eInside Events

Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences to Host International Conference on the Humanities

Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences will
host a four-day international conference on the humanities
from July 9-12 at the Kent State Hotel and Conference
Center.

Kent State University’s College of Arts and Sciences will host a four-day international conference on the humanities at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center at 215 S. Depeyster St. in downtown Kent.

The conference, "Why the Humanities: Answers from the Cognitive and Neurosciences," will take place July 9-12 and features cutting-edge, empirical research demonstrating the ways that education in the humanities develops cognitive and emotional capabilities that are crucial for personal well-being, responsible global citizenship and social justice.

The conference is free and open to Kent State faculty, staff and students. Registration is requested, but not required. The conference is made possible, in part, by the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Recent studies in the cognitive and neurosciences indicate how humanities education can develop the following key cognitive and emotional capabilities:

• Empathy, the ability to feel what others are feeling
• Mind-reading, the ability to understand the thoughts and intentions of others
• Metacognition, the ability to monitor and regulate one’s own perceptions and judgments of others
• Bias correction, the ability to compensate for distortions in one’s judgments of others
• Self-knowledge, the ability to recognize troublesome traits or motives in oneself
• Self-other overlap recognition, the ability to apprehend similarities between oneself and others who appear very different from oneself
• Moral judgment, the ability to form accurate and fair assessments of oneself and of others
  

“This event is part of an ongoing project of Kent State’s Social Cognition Research Group, a team of faculty from English, history, modern and classical language studies, philosophy, psychological sciences and sociology, that is conducting empirical research into the neurocognitive developments that humanities education can foster,” says Mark Bracher, Ph.D., Kent State professor of English and conference co-organizer.

For additional information including registration information, visit the conference website at www.kent.edu/cas/why-humanities or contact the conference organizers at whythehumanities@gmail.com.

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival Announces Its 2015 Season

Festival celebrates 48th season, presenting some of the finest chamber music in Northeast Ohio

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival celebrates its 48th
season with performances in July and August.

The Kent/Blossom Music Festival offers a special and unique program with unparalleled excellence in chamber music, private instruction and a terrific working relationship with the Cleveland Orchestra. It is an advance training institute for professional music training operated by Kent State University in cooperation with the Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Center presenting public performances by distinguished artist faculty and talented young musicians. This year, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival again will feature its highly anticipated Faculty Concert Series, which features performances by some of the region’s most coveted musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as a variety of world-class soloists.

Highlights of the upcoming season include the Miami String Quartet in concert with Steinway Artist Spencer Myer; a program by Mark Kosower, principal cello of the Cleveland Orchestra; and a special free concert by Stanislav Khristenko, 2013 first-prize winner at the Cleveland International Piano Competition, presented in collaboration with Kent State’s Piano Institute. Opera returns to the Kent/Blossom Music Festival this year with a performance of La Cambiale di Matrimonio, a comic opera in one act by Gioachino Rossini. Additional highlights include guest performances by Kent State Assistant Professor of Music Danna Sundet, Hiram College Professor of Music Randall Fusco, Kent State Associate Professor of Music Jerry Wong, Kent State Associate Professor of Music Timothy Culver, members of the Cleveland Orchestra and more.

In collaboration with the Kulas Foundation, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival is excited to announce a special performance and masterclass by musician, teacher, writer, entrepreneur and life coach Jeff Nelsen as the Kulas Visiting Guest Artist. This program was established in 2013 to bring an artist of stature to spend one week of the five-week festival to work intensively with the group of talented students.

Additionally, the public is invited to enjoy the talents of some of the world’s finest young musicians performing in the Kent/Blossom Music Festival Student Concert Series, which is free and open to all. This year, 46 students from all over the world whose visit will culminate in a side-by-side performance with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center will join the Kent/Blossom Music Festival.

As in past seasons, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival will offer discounted concert subscriptions. A six-concert subscription is $72 for adults and $60 for seniors, with a total savings of $18 for the subscriber. A $30 subscription for college students with valid IDs also is available. Also, thanks to a generous donation from a long-time supporter and patron of the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, anyone 18 and under can attend the concerts for free, although a ticket must be reserved.

Subscriptions may be purchased by calling 330-672-2787 or in person at Kent State’s Performing Arts Box Office located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center, Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive on the Kent Campus from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Single tickets also are available at $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $5 for college students. The Ludwig Recital Hall Box Office will open one hour prior to the performance for walk-up sales and will accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Tickets and more information are available by calling 330-672-ARTS (2787) or visiting www.kent.edu/blossom.

Faculty Concert Series:

Concert 1
Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Kulas Guest Artist Jeff Nelsen, horn

Concert 2
Monday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Miami String Quartet with Spencer Myer, piano

Concert 3
Wednesday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Mark Kosower, cello

Concert 4
Saturday, July 18, at 3 p.m.
Kent/Blossom Music Festival Opera

Special Free Concert
Sunday, July 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Stanislav Khristenko, piano
2013 first-prize winner at the Cleveland International Piano Competition
(Presented by Kent State’s Piano Institute in collaboration with Kent/Blossom Music Festival)

Concert 5
Wednesday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Jung-Min Amy Lee, violin; Tanya Ell, cello; Daniel McKelway, clarinet; Barrick Stees, bassoon; Randall Fusco, piano; Jerry Wong, piano

Concert 6
Wednesday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Stanley Konopka, viola; Richard Weiss, cello; Danna Sundet, oboe; Robert Woolfrey, clarinet; Joela Jones, piano

All faculty concerts take place in Kent State’s Ludwig Recital Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, located at 1325 Theatre Drive in Kent.

The Kent/Blossom Festival also provides students with the opportunity to perform throughout their residency. Below is the list of concerts, which are free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

Student Concert Series:

Recital 1
Friday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Recital 2
Saturday, July 11, at 2 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Recital 3
Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m.
Hudson Library

Recital 4
Sunday, July 12, at 7:30 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Recital 5
Friday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Recital 6
Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Recital 7
Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m.
Hudson Library

Recital 8
Monday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Ludwig Recital Hall

Performances at Blossom Music Center:

Tickets for this series are available through the Cleveland Orchestra by calling 216-231-1111.

Kent/Blossom Music Festival Chamber Orchestra
Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.

Kent/Blossom Music Festival Side-by-Side With the Cleveland Orchestra
Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m.

For more information about the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, visit www.kent.edu/blossom.

Swedish Psychiatrist Harald Blomberg to Speak at Rhythmic Movement Training Symposium

Swedish psychiatrist Harald Blomberg, M.D., works on a
student during a session. Blomberg will share his work,
Rhythmic Movement Training, at a symposium that will take
place at Kent State University from July 21-28.

(Photo credit: Erin LaBelle)

Swedish psychiatrist Harald Blomberg, M.D., will share his work, Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT), at a symposium hosted by Kent State University’s College of Education, Health and Human Services from July 21-28. RMT has been successful since the 1980s in improving emotional functioning, reading and writing, motor difficulties including Parkinson’s disease, and behaviors associated with ADHD and autism. Blomberg will hold four sessions, all located in Room 200, White Hall on the Kent Campus:

Presentation and Reception
Tuesday, July 21
5:30-6:45 p.m.
Free and open to the public

Rhythmic Movement Training: Level II
Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Lecture and experiential learning: 15 hours
This session focuses on emotions and inner leadership. Learn how to promote healthful emotional development via specific rhythmic movements.

Dreams and Inner Healing
Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Lecture and experiential learning: 15 hours
Learn about dreams that may accompany the RMT process: Their meanings and relationship to healing, as well as tools to work through those that may feel scary.

Rhythmic Movement Training: Level III
Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July 28
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
This session focuses on addressing reading and writing difficulties affected by various factors such as vision, articulation and motor ability.

For more information or to register for one or more sessions by Tuesday, June 30, contact Lisbeth Justice, Ph.D., at 330-673-5839 or lkjusti1@kent.edu. For more information about RMT, visit www.blombergrmt.com.

Kent Heritage Festival Celebrates 20 Years

The annual Kent Heritage Festival will take place July 4
from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown Kent.

The city of Kent will again celebrate our nation’s independence at the 20th Annual Kent Heritage Festival on Saturday, July 4. This annual, all-day celebration held in downtown Kent runs from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. This year’s event will include live music and entertainment – much of which is local – all day on three stages located throughout downtown Kent. The AMETEK Tree City 5K for United Way will start at 7 p.m. on the Lefton Esplanade. There will be a children’s play area, a variety of food and craft booths and many more local displays. The family-friendly event, which is free and open to the public, concludes with a fireworks display.

The NAPA Car Show will be located on West Erie and North on Franklin streets this year. Interested car owners who would like to participate are encouraged to get there early for a good spot.

The Kent Heritage Festival is planned and operated by the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Kent’s United Services Organization (a partnership of eight service organizations).

“The committee of volunteers starts planning in January and works tirelessly to ensure that this event that draws over 20,000 to downtown Kent is a success,” says Lori Wemhoff, festival chairperson. “The success of the Kent Heritage Festival depends solely on the vendors who participate, and sponsorships and contributions received. The expenses far exceed the money brought in each year, and yet we try to provide a bigger and better event each year.

“One area that the committee focused on increasing this year is the fireworks display that so many enjoy,” Wemhoff adds. “Last year, due to a malfunction of materials, a good amount of the fireworks set to go off didn’t. This year, with it being the 20th annual event, we increased the fireworks order substantially and hope everyone will come out and enjoy the free entertainment.”

If anyone is interested in making a contribution to the Kent Heritage Festival, checks can be made out to KUSO and mailed to 176 E. Main St., Suite 303, Kent.