A Night at Home event Sept. 25
The Edward J. and Cathy Gallagher Arts at Clarke Series kicks off the year with A Night at Home on Tuesday, September 25. This is Clarke’s annual event of fine music and fine cuisine.
The 2018-2019 academic year at Clarke University will be filled with festivities and special events marking the 175th anniversary of Clarke. The arts and lecture offerings for the year will pay tribute to this milestone with a series of events designed to highlight the theme of ‘Home’ and showcase Clarke’s extremely talented alumni.
A Night at Home will feature Clarke alumni: Kristina Castaneda ‘01, Erin Kane Callahan ‘09, Marcus DeJesus ‘14, Megan Gloss ‘03, and Abby Schultz McInerney ‘08. Accompaniment will be provided by Jill Klinebriel. The September 25 event starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in Jansen Music Hall on the campus of Clarke University.
Prior to the event, Clarke Dining Services will provide delicious local cuisine with an Iowa flair. Food will be served 6:30-7:15 p.m. and an event ticket is required.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by phone at (563)588-6377.
A Night a Home performers
Kristina Marie Castaneda grew up on her dad’s vinyl records and her grandma’s organ bench in the church balcony. She has been playing venues in the local music scene and beyond for over 20 years. Castaneda has collaborated with a variety of musical collectives – from pop folk duos to full orchestras, electric rock bands to loungey jazz trios, and bluegrass outfits to blues bands.
She is passionate about using music as a tool for change, for raising awareness and funds, and for connecting humanity. She is thrilled to partner with Marcus DeJesus for this event and is honored to have the privilege of accompanying the brilliance of Marcus’ guitar skills. The duo will perform Spanish and Portuguese pieces.
Marcus DeJesus is a guitarist originally from Brazil, and professor of guitar and general music at Clarke University and Loras College. In addition, Marcus is the music director at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin. He has a master’s degree in guitar performance from Southern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Clarke University. As a performer, he has collaborated with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Southern Illinois Symphony, Larry Busch Big Band, The Mistletones, Handphibians Samba, Hunter Fuerste Vintage Jazz Orchestra, and others. In addition, DeJesus regularly tours in Brazil as a guitar performer and educator.
Erin Kane Callahan is thrilled to be back on stage at Clarke University. Callahan graduated with a degree in Drama from Clarke and, as a student, performed in The Secret Garden, Ballad Hunter, A Year with Frog and Toad, and Agnes of God. She has also performed several roles at Dubuque’s Grand Opera House including Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. She and her husband, John Callahan, lived in Chicago for a few years and she was involved there in several musicals with Liberty Town Productions.
Callahan will perform with Abby Schultz McInerney for Clarke’s A Night at Home event.
Abby Schultz McInerney is a Dubuque native and has a bachelor’s degree in Drama-Speech and Music from Clarke. She relocated to Denver, Colorado, in 2012 and has worked continuously as an actor. McInerney performed leading roles in Miss Saigon, The Wild Party, Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors, and most recently, The Secret Garden. She has also appeared in several musicals such as Hair, Ragtime, RENT, and the Regional Premiere of the all A Capella musical Minimum Wage.
McInerney recently had the pleasure of appearing in the original cast of the new musical Totally Awesome 80’s Ski Town USA, which due to popular demand, will be remounted in Breckenridge, Colorado, in 2019. She also appears as a featured soloist for the Platte Valley Players in Brighton, Colorado, and in 2011, sang the National Anthem for the Kansas City Royals.
Megan Gloss is an Iowa District winner and Midwest Regional finalist in the National Association of Teachers Singer Artist Award competition, as well as an Anna Sosenko Assist Trust grant recipient for her work in opera and musical theater.
A familiar voice in the tri-states, local audiences might recognize her for musical theater roles in She Loves Me, Carousel, Man of La Mancha, and The Christmas Schooner. Operatic roles include The Pirates of Penzance, Trial By Jury, The Telephone, and numerous guest artist appearances with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Last season, Gloss celebrated her 10th consecutive season as a company vocalist with Madison Opera. She made her European debut in 2011 performing throughout Italy in operatic title roles.
Gloss is the Features Editor for the Telegraph Herald, where she also edits Her magazine. Additionally, she is a regular contributor to the internationally renowned Classical Singer, the London-based VoiceCouncil, and the Canadian-based Vocalist magazines.
For tickets and more information, contact the Clarke University President’s Office at (563)588-6377.