience as graphic artist, but she found her true calling - becoming an art teacher - at Lakeland. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in art education after earning her bachelor's degree.

"I work at the Boys & Girls Club and the reward I get from working with kids everyday is indescribable," Mohr said. "I thrive on being in an artistic environment and I live for being a role model for kids."

"Lightness Sara by Willadsen"

Willadsen, a Sheboygan Falls native and Sheboygan Falls High School graduate, has won numerous awards for her work, been part of exhibitions in Plymouth, Manitowoc and Green Bay and served several art internships with local companies. She's focused on a degree in graphic design, but hasn't ruled out art education.

"I am inspired from a diverse number of things when designing, from old medical illustrations to peeling paint on the side of a building," Willadsen said. "This has led me to incorporate unlikely elements in my designs, such as handmade elements like painted backgrounds and illustrations. I feel little touches like these give pieces character, and make them much more appealing."

Yasuda came to Lakeland from Lakeland College Japan in Tokyo and her previous experience includes working at the Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo and the Yokosuka Museum of Art.

"I believe art should be a window to the real world, even clarifying our view so that we might perceive a new meaning from reality," Yasuda said. "A dream doesn't always come true, and what you see is not always what you get. However, I have always tried to think positive to fulfill my dream to be an artist."

Dunning transferred to Lakeland from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and her love for art was shaped in high school at Lynde & Harry Bradley School of Technology and Trade. She hopes to further her career as an art director, and is also considering teaching.

"Other art majors here at Lakeland are more open and willing to help you improve your design, and I love that about this school," Dunning said.

"Art by Tyree Curry"

Curry, a member of Lakeland's football team and the Beta Sigma Omega fraternity, has also been attracted to the graphic design field.

"I would like people to get goose bumps when looking at my work, just by the mood I aim for it to bring," he said. "I live in a fantasy world, and I want everyone to see my fantasy through my work."

Prior to Lakeland's March 27 performance of the Broadway and big screen smash "Chicago," guests can get a preview of the show during an elegant dinner at the college's David and Valerie Black Room.

Following the dinner, which begins at 5:45 p.m., guests will be escorted to the Bradley Theatre for the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $40 per person which includes dinner and a prime seat to that evening's performance.

During dinner, a few members of the cast will drop in for a song or two, and the show's director, Charlie Krebs, the college's assistant professor of theatre, will provide a special preview of the show just for dinner guests.

"'Chicago' is a hot show, and the college has some really talented students who are having a great time with it in rehearsals," Krebs said. "We've got an elaborate stage setup and lighting design planned. We're hoping to get more people out to the college for an evening of great entertainment."

Seating is limited at the dinner. Contact Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536 to purchase your tickets for the dinner and show. If you are only buying tickets for the play, the cost is $15 per person. "Chicago" opens at Lakeland on Thursday, March 25, and runs through Sunday, March 28. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

Lakeland College will spotlight the work of four senior art students when the Lakeland Senior Art Student Portfolio Exhibition opens on Friday, Jan. 29.

Celine Elzinga, Ki Seob Kim, Liz Lange and Samantha Vanden Plas will discuss their work during an opening reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Bradley Gallery, located in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on Lakeland's Sheboygan County campus.

The exhibit, which will feature works created by these four students during their time at Lakeland, will run through Feb. 26. The Bradley Gallery is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, when the college is in session. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The senior art show is a requirement for all Lakeland art majors. Students gain the experience of having their own exhibit, and are responsible for planning the show, putting the public relations together, hanging their work and any other details.

Portrait by Celine Elzinga

Elzinga, a Howards Grove High School graduate, is majoring in art with a graphic design emphasis. Her father, Jeff, is a professor at Lakeland, and she lived for a few years in Africa and France.

She is layout editor for The Lakeland College Mirror, served as managing editor of the Lakeland poetry magazine "Seems," worked for the college's marketing department and has been involved with Mortar Board, Campus Activities Board, College's Against Cancer, Student Association and played soccer at Lakeland.

"I like my work to be strong and purposeful," Elzinga said. "When I get an assignment, I like to try and find the connection I have to it. I have a great background and a wonderful and exciting future ahead of me, and when I am creating any piece of work I am simultaneously thinking of that."

"Portrait of Orion" by Liz Lange

Lange is a Kohler native who served in the U.S. Air Force before enrolling in college. She had a lifelong interest in art and developed a love for photography while serving in the military.

"I enjoy experimenting and working in many mediums, and I've grown fond of painting with oils," Lange said. "I use brilliant colors to create an expressive style and mood. I've worked with a variety of subject matter, but enjoy portraiture the most because of its psychological value."

Kim is majoring in art with a studio art emphasis. He earned a degree in digital animation before coming to Lakeland, and would like to attend graduate school and eventually make art his career.

Vanden Plas is majoring in art with a graphic design emphasis. She has worked on campus as a resident assistant, and been active in Habitat for Humanity, Colleges Against Cancer and the Campus Activities Board.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Bradley Fine Arts Building.

After the combined Lakeland choirs open with the college's Alma Mater, the Frauenchor will perform Brahms' "Der Gartner" in German, the Scottish folk song "Ca' the Yowes (sung in dialect), Debussy's "Nuit d'etoiles" in French, the American folk song "Shenandoah" and "Adiemus" (from "Songs of Sanctuary) by Karl Jenkins.

The Lakeland College Concert Choir will continue a very international program with Rachmaninoff's "Bogoroditse Devo" in Russian, "El Cielo Canta Alegria" in Spanish, the popular Irish Folk Song "Danny Boy" and an African piece, "Dubula," sung in Xhosa, one of the official languages spoken in South Africa.

The choirs are led by Janet Herrick, a member of Lakeland's music faculty. Megan Pettitt, instructor of flute, will play flute and recorder with the choirs.

The concert band will perform "Overture for Winds" by Charles Carter, "With Quiet Courage" by Larry Daehn, "Liturgical Music" by Martin Mailman, "Alligator Alley" by Michael Daugherty and "The Lakeland College Fight Song" by Edgar Thiessen.

The works by Carter and Mailman represent standards in the wind band repertoire, while "With Quiet Courage" and "Alligator Alley" have been written in the last 15 years. Daehn is a Wisconsin composer whose music is popular with school bands, honor bands and college bands across the U.S.

"Alligator Alley" features the Lakeland College bassoon section. Daugherty wrote this music to represent a section of Interstate 75 in Florida that is populated by many alligators. The prominent nature of the bassoons in this work is a nod to Daugherty's daughter whom he states "plays a mean bassoon."

"I have really enjoyed working with an outstanding group of Lakeland students this fall," said Pettitt, who is in his first semester at Lakeland. "We are a diverse collection of musicians who have come together to perform great band music. This will be an exciting concert for all."

The Schilcutt Handbells will play in the gallery immediately after the band portion of the concert. They will premiere an arrangement of Aerosmith's "Dream On" by Janet Herrick. A free reception will also be held in the Bradley Theatre gallery following the concert.

The works of John Hubbard, a veteran art educator and artist, will be featured in the second exhibition of the 2009-10 Bradley Gallery season at Lakeland College.

An opening reception with Hubbard is set for Friday, Oct. 30, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the gallery, which is located in Lakeland's Bradley Fine Arts Building.

The exhibition featuring Hubbard's work runs through Dec. 11. The Bradley Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8:05 a.m.-3:50 p.m. when the college is in session.

A professor of art at Northern Michigan University for four decades, Hubbard's primary work is in papermaking, printmaking, drawing and painting.

He served for a year as vice chairperson for the Fine Arts Division of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, and from 1971-78 was gallery director at the Lee Hall Gallery at NMU.

He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Boston University and his MFA from Syracuse University.

Wesla Whitfield will bring a fun evening of Broadway tunes, movie songs and Hit Parade numbers to Lakeland College on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

Whitfield's performance, part of Lakeland's Krueger Fine Arts Series, will be in the Bradley Theatre on the Lakeland College campus. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for non-Lakeland students and can be reserved by contacting Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536. They will also be available for purchase at the Bradley box office the night of the show.

Whitfield inhabits that indeterminate zone where jazz and cabaret meet. Trained in classical music and opera, Whitfield has toiled for more than three decades to become one of the most gifted performers breathing life into that exquisite body of music known collectively as the Great American Songbook.

Based in San Francisco, Whitfield now spends much of her time in New York, working such noted rooms as the Algonquin Oak Room, Le Jazz Au Bar, The Metropolitan Room and Joe's Pub at New York's Public Theater. She has also appeared in concert at NY Town Hall, Avery Fisher and Carnegie Hall.

Working with her husband, pianist/arranger Mike Greensill, the two released their 19th recording "Message From the Man In The Moon" in December of 2007, and their first as a duo. Along with several well-known tunes, the song list also features the rarity, "I've Found My World In You" written by Neil Sedaka and included at his personal request.

Together Whitfield and Greensill conduct scheduled Master Classes at Notre Dame De Namur and Napa Colleges in California and throughout the country, as well as teaching privately.

Whitfield and Greensill have garnered numerous national television, radio and written media credits including, All Things Considered, Fresh Air with Teri Gross, People Magazine, CBS Sunday Morning, New York Times Sunday Magazine, DownBeat Magazine profile and a feature in 'O' Magazine.

Greensill is resident piano player and side-kick on Sedge Thomson's weekly Public Radio show to the world, West Coast Live. He can also be caught playing jazz and singing in many a San Francisco saloon.

As an arranger, Greensill has had the opportunity to write for big bands and symphony orchestras including the Boston Pops and the San Francisco Symphony. He has also had the pleasure of accompanying such diverse vocal talents as Rita Moreno, Margaret Whiting, Broadway stars Lillias White and Franc D'Ambrosio and jazz singers Madeline Eastman, Ann Hampton Callaway and Opie Bellas.

Mike's latest CD, "The Mike Greensill Trio 'Live at the Plush Room'", is available on-line at Amazon.com. His writing and arranging for the Kronos Quartet can be found on Wesla Whitfield's CD "September Songs" on HighNote Records.

Dig a little deeper, and this classic Harper Lee novel is a tale of how a young girl and her brother refuse to learn hatred and in so doing learn to make their corner of the world a better place.

"To Kill a Mockingbird," the timeless story about courage in the face of evil, will be staged by Lakeland College Theatre at the end of October.

arrator of this new adaptation is Scout as an adult.

Through the innocent eyes of this girl, we see how she makes sense of the horrors of racism, but we also see through the eyes of the grown woman how the compassion she learned from her father, Atticus (David Neese), has healed many wounds.

Performances are scheduled for Oct. 29-31 at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 1 in the Bradley Fine Arts Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 non-Lakeland students.

Lakeland College Theatre director Charlie Krebs said while many have likely read the story - maybe years before in school - the themes remain poignant.

"While the subject matter is difficult and reminds us of a difficult chapter of our history, the story is beautifully rendered for the stage," Krebs said. "The lessons of the story go beyond compassion to courage, loyalty and standing up for what's right in light of overwhelming odds.

"If you look beneath the obvious, you will discover this play is not about hatred, but learning compassion in the face of hatred. Scout learns a great lesson from Atticus that you never really know a person until you walk around in their skin. When Atticus makes his son Jem (Tyler Allen) read to Mrs. Dubose, despite the horrible names she calls his father, Jem learns about her disease and what real courage is."

Actors in Lakeland's production will employ the Laban Effort System as they embrace impulse-based acting. Krebs said he is thrilled with their work.

"The acting by these Lakeland students is magnificent," Krebs said. "They are working hard to create superbly realistic acting that steers away from being dramatic and looks for the power of truth in simple moments. The actors have to speak in a southern dialect for hours at a time in rehearsals in order to make the accent sound realistic."

The scenery will be very symbolic. The entire set will be made to look old, beaten, weathered and colorless, much like the mindset of Macomb, Ala., in 1935.

This production continues the growing interest in theatre at Lakeland. Krebs, who is in his third year at the college, has already announced that the spring musical will be a production of "Chicago," set for March 25-28.

CAST LIST

Grammy-nominated Monte Montgomery will bring his electrified acoustic guitar to Lakeland College on Friday, Oct. 16, as part of the college's Krueger Fine Arts Series.

Montgomery, named one of the "Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitar Players" by Guitar Player Magazine, will perform in the Bradley Fine Arts Building theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for non-Lakeland students and can be reserved by contacting Deb Fale (920) 565-1536.

When Terry Lickona, producer of Austin City Limits, plucked a then relatively unknown Monte Montgomery to tape a segment of the legendary show, one had the sense that this was just the beginning.

Since that jaw dropping performance, Montgomery has embarked on an almost fantasy-like rock and roll roller coaster ride filled with dizzying accomplishments and mind blowing accolades.

Despite the six-string notoriety, Monte is not content to rest on his musical laurels. "I've resisted temptation to be just that guitar gunslinger from Austin, Texas," Montgomery said. "I strive to have more depth, to be more layered as an artist, songwriter and singer."

With the release of his latest CD "Monte Montgomery," he is cementing his place as not just some blazingly acoustic guitar playing freak of nature, but also a rare and true triple threat: songwriter, singer and master musician.

His version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Little Wing" off his self-titled release has made it into the first round of Grammy voting under the "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" category. It's the first time Montgomery has recorded the classic rock staple after years of playing it live.

"I never play it the same way twice," Montgomery said. "So when making this record we planned for 'Little Wing' to be the last thing we attempted to track every night in the studio, and if we get it, we get it. If not, we would just leave it to the live performances. On the second night, after a long day in the studio, the track we got was like, wow. We knew it was magic."

Long a big draw on the live music scene, Montgomery's non-stop touring schedule this year has included ParkPop (one of the largest music festivals in Europe). Fans and critics have likened a Monte Montgomery show to a musical religious experience.

Ironically, it's the cover of another rock pop classic that is bringing Montgomery a high profile fan following and opening up new doors. After seeing his version of "Sara Smile" on YouTube, Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) was so blown away he invited Monte to be the featured artist on "Live From Daryl's House," the popular web-based music show.

For more information about Monte Montgomery, visit his website at: www.montemontgomery.net

After enjoying breakfast on campus, a group of approximately 60 Lakeland students, faculty and staff will be bussed to Camp Anokijig in western Sheboygan County where they are volunteering to do community service projects.

"Make a Difference Day" is coordinated by the Lakeland College Faculty Outreach Committee. "Make a Difference Day" is one example of different programs that Lakeland has started to give students more opportunities to do community service.

Homecoming activities for alumni begin on Friday, Oct. 9, with a special Back to School session that allows alumni to sit in on classes with current Lakeland students. Offerings include educational psychology with Mehraban Khodavandi, Old Testament theology with Karl Kuhn, principles of microeconomics with Adina Schwartz, accounting principles with J. Garland Schilcutt and more. Find a complete list on the Homecoming schedule.

Friday at noon, the class of 1959 will have a reunion lunch and be inducted into the Emeritus Club. A champagne reception for the reunion classes (1959, 1969, 1984, 1999) will be held in the President's House at 4 p.m.

The Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet is Friday evening. John Lemke '91 and Ted Szymanski '92 will both be inducted into the Hall of Fame for their standout careers on the football field. Lakeland president Stephen Gould will receive the Hall of Fame Service Award for his support and dedication to the athletic program during his tenure at Lakeland. Contact Karen Westley at 565-1512 to make a reservation for this special evening.

Several athletic programs have alumni games planned for Saturday including men's basketball (9 a.m.), baseball (10:30 a.m.) and women's basketball (10:45 a.m.)

A service of worship and remembrance is set for 10 a.m. Saturday in the Ley Chapel, followed by the Alumni Tailgate in the Laun Center parking lot at 1 p.m.

The football team takes on Wisconsin Lutheran College at 1 p.m. at Taylor Field, while the women's soccer team faces WLC at 1 p.m. at the soccer field, followed by the men facing WLC at 3:30. There will be a Fifth Quarter in the Pub at 4 p.m.

A reception prior to the Alumni Awards Banquet is set for 5 p.m. in the Laun Center, followed by the banquet at 6 p.m. in Bossard Hall. Advanced reservations are appreciated and can be made by contacting Charmaine Jankowski '03 at jankowskicm@lakeland.edu.

Each year, the Lakeland College Alumni Association (LCAA) honors deserving alumni for their contributions to the college and to the community. Three graduates will be recognized during this year's banquet: Will Mathes '61 will receive the Service to the Community Award, Allen Wangemann '55 will receive The President's Richard C. Preuhs '65 Award and Joel Schuler '80 will receive the Service to the College Award.

Current students will be marking Homecoming throughout the week with a window painting contest at The Pub, team games in front of the Younger Family Campus Center, the Black Student Union Date Auction and the always-popular Mr. Muskie competition set for Thursday night in the Bradley Fine Arts Building.

A pep rally and lip sync competition will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Wehr Center Field House, followed by the bonfire and lighting of the LC outside the Campus Center. Homecoming king and queen are announced at the pep rally.

Kenneth Miller, professor of biology and the Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence at Brown University, will deliver a lecture entitled titled "Is Evolution 'only a Theory?' Darwin, God, and Design in the 21st century" on September 30 at 7 p.m. at the Bradley Fine Arts Building.

All Lakeland lectures are free and open to the public.

The accomplished author of "Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution and Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul," Miller will address the scientific standing of evolutionary theory in relation to religious views of nature in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Darwin's much-discussed and debated publication.

Financial advice, bipolar disorder, the annual Great Lakes Writers Festival and a variety of other topics are also included in this year's lineup. With the exception of Miller's lecture, they begin at 11 a.m. in the Bradley Fine Arts Building.

This year's lineup includes:

October 13 - Dr. John Whitcomb, Learning Fiscal Fitness: "Thriving in a Financially Troubled World"

Learning Fiscal Fitness or frugal behavior is a science in and of itself. Natural tendencies are to follow patterns of behavior from our background and culture, and people naturally follow the emotional patterns and instincts taught by their parents. Those can be changed. Whitcomb will walk the audience through the steps it takes to be Fiscally Fit. Learn how to shape yourself and to feel good about it while you are at it.

November 3 - Mission House Lecture: Kathryn Greene-McCreight, "The Light Shines in the Darkness"

Some years ago, Greene-McCreight was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a difficult and agonizing mental illness. She speaks with insight and compassion about how she faced this personal struggle, explaining how the resources of faith and theological reflection combine with medical and psychological assistance to deal with mental disorder. Her concern is helping people interpret and survive mental illness.

November 5 - Great Lakes Writers Festival: Featuring David Lehman and Stacey Harwood

Lakeland's annual two-day celebration will feature readings and workshops by David Lehman, renowned poet and editor of The Best American Poetry series, and Stacey Harwood, a nonfiction writer and a policy analyst for the state of New York.

February 2 - Founder's Day Lecture: Lydia Veliko, "Unity, Identity and Relationship: God's Call for Reconciliation"

Veliko will discuss recent efforts for church unity and what such unity and reconciliation might mean for the world today. In her position as ecumenical officer of the United Church of Christ, she has a unique perspective on both the difficulties and the prospects for reconciliation.

February 16 - Doug Flaherty: Guest Poet, "Reinventing Oneself; The Art of Passion"

Doug Flaherty will speak about how we are all initiated into belief structures as children. Since beliefs and suppositions are based on everyone else's ideas, who is the real you? How do we begin to be our own person?

March 2 - Michael Shermer, "The Science of Good and Evil"

Shermer will discuss the relationship between science and religion and the nature and existence of God. He is the publisher of "Skeptic Magazine," a monthly columnist for "Scientific American," host of the Skeptic Lecture Series and co-host and producer of the 13-hour Fox Family Series, "Exploring the Unknown." He is currently an adjunct instructor in the School of Politics and Economics at Claremont Graduate University.

There will be evenings of music covering several genres stretching from acoustic guitar, to jazz to an eclectic group that combines a variety of sounds.

All KFAS performances are held at Lakeland's Bradley Fine Arts Building and begin at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seats for each event are $25 for adults and $15 for non-Lakeland students and can be purchased by contacting Deb Fale at (920) 565-1536 or email faledj@lakeland.edu.

Oct. 16 - Monte Montgomery

Monte Montgomery is cementing his place as not just some blazingly electrified acoustic guitar player freak of nature, but also a rare and true triple threat - songwriter, singer and master musician. From following after his mom, a singer/songwriter who instilled in him a passion for music and a taste of the life he was destined to lead, it was the eventual move to Austin, Texas, where he earned his musical baccalaureate from the city's highly competitive music scene. Terry Lickona, producer of Austin City Limits, introduced him on the Austin City Limits' stage uttering these words: "Monte Montgomery blows people away. There is no other way to describe it." For more information on Montgomery, visit his website: www.montemontgomery.com.

Nov. 6 - Wesla Whitfield

Wesla Whitfield inhabits the area where jazz and cabaret meet. Whitfield has toiled for more than three decades to become one of the most gifted performers breathing life into that exquisite body of Broadway tunes, movie songs and Hit Parade numbers known collectively as the Great American Songbook. With her deft sense of time and uncanny ability to connect with the emotional truth in a lyric, the jazz world has had no qualms about embracing her as one of its own. Working with pianist/arranger Mike Greensill, the two released their 19th recording 'Message from the Man in the Moon' in December of 2007, and their first as a duo. For more information on Whitfield, visit her website: www.weslawhitfield.com.

Apr 13 - Orchid Ensemble

Orchid Ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound. The ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, world music, new music to jazz and creative improvisation. The energetic yet endearing performance style of the ensemble consistently intrigues and delights its audiences. The trio consists of Lan Tung (Taiwan/Canada) on the erhu/Chinese violin, Haiqiong Deng (China/US) on the zheng/Chinese zither and Jonathan Bernard (Canada) on percussion. For more information on Orchid Ensemble, visit their website: www.orchidensemble.com.

3D Design by Tassy Dimmer

B&W Photo by Anneliese Hill

Computer Design by Madeline Shields

John Wagner by Yi Wang

Self Portrait by Darramia Perteet

Self Portrait by Seob Kim

Watercolor by Liz Lange

Watercolor by Sarah Roob

The 2009 Lakeland College Student Art Exhibition will feature a bit difference format as over 600 pieces by Lakeland students will be on display.

A reception and awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Bradley Fine Arts Building on the Lakeland campus. The show will run through May 22. Attendance at the reception and admittance to the Bradley Gallery are both free and open to the public.

The work in this show represents the best of the work done in Lakeland art classes over the past academic year. Students from various art courses will be stationed throughout the gallery and will give brief presentations about the coursework, and field any questions from the attendees.

The opening reception features an awards ceremony as students will receive Best Body of Work and Honorable Mention awards in each area. There will be a Best of Show, a People's Choice Award and the art department's three major scholarships for upper classmen will also be announced.

Mediums represented are charcoal, ink, oil paint, acrylic, black and white photography, computer design, plaster, clay, foam board construction, watercolor, pastel, graphite and conte crayon. Examples of subject matter include portraiture, interior space, landscape, abstract design, theory studies, figure drawing, still life, commercial and graphic design, among others.

Classes represented include Drawing I & II, Painting I & II, Pastel, Black and White Photography, Watercolor I & II, Three-Dimensional Design, Two-Dimensional Design, Color Theory, Computer Design II & III, Illustration and Communication Graphics.

The Bradley Gallery is open from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.