by Janelle Hamre '11
ORCHESTRA’S EUROPEAN TOUR SPEAKS ‘INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE’
This past may the Northwestern College Orchestra packed up their instruments and flew to Switzerland and France for a two-week musical missions trip. Stopping off at places such as Avignon, Paris and Geneva, orchestra members collected experiences and gave musical performances in pursuit of God's glory. In addition to concerts and home-stays, there were a few highlights—including a glowing review of the orchestra in a foreign newspaper and even a marriage proposal on the Eiffel Tower. The tour offered students both cultural immersion and musical opportunities. Orchestra director David Kozamchak pointed to the educational reach of the tour, saying that “through the tour, students learned music truly is an international language and can be used as a form of ministry in foreign countries just as effectively as in their own.”
The orchestra performed classics by familiar composers like Handel, Copland and Respighi and premiered a new work as well. Andante and Capriccio for English Horn and Orchestra, composed by Jordan Cox ’10, featured Jordan’s brother and 2010–11 orchestra president Colton Cox ’11 on the English horn.
In his role as president, Colton noted that the orchestra was knit together during the tour by their spiritual bond in a way unique to Northwestern’s musical ensembles. “You don’t feel that anywhere else,” he said.
For Julie Johnson, tour manager and director of the Northwestern College Academy of Music, communication was more than musical. “I’m always surprised how well people communicate without words if we are both invested in understanding each other.” DENLER GALLERY HOSTS JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBITION
Friday, Sept. 9 marked the opening of “XVIII,” the 18th Annual Juried Student Exhibition in the Denler Art Gallery, showcasing work by 23 Northwestern art and design students. This year’s exhibition was juried by Ben Heywood, executive director of the Soap Factory, an acclaimed art gallery in the heart of the warehouse district of Minneapolis. Heywood, who previously worked as a curator in England, offered critique on and insight into the students’ work.
The gallery exhibition serves as much more than the proverbial refrigerator on which students post their work. Luke Aleckson ’02, assistant professor and director of the Denler Gallery, affirmed the students’ excellent work in a wide array of disciplines.
“The work is reflective of the unique perspectives and life experiences of each student,” said Aleckson. “We have students who take risks and create boldly.”
The exhibit included paintings, ceramics, digital prints and video, and even a giant inflatable jellyfish. Graphic design major Jonathan Back ’12 won first place for his series of three woodcut prints of an owl, osprey and eagle. | 
