KORI BARKLEY
Staff Writer
Winner of a 1978 Pulitzer Prize and 1982 Emmy Award (among other awards), Michael Colgrass is an American-born Canadian musician, composer and educator known for his work as a percussionist with ensembles like the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as his numerous musical masterworks.
Having studied Neuro-Linguistics Programming, or the art of modeling human excellence, Colgrass is an NLP trainer and presents personal development workshops to help achieve excellence in performance all around the world.
He has a unique way of connecting with people both musically and personally that brings out the best of their creative selves, their being and their musicianship.
This week, Colgrass will collaborate with students and faculty alike at Fredonia as part of the 2014-15 Convocation Series in a succession of master classes and workshops.
Each workshop can benefit not only musicians, but public speakers, managerial people or anyone who requires communication with groups.
The first workshop, “Excellence in Performance,” will address how to manage one’s mental state for performances, interviews, auditions or any public presentation. It will focus on facilitating memory and reducing memory slips, maintaining performance energy and concentration as well as relating musical emotion to physical emotion.
“Excellence in Performance” will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in Mason Hall room 1080.
The second workshop, “Life Levels Alignment,” is a spatial exercise to help put artists’ art in perspective with their life by aligning their endeavors with their capabilities, values, identity and spiritual self, all in relation to their environment. Colgrass claims this exercise has aided individuals focus their priorities and make career decisions.
“Life Levels Alignment” will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6:45 p.m. in Mason Hall room 1080.
According to Colgrass’ website, the workshops will be more of a participatory workshop, and not a lecture, as he combines techniques from mime, dance, theatre games, neurolinguistics and self-hypnosis to re-route undesirable performing habits.
He encourages comfortable clothing for a mixture of physical and mental activities.
By coincidence, as part of Double Reed Day, guest bassoonist and good friend of Colgrass, Nadia Mackie Jackson will be featured at the Fredonia Wind Ensemble concert with Michael Colgrass and his compositions “Churches” and “Winds of Nagual” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 in King Concert Hall.
Prior to the ensemble’s performance, Colgrass will discuss his pieces.
“Composers live beyond their physical time on earth, as many have passed away, leaving their composition behind,” said Dr. Paula Holcomb, conductor of Wind Ensemble. “It will be exciting to hear a composer of his stature speak about his music and then have us perform his repertoire while he is present.
“Soak up everything you can while Colgrass is here,” Holcomb encouraged.
The Michael Colgrass residency is sponsored by Percussion Guild, Conductor’s Guild and Woodwind Association, as well as through a grant from the 2014-15 Convocation Series and the School of Music.
All events are free for the public.