Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Feb. 5, 1975, edition 1 / Page 7
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Chowan Community Concert: Longstreth and Escosa Smoke Signals, Wednesday, February 5, 1975 - PAGE 7 Two men who are helping to revive an interest in the harp, Joe Longstreth and John Escosa, will present a concert Thursday, Jan. 23 at 8:15 p.m. in the Mur freesboro Middle School auditorium, 201 W. High Street. The concert, sponsored by the Chowan Community Concert Assoc., was shifted from McDowell Columns, which is undergoing renovatioti. “Joe Longstreth and John Escosa bring a new dimension to a somewhat neglected in strument,” said a Columbia Artists spokesman. “The unique combination of two men at two harps has brought critical ac claim and standing ovations for their duo-harp performances,” noted the spokesman. Admissions was by season membership in the concert association. Chowan students were admitted by ID cards with- out charge. Longstreth and Escosa were introduced to the harp at Wainwright Music Camp in In diana, but they did not meet and collaborate until both were proven individual successes. Upon chance introduction in 1963, they decided to collaborate in the recording of an album of traditional and original Christ mas carols which was highly successful, and the subsequent demand for personal ap pearances created new stars in the concert field. Longstreth and Escosa, both native Hoosiers, have delighted audiences with the variety Of their musical presentations, the power and strength of Uieir transcriptions and per formances, and with the renewed stature they are bringing to the harp, stated the Columbia representative. Of a special benefit per formance in New York’s Town Hall, it was said: “...everyone is talking about the spectacular harpists... one of the outstanding experiences of the year.” Since their initial concert appearances as duo-harpists in 1904, the duo-harpists have been in demand for repeat per formances with reviewers and audiences alike responding with great enthusiasm to their virility and depth, and also the sur prising excitement in their programming, the spokesman said. In addition to the usual repertoire for performance with orchestra, Longstreth & Escosa played to a standing ovation the exciting Choral et Varie by Widor, never before performed on two harps. Dr. James W. Barnes, conductor of the Terre Haute Symphony, wrote: “Not only did they play beautifully, but they also established right away a very fine rapport with their audience. The future of the harp and harp music is in good hands, indeed, thanks to Longstreth and Escosa.” A highlight of the 73-74 season for Longstreth and Escosa was the world premiere of the Con certo for Two Harps and Or chestra by Darwin Leitz and the Richmond (Indiana) Symphony. This work, the first ever com posed for two harps and or chestra, was commissioned by the Richmond Symphony for the aritsts. The first performance took place in mid-November, 1973. Of the event, the Fort Wayne (Indiana) News Sentinel reported: “The work is an unqualified success! It is not a showpiece for harps with or chestral accompaniment, but rather a sensitive work in which the harps and orchestra are of equal importance and the balance, as conceived by the composer between these groups, is brilliant..Longstreth and Escosa captivated many in the large audience by playing two encores.” Since concert season 69-70 Longstreth and Escosa have given over four hundred per formances on tours which have taken them to all but one state in the continental United States and to every province of Canada. Joe Longstreth pursued his education at Princeton University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, and went on to study in Paris and the Conservatorio di Santa Cecelia, Rome. During World War II he was a major with the United States Army Air Forces flying B-29’s. Upon his return from Europe, he appeared on Broadway, played in some of the earliest Studio one tel^sion and radio shows for four ye^s on Station WLW, one of the foremost in a group of stations in the United States. His programs featured such material as musical biographies, recounting the lives of famous composers and performers which he augmented with dempnstrations at harp and piano. John Escosa studied at the Juilliard School and was a student of the great Carlos Salzedo. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was harpist and soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonette, and chamber music groups. He has written incidental music for the theatre, scores for ballet, and he was musical director for the Fort Wayne Civic Ballet Company. His most recent composition, trompe I'oeil, was premiered at the Longstreth and Escosa concert in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in February, 1969. Escosa toured with Uie original road company of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize-winning play, Glass Menagerie, and he has appeared in many of the finest clubs in the mid-west where he has delighted audiences with skilled solo renditions demonstrationg the vast ver satility of the harp. Appearances in New York’s Town Hall and Carnegie Recital Hall have brought requests for return engagements, as well as critical plaudits. Their album LONGSTRETH & ESCOSA IN CONCERT has been highly praised and their latest recor ding, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, is being enthusiastically welcomed by countless LONGSTRETH & ESCOSA tans from coast to coast. Annual Fund Set Chowan College’s Board of Advisors were challenged Monday to help the college reach its 1974-75 Annual Giving Fund minimum goal of $50,000. Meeting in the office of Chowan President Bruce E. Whitaker, the advisors were told by Bobby Cross, director of development, that $31,000 has been raised through gifts and pledges. He thanked ttiem for their support, both throu^ their own con tributions and contacts of potential donors. Cross asked advisors to help Chowan receive an additional $19,000 by May 31 in order to reach the goal. He ex plained the $50,000 is a budgeted source of income and Chowan needs to raise that amount to operate in the black for the 17th consecutive year. In another tmancial matter, Chowan’s president announced that the college received over $7,000 in interest in 1974 from the Grady D. Askew Foundation. He said proceeds from the foun dation are divided equally among Chowan, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, and Harrellsville Baptist Church. The foundation was established in December, 1967 by Grady D. Askew of Harrellsville with an unrestricted endowment of $3000,000. Askew, who died in October, 1973, con tributed an additional $200,000 through his will. Chowan’s chaplain, Dr. Hargus Taylor, reported on progress on the major renovation of Mc Dowell Columns’ chapel- auditorium. The $1000,000 project will include central air- conditioning and heating, seats, carpet, and lighting and sound system. He said the college will solicit memorial gifts to help un derwrite the cost of renovation. He said alumni'and other friends of the college will be given theopportunity to make a memorial gift of $100 to un derwrite the cost of one seat. The donor’s name will be inscribed on a plaque. Chaplain Taylor ob served. He said 600 seats will be installed in the chapel- auditorium. The work is expected to be completed this August prior to the opening of the fall semester for the 1975-76 academic year. Advisor Billy Raynor of Ahoskie stressed the great need for such an auditorium in the Roanoke-Chowan region. He said many different groups, and especially those sponsoring religious and cultural activities. Duo-harpists, Joe Longstreth, left, and John Escosa presented a concert in the Murfreesboro Middle School auditorium Thursday, Jan. 23 at 8:15 p.m. as the second attraction of the 1974-75 season offered by the Chowan Community Concert Assoc. Freshmen Conservative (Continuedfrom Page 1) Self-ratings: Academic ability .... 22.9 Athletic ability 41.8 Artistic ability 14.8 Drive to achieve .... 48.6 Leadership ability . . 35.9 Math, ability 12.2 Mechanical ability . . . 18.0 Originality 27.5 Physical attractiveness . 22.7 Popularity 26.4 Understanding of others . 61.2 Writing ability 24.0 Estimate chances are very good that students will: Change major field . . . 12.1 Change career choice . . 11.2 Make at least a "8" average 17.7 Need extra time to complete degree . . . 5.9 Get a bachelor’s degree . 36.5 Drop out temporarily . . 1.3 Transfer to another college 18.4 Be satisfied with college . 51.5 Marry while in college . . 4.7 Objectives considered to be es sential or very important: Be an authority in my field 64.8 Obtain recognition from colleagues 41.9 Influence political structure 10.2 Influence social values 30.4 Raise a family 52.9 Be well-off financially . . 49.8 Help others in difficulty . 62.2 Be successful in own business 48.8 Creating artistic work . , 10.2 Writing original works . , 9.8 Theoretical contribution to science 8.0 Participate in community action 27.2 Keep up with political affairs 31.4 Agree strongly or somewhat: Government not controlling pollution 79.9 Government not protecting consumer 67.5 Government should help private colleges 84.6 To many rights for criminals 55.8 Not obey laws against own views 29.8 Women’s activities best in home 42.9 Live together before marriage 40.1 Discourage large families 58.5 Sex O.K. if people love each other 46.5 Women should get job equality 89.5 Wealthy should pay more taxes 70.3 Marijuana should be legalized 37.9 Can do little to change society 44.9 Students help evaluate faculty 68.3 Abolish college grades 29.2 The Chowan freshmen are just like the rest of the nation.. will benefit from" the renovated chapel-auditorium. The spring semester enrollment picture was presented by Chowan’s dean of students, Clayton Lewis. He reported a studenty of 908 students from 19 states and 17 foreign countries. He said he was “very pleased” with the spring semester enrollment. Lewis noted that three full-time admissions counselors are currently visiting high schools in North Carolina, Virginia and a number of others (Continued on Page 14) i
Chowan University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 5, 1975, edition 1
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