Civitas Chamber Ensemble set to perform at Valparaiso University
The Civitas Chamber Ensemble, which includes members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will perform at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at Valparaiso University in the Duesenberg Recital Hall.
The recital will feature Franz Joseph Haydn’s charming and dazzling “Lark” Quartet, an early work by Anton Webern, and the romantic Clarinet Quintet of Johannes Brahms. The members of the ensemble are Yuan-Qing Yu and Kozue Funakoshi, violin; Yukiko Ogura, viola; Kenneth Olsen, cello; and J. Lawrie Bloom, clarinet.
“Given our institutional commitment to service, Civitas’ dedication to music as an agent of social healing is a clear fit with the mission of Valparaiso University,” said Joseph Bognar, chair of the Department of Music. “The ensemble promotes the power of music to work healing and social justice, especially among audiences who may not have regular access to live music.”
Dennis Friesen-Carper, director of the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra, said the Civitas Chamber Ensemble performance will include a dedication in memory of Valpo student Chris Patterson, who was killed in action in January while serving with the Indiana National Guard in Afghanistan. A 1 p.m. memorial service for Patterson at the Chapel of the Resurrection precedes the Civitas performance.
Yuan-Qing Yu, violin, also is an artist-teacher of music and advisor to the string and orchestra programs at Valparaiso University, where she joined the faculty in the fall of 2011. Yu and Kenneth Olsen will be featured as solo artists in two concerts of the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra tour in March. They will be performing in the concerts in Minneapolis and Milwaukee.
This recital is free and open to the public. Visit valpo.edu/music/performances for more information.
About Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University is a comprehensive university with more than 4,000 students on its campus located in Northwest Indiana, an hour from Chicago. Valpo is a community of purpose-driven, service-minded and ethical individuals who embrace the pursuit of truth with freedom, humility and compassion. Valpo has been identified as one of the top master’s-level institutions in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report magazine for the past 22 years. Valparaiso University offers 110 undergraduate academic programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering and Nursing. Valpo also has a distinguished honors college, a School of Law and more than 40 degree and certificate programs in its Graduate School and Continuing Education Division. Valpo has been recognized for its commitment to outstanding teaching, preparing thoughtful leaders with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, and dedication to serving others.