what’s happening > CampusScene Music STuDENTS pERFORM wITH ROCk STaR Nelly Arnett, a <strong>Tiffin</strong> <strong>University</strong> senior from Toledo, and Shanna Litton, a freshman from Lima, performed as background vocalists with rock singersongwriter Ben Folds in his concert with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Arnett and Litton, both Arts Administration majors at TU, joined with six other Ohio singers for a day of rehearsal with Folds and the orchestra, and then performed a concert of his music to a sold-out crowd Nelly Arnett and Shanna Litton of screaming fans at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The appearance was among the final concerts of a nine-stop, six-week tour that also included gigs with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., the Dallas Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra. “It was so exciting to walk onto that stage with a full orchestra and all those lights and that huge crowd,” said Litton. “I never dreamed I’d have an opportunity like this, and it’s really got me excited about pursuing a career in music.” “The music chosen was really interesting,” said Arnett. “Before this gig, I wasn’t that familiar with Ben Folds’ music, and I had to do a bit of listening to get to know his style. What makes Folds’ music so cool is that it works both in the pop-rock world and with classical musicians. Even his solo rock piano stuff sounds really orchestral a lot of the time.” Arnett and Litton are both members of <strong>Tiffin</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s award-winning a cappella group Up in the Air, which is produced and directed by Brad Rees. “The experience they have with Up in the Air really helped them excel in a situation like the Ben Folds show,” said Rees. “<strong>In</strong> one tune they were asked to mimic Ben’s rock vocals, in another to sound like an old warbly traditional choir, and in another to imitate a Dixieland band style. The diversity of styles the girls get to sing at TU made them much more effective on this gig than most students would be.” This experience was exactly what Arnett needed, as she plans to pursue background singer opportunities in Nashville after graduation. “Who knows what might become of this,” said Arnett. “Ben Folds is based out of Nashville, as is the conductor of the Columbus Symphony (Albert-George Schram). You never know where these connections might lead.” “It was so much fun,” said Litton. “If I had not chosen to pursue music at <strong>Tiffin</strong> <strong>University</strong>, I never would have had this kind of opportunity so quickly. I can’t wait to see what the next four years bring.” 24 CHALLENGE > Fall / Winter 09 MaRCHINg BaNDS uNITE The Second Annual <strong>Tiffin</strong> Columbian-<strong>Tiffin</strong> <strong>University</strong> Marching Band Festival was held in October. The festival, hosted by TU and Columbian High School also featured bands from Calvert, Hopewell-Loudon, Clyde, and Bucyrus schools. The festival was a non-competitive event designed to showcase each band at their best. HOlIDaY CONCERT TU’s Concert Band TU’s Concert Choir The <strong>Tiffin</strong> <strong>University</strong> Musical Arts Program presented its fourth annual Holiday Concert at The Ritz Theatre in December. The concert was free and the public was invited. TU’s Concert Choir, Gospel Choir and Concert Band was joined by the instrumental touring combo Front Street, the a cappella groups Up in the Air and Higher Ground, two new groups to TU, the vocal group ENP and the jazz combo Grey Sunday. All proceeds from the concert were donated to <strong>Tiffin</strong>’s First Call for Help, and Charity: Water, a global nonprofit organization that brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
www.tiffin.edu > 25