MSU "Honors Musicale" takes place at Tippet Rise
October 19, 2017
When Dr. Ilse-Mari Lee became Dean of the Honors College at Montana State University in 2009, she began what has since become a beloved MSU tradition: the Honors Musicale. Short for soirée musicale, French for “musical evening,” the word “musicale” stems from the late 19th century tradition of informal, music-centered gatherings in the salons and drawing rooms of music-lovers’ homes. On Saturday, October 14, Dean Lee brought the Honors Musicale to the cozy confines of the Olivier Music Barn at Tippet Rise. The event showcased the talents of Honors College students and faculty, including cellist David Kirk, pianist Benjamin Carroll, violist Madeleine Price, and violinists Cami Kohler, Elliot Harrison, and John Schlender who played works by Franz Liszt, Max Bruch, and Mark O’Connor. Actors Keegan Grady and Sarah Amish performed works by William Shakespeare. Dean Lee, an accomplished cellist and pianist, performed selections from J.S. Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello as well as a composition of her own, Klavierles Met Tannie Barbara. Anchoring the program was a beautiful rendition of Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by MSU Professor of History Robert Rydell. It was an extraordinary event and we are grateful for our collaboration with Dean Lee and the MSU Honors College.