Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical plans annual 'Variety Showcase'

The annual Variety Showcase featuring students and faculty from Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical will be Saturday April 14 at the Sheldon Theatre.

Musicians were asked to audition in mid-February. A panel of judges then chose artists to perform live for the show, open to the public.

The soloists, duets, trios and larger groups were judged on several areas of consideration from intonation to technique to stage presence.

This year’s show includes several acts, including the opening-performance from the Irish-music group Skiberdeen. Members of the ensemble include John Reed, A.J. Srubas, Aaron Tacke, Sarah Bystrom, Arne Pelto II. The musicians share a strong love for Irish music and the interest in is having the music do the talking and keeping personal interests out of the performance.

Brad Hendrickson covers a Johnny Cash tune accompanied by Haley Gibbons and Michael Coward.

A stringed vocal trio of female artists then takes the stage performing as Katryn, Anna & Sarah – Katryn Conlin, Anna Vincent and Bystrom.

The harmonizing duet Crystal City accompanied by Reed made the line-up. Crystal City is signed to the Des Moines-based record label Sleep on the Floor and released a self-titled seven-song EP with the label in 2010. Members include Samantha Drella on vocals and David Helmer on guitar and vocals. For more information visit www.crystalcitymusic.com.

The second set of the show begins with the woodwind ensemble Winds of Fire. Members are Kathleen Moniaci, Stacy Marshall, Michael Stedman, Craig Giordano and Shavincia Thomas.

Guitarist and vocalists Andrew Hanson and Tyler Hoyt will perform as duet.

The showcase concludes with local favorite Flatt + Square. The group’s name is a dual reference - the string students’ first project with hand tools is to make a block flat and square, and one of the earliest Bluegrass groups was Flatt + Scruggs. All of the instruments played by the group were made by the members who include Reed, Vincent, Conlin and Ben Manning.

Poetry by MSC-ST faculty member Carrie Allen is interspersed into the program.

At a glance…

The annual Variety Showcase presented by Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical.

When: 7 p.m. April 14

Where: Sheldon Theatre, 443 W. Third St., Red Wing

Cost: $12 adults, $7 students

More info: 651-388-8700 or 800-899-5759, or www.sheldontheatre.org

Tags: arts and entertainment, arts, entertainment, education