Lawrence University - Conservatory of Music

L-R: Spencer Phillips ’29, Megan LaBelle-Smith ’27, Ava Wadia ’26, Mariah Schaumberg ’25, Prof. Kristin Roach, Emily Hamm ’26, B Duke ’27, and Benjamin Keating ’25 – This year, eight current and former Lawrentians were thrilled to participate in La Musica Lirica, a five-week opera intensive in Novafeltria, Italy! We worked hard preparing roles in three operas along with attending voice lessons, coachings, and Italian classes as well as seeing, listening, and tasting our way through the finest Italy has to offer. All of our (quite successful) performances may be over, but the many, many things we have learned will stay with us for a long time going forward. It has been absolutely lovely to reunite alumni and current students/faculty together at this extremely rigorous musical training experience!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb, latest by August 15.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

Rick Kubly ’20 – My original rock band Radio for Pets released our first album, “Happy Birthday”, on July 17th, and we’re playing a bunch of shows around Wisconsin and the UP this summer. LU Con alumni Hank Laritson ’20 (sax) and Amos Egleston ’20 (trumpet) featured on a song, and Hank and alum/current faculty Bianca Pratte ’20 joined us on stage for the album release show. Come say hi at one of our live shows, or check out the album on Bandcamp and other streaming services!

Also, the first picture is of Radio for Pets playing at my wedding to Sabrina Loehrke ’19. Our wedding band, Platinum, was kind enough to let us use their instruments to play a few songs, and it turns out their singer Jesse Weinberg ’07 is also an LU Con alum! It was like a mini reunion with so many LU people there. Jesse gave a hearty “Light! More light!” once he realized how many Lawrentians were in attendance!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb, latest by August 15.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

Lawrence University Alumni

L-R: Tommy Walsh ’28 and Leo Rivera Chen ’27 – We had a wonderful two weeks in Europe traveling and studying clarinet in Ostend, Belgium at the Belgian Clarinet Academy! We rehearsed and performed solo and chamber works with colleagues from around the world, and studied with artist-faculty Robert Spring, Deborah Bish, Stephan Vermeersch and more! Prior to attending BCA, we took the opportunity to see a bit of Europe, including parts of the UK, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Some highlights include a morning cable car ride and hike up a mountain in Switzerland and seeing a musical on the West End in London. We will miss the beautiful views, delicious waffles, and wonderful people we met in Belgium and throughout our travels.

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb, latest by August 15.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

Colin Hutton ’27 – I get to spend this summer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I am researching the interactions of marine viruses and bacteria that live within corals. In addition to culturing bacteria and examining DNA from thousands of species around the globe, I’ve had the chance to sail on WHOI’s coastal research vessel and operate cool machinery like the ocean sensor rosette shown in the second image. In a bizarre twist of fate, I’m also playing second bassoon in the Falmouth summer orchestra!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

🎵 This weekend, come on out and BE the Music at Mile 13! 🎵

No experience necessary! Join the Mile of Music Music Education Team in celebrating our beautiful community by making music together!

To learn more about this weekend’s MET workshop artists and more, check out:
https://mileofmusic.com/music-education/

Lawrence University
Lawrence Community Music School

L-R: Kyle Smith ’29, Max Hollingsworth-Hays ’27, Kat Green ’28, and Prof. Michael Mizrahi – We’re honored to be running Lawrence’s Summer Music Programs this year! A couple of weeks ago we hosted the Lawrence Summer Music Institute, a week-long music program for 37 high school students from around the country! Last week, we kicked off the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival, a two-week long music program for 40 young artists from all over the world! These programs provide participants with a forward-looking musical experience and the opportunity to learn from several world-class faculty. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, organizing programming and running all the festival logistics so that all our enthusiastic and wonderful participants have the best experience. We’re so glad to be able to bring these festivals to life this year. There are several LCMF events this weekend as part of Mile of Music, and we hope to see you there! Check out lawrence.edu/lcmf for more information about those events!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

Jacob Hanekamp ’25 – When I am not making music, you can catch me on the water with the world famous Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team! Although I don’t actually ski (yet), I help out by riding in one of our pickup boats grabbing skis and the occasional skier if they fall. Last weekend was the 60th Annual Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Championships where we took 2nd place overall. Along with that, we won a couple of smaller awards, including the award for the best Pickup Boat Team (WOO!) It was an incredible weekend of cheering, celebrating our incredible sport, and of course, waterskiing! Our sights are set on the National Tournament in early August where we are looking to win it all. Hope everyone is having a great summer! Ski you later!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!

Franklin McIntire ’28 (guitar), Calvin Mendoza ’27 (bass), and Jonah Rondeau ’29 (drums) of East Side Trio will perform on 91.1 The Avenue’s Sunday Morning Sunrise, broadcast live from August Haven in Appleton. Additionally, Dean of the Conservatory Chris Jenkins will join The Avenue’s Sunday Morning Sunrise Host, Amanda Sharon, for a brief interview during the second half of the broadcast.
📅 Sunday, July 26
🕙 10am-noon (Central)
📍 August Haven, 3810 W Wisconsin Ave, Appleton
📻 Or stream online at https://streamdb3web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WOVM

August Haven Live Sunday Sunrise Edition | 91.1 The Avenue Providing the soundtrack for our Sunday morning broadcast from August Haven is East Side Trio, featuring Lawrence University students Franklin McIntire on guitar, Calvin Mark on bass, and Jonah Rondeau on drums. Drawing from a variety of jazz styles and influences, the trio represents the incredible...

🎶 The Lawrence Chamber Music Festival presents three concerts in Memorial Chapel this weekend, starting tonight at 7pm. Admission to all LCMF concerts is free. We look forward to seeing you there!

Nicole Frias ’26 – I recently wrapped up a 5-day conducting workshop at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Throughout the week, I had the privilege of working with UMN faculty Dr. Emily Threinen, Dr. Betsy McCann, and Dr. Emmanuel Rodriguez, along with guest clinician Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at Michigan State University. The week included movement and conducting technique sessions, faculty-led breakout discussions on the art and pedagogy of conducting and ensemble teaching, and afternoon band workshop. I had the opportunity to conduct concert band works while receiving valuable feedback from the faculty during afternoon sessions and private instruction. I am incredibly grateful for an environment and community that challenged, encouraged, and supported my growth as a conductor. I am excited to apply the lessons and experiences from this week to my student teaching this fall!

If you (student/alum) are doing (or have done) something fun and exciting this summer, be it related to music or not, we’d love to feature your summer adventure right here on Con socials (FB/IG)! Just message us a photo (or two) and a short blurb.

We look forward to hearing about your summer adventures!