artsXchange with Amanda Blue
Thursday | September 21 | 6:30-8 pm
Minnesota Marine Art Museum | 800 Riverview Dr.
Register Here
The artsXchange program, a collaboration between River Arts Alliance (RAA) and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM), continues on Thursday evening, September 21, with this event led by soprano and RAA member Amanda Blue.
What if every rule, lesson, practice about music flipped upside down… How would that shape the way that you think about music and the practice of music? Well, American composer John Cage did just that and more. “A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde.” For this lecture, Amanda Blue will be performing one of his famous vocal pieces named “Aria.” Through the performance and analysis of this piece, along with a few others, we will unpack the unique characteristics that make Cage’s works paint a picture of American contemporary music.
This event is free to attend for members of RAA or MMAM, and included with museum admission for others. Registration is required, and space is limited to 25 attendees per program. Register here.
About the host:
Amanda Blue is a professional Opera singer currently based in the Midwest. She received her B.A. in Vocal Performance at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and her M.M of Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ with distinction. During her studies, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Lincoln Center, Italy, Montreal, throughout central Europe, and across the country while also focusing on musicology and ethnomusicology as a part of her continued studies, and still studies those topics and themes today. Amanda has performed roles ranging from The Countess in “Le nozze di Figaro” by Mozart to the New Prioress in Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites.”
Under the tutelage of Dr. Christopher Arneson, she continues to focus on her vocal development and repertoire. She has worked and collaborated with Deb Birnbaum, Martina Arroyo, Joan Dornaman, Glen Morton, the late Ruth Falcon, and many more in productions and vocal literature. Recently, Amanda has been invited to continue her recital program and performance at the Union League Clubs of both Chicago and New York City. One of her greatest achievements was creating her Hospital Recital Series that she toured throughout all of the New York City hospitals, accompanied by David Holkeboer. She continues to perform regularly in recital and performance settings. In her free time, Amanda loves to practice the art of interior design and continue her studies in opera, while working on her philanthropic work with music.
About artsXchange:
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum + River Arts Alliance are coming together to bring you a monthly informal artist exchange – a chance for artists and creatives from across a variety of mediums to gather for inspiration, exploration and exchange at the museum. Each month, a member from River Arts Alliance, a nonprofit that supports and celebrates regional arts and culture, hosts a 90-minute artist meet-up and conversation with an artist, maker, designer, writer, or another creative person.
See more about previous artsXchange events here, here, and here. If you are a River Arts Alliance member interested in hosting a future artsXchange, please contact Arts Administrator Johanna Rupprecht at admin@riverartsalliance.org.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.