Say a
word. Show an idea. Raise a child in a space shaped by an engineer and a
classically trained oil painter and let the child grow toward her interests.
Valerie
Boebinger’s childhood was guided by her artist-mother and her mechanical
engineer -father– two parents dedicated to different, inviting careers. When it
was time for Valerie to choose a college and an area of study she was still
tossing art and engineering in her mind. She began college tours from her home
in Florida with a zigzag trip that brought her eventually to beautiful downtown
Alfred.
A
parent of Valerie’s best friend in high school attended Alfred University and
he encouraged Valerie to visit. When she saw the program in neon glass, she was
“completely blown away.” The
art program and facilities in Alfred were superior to all others on her college
tour and she just had to come to school here. Her path was settled for 4 years.
Now Valerie is graduating with a BFA in Art and a minor in music. This is your invitation to hear her as a member of the Alfred University Symphonic Band on April 27 and see her thesis show on May 5.
Now Valerie is graduating with a BFA in Art and a minor in music. This is your invitation to hear her as a member of the Alfred University Symphonic Band on April 27 and see her thesis show on May 5.
Valerie
came to music early in life when she toddled off to piano lessons at age 4. She
developed a love for the majestic cello but her school had no string program.
When Valerie heard Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue when she was in 4th
grade she decided on the clarinet, started lessons in 5th grade and
now hopes to continue to play in community groups after she graduates.
At AU,
Valerie has played with the Symphonic Band every semester and sometimes has
also been a member of Orchestra and/or Chorus. Symphonic Band is conducted by
Dr. Christopher Foster, a man of sound effects and an all-knowing ear. Regarding her conductor, Valerie said, “Dr.
Foster is a great conductor. People really respect him. If a conductor is
uncharismatic the band suffers but with Dr. Foster we don’t worry about that.
Everyone appreciates his attention to detail.”
Valerie’s
favorite pieces for this concert are Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli and Symphony
Number 1, “The Lord of the Rings”, V “Hobbits” by Johan de Meij.
“Vesuvius
just sounds amazing,” said Valerie. “I love the dynamic and meter changes and
the building, swelling sound that dies to nothing and then builds again. Then
there is “Hobbits” bouncing with happiness and I have this insanely high part
that is fun to wail on.”
Regarding the concert, Dr. Foster said, "The Symphonic Band is more incredible than ever. I
have a lot of talented players, including several seniors that I'll be sad to
see leave. We're doing some tough yet exciting pieces like Ticheli's Vesuvius,
Holst's First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, and 'Hobbits,' from De Meij's
First Symphony, The Lord of the Rings and the band is doing a fantastic job
with them."
Valerie actually came to Alfred to study art.
She sees art as a self expression. It’s about a process, not a product. She
expresses herself visually. For her senior thesis she has been working
on a series of Zen paintings to show the images of some of her favorite music.
Just
before she started this series she was feeling stressed so she painted straight
lines in a meditative activity working up to 9 consecutive hours on a piece and
really getting lost in the work.
She liked
these geometric pieces, liked the sharp lines in them. One has a sense of piano
keys and others relate to her feelings for musical compositions the Bach
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. She shows how the pieces would look as paintings.
She also painted Rhapsody in Blue, still one of her favorite pieces.
These paintings
will be included in her senior show. They are all painted in the same size and
shape – orderly – contemplative - serene. Valerie’s show will be in Binns hall,
in the Painting classroom #134.
The concert is on Friday, April 27 in the Miller Theater,
Miller Performing Arts Center at 8 PM. The Symphonic Band will also perform Jungle
Dance by Brain Balmages, Russian Sailors’ Dance by Reinhold Gliere, Ammerland
by Jacob de Han, and Dusk by Steven Bryant.
**For community members unfamiliar with the Alfred
University Campus: Enter the campus at the traffic light on Main Street. Drive
uphill past the old gym on the left and turn left just after the large boulder.
Miller is the building just before the road turns right. Notice the tall glass
doors before you turn left again for parking. No tickets are needed.
**Community members are also welcome at Senior Thesis Shows on
Saturday May 5, opening from 4 to 7 PM. Shows are in Harder Hall. Binns Hall, the
Cohen Center and the Brick. Again, there are no tickets but much of the work is
for sale. You’ll find maps on campus or just follow the crowds. Carpool if
possible.
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