From an oboe duet to a deathcore metal band, Southeast students will share their diverse musical talents at the Sheldon Theatre on March 21

 By Katryn Conlin for the Republican Eagle

The historic Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing will vibrate with an extraordinary spectrum of musical expression on Friday, March 21, as Minnesota State College Southeast students unleash their diverse talents at the annual Strings, Winds & Brass concert. 

Audiences will experience a musical journey spanning from a trumpet trio to an old-time string band to soloists on French horn, violin, and flute -- all performed by students whose passion for craftsmanship equals their love of performance.

Southeast's renowned musical instrument repair programs are a magnet for exceptional musicians from across the U.S. and beyond, many with advanced music degrees and considerable performance experience. 

Marc Michael Gozzi 

Violin Repair student Marc Michael Gozzi grew up in the Twin Cities, starting on violin in middle school before switching to string bass in high school. His musical talent earned him a spot performing at Orchestra Hall with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. Southeast is his first college experience. 

"Even when I was in high school, I had my eye on Red Wing," said Gozzi. "I'm excited to finally be part of this program after I've been trying to get here for a few years. So, it's really like a dream come true for me."

For the upcoming concert, Gozzi will play cello in The First Avenue Quintet, a string and flute ensemble organized by violin alumni Mary McElderry.

Cian Rush

Cian Rush, a guitar repair student from New Richmond, WI, will perform with her deathcore band Drillpit, along with fellow guitar program student and drummer Brennan Soper. 

After earning an associate degree at Century College through PSEO, Rush is pursuing her dream of building and repairing guitars.

"I've always been an artist and a musician, and this is the perfect combination of each," she explained. "Especially getting to build your own instrument."

Drillpit formed last fall when Rush connected with other students sharing her interest in deathcore, which she describes as "a fusion of hardcore punk and death metal."

"Metal has plenty of subgenres: thrash metal, classic death metal, metal core. We all grew up playing deathcore, so when we found out we like the same type of metal, it's like great, we get to do what we love," said Rush.

Kelsey Nordstrom

Kelsey Nordstrom moved to Red Wing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, unfazed by Minnesota winters. "Winnipeg has been in the news for being colder than the surface of Mars!" she said with a laugh.

Nordstrom earned a Bachelor of Music Performance and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in oboe performance from the University of Manitoba. As a freelance performer and private instructor, she was motivated to enroll in Southeast's Band Instrument Repair program by seeing her students struggle with poorly maintained instruments. 

"Some repair techs just don't seem to know what they're doing with oboes," she said. "If students don't have well-adjusted instruments, they think they sound terrible."

For Strings, Winds & Brass, Nordstrom will perform on both oboe (in the Obonet Duet with Charles Craig on clarinet) and English horn (in The Belle Bottoms with three other oboists).

"It was basically like, oh my gosh, there's four oboists in one place. That just doesn't happen! So, obviously we had to do something for the concert," she explained. She arranged Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze for the oboe quartet.

Despite the stark contrast between the classically inclined ensembles and Drillpit's intense deathcore, all three performers share a passion for music and eagerness to connect with the Red Wing community.

"I know we're going to stand out compared to a lot of the other acts, as maybe the only deathcore band that has ever played at Sheldon," said Cian Rush. "If there is one 'left field' band there, it's going to attract more people to the show, giving everyone who performs a bigger audience."

"We're all volunteering for this, and we put our groups together ourselves," noted Marc Gozzi. "I think it will be good for people to know what the students do at Southeast, even beyond academics and their programs."

"I hauled my oboe and my English horn all the way from Canada," Kelsey Nordstrom said. "I'm just excited to have a chance to play them at the Sheldon!"

Tickets for Strings, Winds & Brass are now on sale through the Sheldon Theatre box office at sheldontheatre.org.