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Binneweg joins AU orchestra

By Drew Richardson | March 5

Anna Binneweg made her debut this weekend as guest conductor for the American University Symphony Orchestra. But there was nothing in the background of this current music director and conductor of the Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra to suggest this would be her future occupation.

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News

AU Symphony Orchestra impresses with Tchaikovsky

By Drew Richardson | March 5

This past weekend, the American University Symphony Orchestra performed its first concert of the spring semester in the Abramson Family Recital Hall at the Katzen Arts Center. The concert featured the AUSO 2006-2007 Concerto and Aria Competition cowinners Laura Petravage and Josiah Lambert, as well as the debut of guest conductor Anna Binneweg.

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News

Music notes

March 5

Various Artists "Play" (DeSoto) Sounds Like: Songs your mom would have played for you if she was on LSD instead of Valium and dated Shel Silverstein. Grade: A "Play" is one of many twisted children's music albums to be released in the past year - twisted in that the intended audience is not necessarily children of a certain age but still children, even the ones at heart.

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News

Iowan Americana: music for the soul

By Hanna Grene | March 5

There is a hush that comes over the crowd as William Elliot Whitmore takes the stage. He is alone, with only his guitar, banjo and glass of whiskey. The audience is mainly dressed in skinny jeans and sneakers, mixed with an older, bar-going crowd. By the fourth song, Whitmore has captivated his audience and nearly everyone is clapping, stomping and whistling as he croons "Johnny Law.

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News

'Midsummer' ballet not quite dream come true

March 5

The New York City Ballet performed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Kennedy Center this week as part of the Center's "Shakespeare in Washington" series, which runs through July. The plot follows the travails of four mortal lovers who happen to cross paths on their way to true love in an enchanted forest.

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News

'Final Fantasy V' delivers classic gameplay, little plot

By Eric Ford | March 5

It took long enough, but Square Enix classic "Final Fantasy V" is finally available on a U.S. Nintendo system. But whether this Game Boy Advance port is worth the wait depends entirely on one's appreciation of gaming history. To some "Final Fantasy" fanatics, "FFV" is one of the better role-playing games of its time.

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News

Violent 'Pillowman' blurs line between good and evil

By Elly Bennett | March 1

The AU Players will bring "The Pillowman" to life this Friday and Saturday in the Katzen Arts Center's Studio Theater. "The Pillowman" is unexpected for a college theater performance. The complex story is dark, violent and, at times, shocking. Ben Naramore, a College of Arts and Sciences senior, plays a young short story author, Katurian, who is arrested by the police.

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News

Oscars elicit laughs, yawns and a few surprises

March 1

Laughter, confusion, anxiety and outrage: These were the four emotions that pervaded the 79th Academy Awards ceremony last Sunday. And though the Oscars seemed to drag on forever this year, this Scene reporter sat through it all and recorded his reactions .

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News

Audio tech draws music savvy students

By Iliana Imberman Berkowitz | March 1

Of the 5,500 undergraduates at AU, about half are enrolled in the renowned School of International Service with intentions of political careers. In stark contrast, there are approximately 80 who have chosen the path of the audio technology major. For these individuals, passion for music and audio production is essential.

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News

AU Tango Club dances into students' hearts

By Andrew Gardner | March 1

Looking for a new way to let off some steam? It seems some members of the AU community have the answer, and it's right on campus. Enter the AU Tango Club, an intercultural dance club dedicated to bringing the exciting (and surprisingly large) world of tango to the inexperienced student dancer.

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News

One AM Radio re-examines lush indie pop

By Hilary Crowe | March 1

When The One AM Radio formed eight years ago, it was primarily a solo effort. Hrishikesh Hirway recorded his first tape while at Yale, using just his voice, acoustic strumming and raw emotion. "I was a computer science major at Yale, with a minor in art, actually," Hirway said.

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News

God-fearing bluesman, nymph search for emotional salvation

By Chris Patriquin | March 1

The plotline for "Black Snake Moan" is plain to see from the trailer: Samuel L. Jackson chains Christina Ricci to a radiator to cure her of "wickedness." However, Craig Brewer's follow-up to "Hustle & Flow" is anything but simple. Using elements from blaxploitation and sexploitation flicks from a bygone era, Brewer has designed a film that can be enjoyed on the base sexual level (and oh what a level that is), but also enjoyed on a deeper, character-driven level.

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News

AU Chamber Singers makes 'Sound' fit for regal audiences

By Drew Richardson | March 1

The American University Chamber Singers performed "Sound the Trumpets: Music for a Royal Occasion" at the Abramson Family Recital Hall in the Katzen Arts Center last weekend. The chorus, accompanied by a 10-piece instrumental section, sang selections from the 17th and 18th centuries originally produced for royal occasions.

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News

Indulgence leads to stomach, heart ache

By Blair Bryant Nichols | March 1

A mid-week fire alarm resulted in an early evening visit to the Eagle's Nest. When a friend couldn't find the Velveeta shells and cheese she so desired, I convinced her that the organic brand would be just as good. For those of you who consume organic food regularly, this is not meant to be critical, but the substitution was a far cry from the "cheesy" richness everyone remembers from childhood.

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News

Gym Class Heroes school 9:30 club crowd

By Madalyn Wasilczuk | February 26

As Gym Class Heroes took the stage, flag waving, at the 9:30 club Wednesday night, fans old and new were instantly caught up in the band's melodic sound and quick lyrical flow. As the band began to play, a familiar hook filled the air-the sounds of an old fan favorite, "Papercuts," off the group's album "The Papercut Chronicles.

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News

Conductor visits AU, teaches master class

By Drew Richardson | February 26

Leonard Slatkin, world-renowned music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, came to the Katzen Arts Center on Feb. 21 for a master class and Q-and-A session. The event was held in the Abramson Family Recital Hall and featured Slatkin leading an open rehearsal with the American University Symphony Orchestra while students, faculty and community members watched from the audience.

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News

Music notes

February 26

Peter Bjorn and John "Writer's Block" (Wichita/V2) Sounds like: A good old PB&J. Grade: A- The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is renowned as humble yet incredibly satisfying; therefore, it's quite comparable to "Writer's Block," by Sweden's Peter Bjorn and John.

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