WMUK Culture

Kalamazoo Film Society president Dhera Strauss and member Madeline Cimini give an update on the sponsored films (Minari, The Father, and Nomadland) showing at Celebration Cinema and preview upcoming releases, in a conversation with Cara Lieurance. At 7 pm on Wednesday, the Oscar-nominated Nomadland, directed by Chloé Zhao, will be the topic of a "Virtual Lobby Discussion." Email kalfilmsociety (at) yahoo.com to receive link to the Zoom discussion. They also preview next month's upcoming films: French Exit (starring Michelle Pfeiffer) and a presentation of Oscar-nominated short films.

Although there endless ways to finish the sentence "Love Is...", love of community is high on the list of Kalamazoo Bach Festival artistic director Chris Ludwa. In an interview with Cara Lieurance, he previews the fourth annual "Love Is..." concert, which will be streamed at 4 pm on Sunday, March 28. 

Highlights will include songs from around the world,  solo voices from the chorus, and a special appearance by Sophié and Pierre van der Westhuizen as a piano duo. Ludwa and Lieurance listen to some of the selections in a wide-ranging interview.

Performing artists the world over are in trouble as the pandemic continues to block their ability to work. In Michigan, a volunteer-led state-wide organization formed in 2018, the Michigan Music Alliance, is now a beacon of hope for Michigan-based artists who need help, not only with loss of income, but with other aspects of being self-employed artists in times good or bad.

Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams, the director of choral activities at Western Michigan University, knew the pandemic would drastically reduce in-person singing. She also knew that her students wanted to be as productive as possible and make a difference. Then she remembered the wedding of some dear friends, in which the couple offered tokens representing donation amounts in place of favors, encouraging their guests to assign their tokens to selected charities. It sparked a months-long project called Choir for Good.

With showcases, guest artists, workshops, installations, audience Q & As, and masterclasses, Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers is determined to offer  the full scope of the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival this year, but online. Cara Lieurance spoke with executive director Kate Yancho and curator Rachel Miller, who shared their enthusiasm for bringing together a worldwide audience this weekend, March 5-7.