THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Org. to sell instruments By David Strader COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A great musician's success starts with purchasing a good instrument and that's where the Music Boosters come in. The State College Area Music Boosters will host their 30th annual used instrument sale tonight from 8 to 9:30 in State College Area High School's north cafeteria. Jack Eggert, a lo cal musican and woodwind repair man who is helping with the event, said the sale is tar geted toward elementary school students interested in joining the music program. "It's very much a community event that allows people to get those instruments out of closets, basements and attics and back in the hands of kids where they belong," he said. Though the sale is directed at elementary students, all members of the community are welcome to attend and browse for used instruments. Joan Kovalchik, am elementary instrumental music teacher helping to organize the event, said in previous years the sale has offered about 100 instruments, a good portion of which successfully sold. In preparation for the sale, members of the communi ty were asked to bring their used instruments to the high school Wednesday night. The original owners will receive compensation for their instruments, but a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Music Boosters. Kovaichik said that. while the sale is a way to raise money for the music program, that's not the focus of the event. "We don't think of it as a money-making sale," she said. "We think of it more as; a service to the community" Fbrmer Blue Band member Sue Polay, Class of 1980, said she was happy to pass on one of her old instruments. "I haven't sat down to play it for years and years," she said. "Hopefully it will go to a good home." Music Boosters member Tami Mistrick said previous sales have seen devoted families lining up at the doors before the event "clamoring to get in." When the doors open, Mistrick said, "it's a crowded place, but there's certainly room for everybody who wants to be there." Jackson's mother sues promoter By Anthony McCartney ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson's mother on Wednesday sued the promoter of what were intended to be the pop star's comeback concerts for fraud and other claims related to the singer's death. The complaint accused AEG Live of failing to honor its agreement to provide the doctor charged in the ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Katie Silvis/Collegian Jim Robinson, a State College resident, inspects a cello that will be sold at tonight's State College Area Music Boosters annual used instrument sale. Robinson serves as the Orchestra Director at State College Area High School. Eggert said the sale will have many Music Boosters members, teachers and students to help buyers make well-informed purchases. "It's a good night for a family who's jumping into the music business with their kid for the first time," he said. "Some of the parents have never played instruments before and they have no idea where to start —that's why the teachers are there to help." singer's death with lifesaving equip ment. The suit says AEG Live was liable for the actions of Dr. Conrad Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to invol untary manslaughter in Jackson's death at age 50. Police say Murray gave Jackson an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. AEG spokesman Michael Roth said the company has not seen the lawsuit and had no immediate com ment. To e-mail reporter dass46l@psu.edu Murray was acting as Jackson's personal physician and was to be paid by AEG during preparation for the concerts. However, Jackson died before signing the agreement. As a result, AEG has said the agreement was not binding. Katherine Jackson, who is the guardian of the singer's three chil dren, also sued on their behalf. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Virtuoso wows Schwab crowd By Josh Bollinger COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Audience members learned from Jeffrey Siegel Wednesday night that Frederic Chopin's famous "Minute Waltz" isn't really a minute long. "Nobody knows why it's called the 'Minute Waltz,"' Siegel said. "It would be a travesty to try to play this music in 60 seconds' time." Siegel, a piano virtuoso, performed "Chopin for Lovers!" last night at the Schwab Auditorium as part of his Keyboard Conversations concerts. During the performance, the Chicago native explained each piece of music to the crowd before he played it and gave background information and historical context to why each song was written. As referenced by the title of the concert, each piece in the "Chopin for Lovers!" program was inspired by a different woman in Chopin's love life. "And I've not needed to invent a thing," Siegel said. Throughout the concert Siegel told the crowd stories of Chopin's life, going into details like where he was living at the time and how he felt when he met the woman the song was written for. He also gave insight into how the piece is played and the different moods that each song conveys. The point of Siegel's commentary was for the audience to have a better grasp of the music and to understand the emotions Chopin was trying to convey through his compo sitions, he said. "Whatever I say about the music will make it more focused, more meaningful and more accessible," Siegel said. Ann Palowitch (freshman-piano performance) said she enjoyed Siegel's commentary because it helped her learn more about Chopin. "I know where he was born and where he lived, but not so much about his personal life," Palowitch said. Palowitch said she particularly enjoyed the solo pianist aspect of Siegel's concert because he did a great job keep ing the audience captivated. "He's really sensitive to what Chopin was trying to express," Palowitch said. Matt Coady (senior-criminal justice) came to the concert to see the virtuoso pianist and he said he got what he wished for. "He's tremendous," Coady said. "I haven't seen anybody with hands that quick ever in my life." savenr*... own.. k ttlyr=4.-- Celebrate with all your Zeno's Seasonal Favorites OMIT° 4:50 40 " i ,:•,? . J , ' .4-7` • ~..... 4 0, 1 ff Bottle Shop . ~,OthgM.--Likr7l*Gwd lieffil THURSDAY, SEPT. 16, 2010 15 To e-mail reporter: tjbs267@psu.edu
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