FEATURE PHOTO: Splendid strings
Raine Zhu, Photographer
July 16, 2019
Jennifer Murphy, cellist for the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and the Charleston Summer Strings, performs "Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)" on the string bass during a concert at First Christian Church Tuesday night.
Janoma, local band of teenagers, talks beginnings, progression
Alyssa Cravens, Staff Reporter
July 9, 2019
Janoma's five bandmates sat in a circle, ready to rehearse for their next upcoming performance, among fragrant smells, wicks, jars and blocks of wax at Madison Avenue Candle Company Monday evening. The creation of the Janoma band started two years ago as a simple joke between friends, said 13-year-...
FEATURE PHOTO: Climbing the steps
Raine Zhu, Photographer
June 26, 2019
Jessica Valenzuela, a senior Elementry Education student from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, climbs stairs back and forth on Wednesday evening at the Mellin Steps outside the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Valenzuela said she does this to keep her body moving. She said she usually climbs...
FEATURE PHOTO: The ‘Broom Dance’ at the Civil War Ball
Zoë Donovan, Staff Reporter
June 16, 2019
Dancers at the Lincoln Log Cabin Civil War Ball mix and mingle during the Broom Dance on June 15. The Broom Dance requires participants to find a new partner whenever the band stops playing. The dance is arranged so that there is one less woman than men on the dance floor. The man who is left without...
Great songs, playlists make a summer more enjoyable
Jessica Stewart, Columnist
June 16, 2019
Whether people are going on road trips or having cookouts in the backyard, great playlists can add so much more vibrancy and life to their experiences. My preferred summer vibe is driving at sunset with the windows down and the air dry (like the desert). My favorite bands create that exact vib...
FEATURE PHOTO: Roc’s Old-Time Jam
Logan Raschke, Editor-in-Chief
June 9, 2019
Jerry Ellis (right), an acoustic guitar player from Charleston, plays old-time tunes from "Dear Old Illinois" with Jim Jand (middle), a banjo player from Tolono, and Jerry Myers (left), a fiddle player from Mattoon, at Roc's Blackfront Tavern & Grill Sunday afternoon. The three players were playing...
Local musicians to perform old-time music at Roc’s
Logan Raschke, Editor-in-Chief
June 6, 2019
People can gather at Roc’s Blackfront Tavern & Grill Sunday afternoon to listen to old-time tunes from local musicians while giving back to the Charleston community. Gaye Harrison, organizer for Roc’s Old Time Jam and fiddler for the band Motherlode, said local musicians will play traditional...
FEATURE PHOTO: Janoma performs at SweetTea’z
Raine Zhu, Photographer
June 6, 2019
Nora Gannaway, 13, puts the microphone back on its stand after singing a song at SweeTea'z Thursday evening. Gannaway is a singer from the local band Janoma, which is made up of young teens.
A musical dream comes back to life
Karena Ozier, Columnist
April 15, 2019
This weekend, I found myself agreeing to do something that I wouldn’t have imagined that I would have agreed to. I used to play the piano in my free time throughout middle school and high school. I never got to learn more than a few songs because with my schedule becoming increasingly busier, I...
Saturday Night Live percussionist to perform, lecture on African music
Logan Raschke, News Editor
April 8, 2019
Valerie Naranjo, percussionist for Saturday Night Live, will perform and lecture about African music exploration and women’s studies Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Naranjo will join the West Percussion Trio, which includes percussion professor Jamie Ryan, for a recital and lectur...
Band of 7 siblings to perform alternative-folk music
Logan Raschke, News Editor
April 3, 2019
The Dvorak Concert Hall will be full of indie-alternative-folk music as The Hunts band performs for the Eastern and Charleston community Thursday night. Dan Crews, interim director of programming, publicity and promotions at the Doudna Fine Arts Center, said The Hunts is a 7-sibling musical group tha...
Celebration honors Asian heritage
Brysen Carr, Contributing Writer
April 1, 2019
The celebration of Asian Heritage Month kicked off Monday with Asian music, Asian cuisine and lots of educational conversation at the Doudna Concourse. Members of the Eastern community gathered around tables bearing classic Asian food, such as sushi, spring rolls, crab rangoons, dumplings and coconu...
