Naamah’s Ark Offers Opportunity for SUU’s CPVA Students

Published: January 02, 2019 | Author: Ashley H Pollock | Read Time: 2 minutes

The Department of Music at SUU presents Naamah’s Ark in two very exciting locations. The first performance will be held in correlation with the National Opera Association Conference on Friday, January 4, 2019 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City at 7:30 p.m. The second performance will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Randall L. Jones Theatre in Cedar City at 2:30 p.m. Tickets to the Cedar City performance are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Southern Utah University faculty, staff, and students are free with a valid ID card. Faculty and staff IDs are allowed one guest. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the concert or online at the SUU CPVA website.

Dr. Lawrence Johnson, Chair for the Department of Music at SUU, explains, "The Department of Music is proud to be part of sponsoring this enormous project, involving the SUU choirs, alumni students' choirs, instrumentalists and dancers! Performing a collage of different styles and languages by a present day composer based on a different perspective of the biblical story of the ark just makes the entire event that much more engaging and exciting. You won't want to miss this amazing collaboration of a new musical work!"

Carol Ann Modesitt, Director of this production of Naamah’s Ark, tells more of the story, "This is indeed a unique perspective on the story of Noah and the Flood. It explores new concepts as to what happened on the ark and after the rain stopped. Noah's wife tells the story from her perspective. The music explores many styles which are all part of the story telling."

Composer of Naamah’s Ark, Marisa Michelson, takes her interpretation of Noah’s wife, Naamah, and tells the story of the Ark. She and librettist, Royce Vavrek, explore what Naamah might have experienced and felt about the journey and what happened after they hit land.

Michael Crotty, choreographer for Naamah’s Ark, shares, "Naamah's Ark presented an ideal opportunity to foster collaboration between faculty and students. Embedded in the work is the notion of inclusion and glimpses of hope amid dire straits."

Gwyn Smith, junior Elementary Education major from Murray, Utah, includes, “The most rewarding part of preparing for this concert has been working with so many people of all practices to bring the story to life. When we worked with the choir for the first time it was so exciting. They brought an energy to the performance that we as dancers don't get to experience very often. We don't get the opportunity to have live music when we perform on a regular basis. It definitely changes the dynamic and makes the performance feel more full and lively.”

Enjoy the sound of a new and unique telling of the story of the Ark from Naamah’s perspective. For more information, please visit the SUU CPVA website.

---

Tags: Music College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication