FAC Program

From the President

Dear Arts Supporters,

On behalf of everyone at Viterbo University, I would like to welcome you to the Fine Arts Center as we celebrate the return of in-person performances. The pandemic necessitated a year and a half-long pause in our live event schedule, and both our artists and audience members have been sorely missed. It is truly great to have you with us.

It’s only fitting that the Fine Arts Center should be fully used to its intended purpose during its 50th anniversary year. Opened in 1971, it remains not only the premier arts facility in the region, but also a wonderful testament to the vision and courage of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who made it possible. Their collective love and appreciation for the arts led to countless cultural opportunities in the greater La Crosse community and has enhanced all our lives.

New Fine Arts Center director Dillion McArdle and his staff have an outstanding season planned for you this year. I invite you to pick up an On Stage book or visit the Viterbo website for the complete schedule. There is a wide variety of offerings from which to choose, and tickets make wonderful gifts. Included in the schedule are the Conservatory for the Performing Arts student productions. I am continually amazed at the incredible talent of our students, and seeing them put it to use always fills me with pride, no matter their role, pursuit, or field of study.

While live performances and other events have returned, we must remain vigilant in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. I ask that you adhere to the university’s safety policies, including remaining masked while anywhere inside the building.

The arts will always be an integral part of the Viterbo University experience, which is made even more special through the support of our patrons, benefactors, sponsors, and volunteers. It would not be the same without you. Thank you.

Rick Trietley, Interim President

Biographies

Violinist, Composer

Mads Tolling

is an internationally renowned violinist and composer originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in San Francisco. As a former member of both bassist Stanley Clarke’s band and the celebrated Turtle Island Quartet, Tolling won two Grammy Awards, and was nominated for a third Grammy in 2015. Recently, he was the 2016 winner of the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violin Award. Tolling has performed with Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, Leo Kottke, and Sergio & Odair Assad.

After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2003, he was recommended by Jean-Luc Ponty to join Stanley Clarke’s band. He has since been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, and his recordings have received rave reviews in Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Strings Magazine and DownBeat Magazine. Mads has performed for Danish royalty–Prince Frederik and Princess Mary—at the celebration of The Danish Embassy’s 50-year Anniversary.

Tolling has twice been commissioned to write violin concertos–for Oakland Symphony and Pacific Chamber Orchestra. He has performed his symphonic works and soloed with orchestras around the U.S. and Japan.

Tolling now leads his own groups—Mads Tolling Quartet and Mads Tolling & The Mads Men. His latest release, Playing the '60s, is a reimagination of classic songs from 1960s film, TV, and radio, such as A Taste of Honey and Mission Impossible. The album, released in 2017, features vocalists Kenny Washington and Spencer Day, and spent two months on U.S. jazz radio’s top 30.

With his groups, Tolling has performed over a thousand concerts around the world, including at The Hollywood Bowl, Library of Congress, and at the Bay Area’s Paramount and Herbst Theatres. As a featured Yamaha Artist, Tolling leads clinics and masterclasses in the US and internationally.

To find out more about Mads Tolling, visit http://madstolling.com

Drums

Eric Garland

has been playing drums and composing music in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Moving from the Sierra Nevada’s in the early '90s to attend San Francisco State University, Eric quickly became immersed in the local Bay Area music scene playing everything from jazz to drum n’ bass.

Garland has worked with many great artists from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond including Roy Ayers (with Jazz Mafia Symphony), Bobby McFerrin (with Brass Monkey Brass Band), hip hop artist Lyrics Born, singer songwriter Anais Mitchell, and in 2005, '60s icon Donovan.

Current musical projects revolve around Karina Denike, Realistic Orchestra/Treat Street Social Club, accordionist Rob Reich, Tin Cup Serenade, Bay Area Composers Big Band, and Brass Monkey Brass Band and violinist Mads Tolling.

Garland co-leads the band Klaxon Mutant Allstars with trumpeter Henry Hung and his own sextet, Eric Garlands Hodge Podge Ensemble, and every Wednesday he leads the jazz jam session at Amnesia in San Francisco.

Piano

Colin Hogan

was born in San Francisco to a very musical family. He began studying drums in the first grade, started experimenting with the guitar in middle school, and finally discovered his true passion for piano in high school. Colin was a member of the world renowned Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble alongside “young lions” Ambrose Akinmusire, Justin Brown, and Thomas Pridgen while also studying with the Jazzschool’s founder, Susan Muscarella. He then attended Cal State East Bay (Hayward) where he earned a BA in piano performance.

Hogan has performed on five continents playing everything from jazz, funk, salsa, and hip-hop to tango and Balinese gamelan. He has performed with many legendary jazz musicians including James Moody, Peter Erskine, Bob Brookmeyer, Roy Ayers, and Maria Schneider. In 2004 he performed with electric bass revolutionary Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone at the California Music Awards which was nationally televised.

Hogan is currently involved in many projects including hip-hop/R&B group Dynamic, local jazz/groove/experimental collective the Jazz Mafia, international cafe music group Trio Zincalo, and jazz/funk/fusion band The Hog Bros. with brothers Steve and Julian. He currently lives in Oakland.

Bass

Gary Brown

is skilled and versatile on both acoustic and electric basses. In the past 30 years he has recorded and performed with such notable artists as Flora Purim and Airto, Steve Winwood, George Duke, Santana, Lyle Mays, Azar Lawrence, Narada Michael Walden, Gregg Rolie, Dianne Reeves, Roy Ayres, Ernie Watts, Jeff Beck, Torninho Horta, Larry Coryell, Phararoh Saunders, Eddie Henderson, Andy Narrell, Pete and Sheila (Sheila E.) Escovedo, and Patrice Rushen.

Brown has composed music for film and television with Pray for Rain, a film and soundtrack production team whose credits include work for major cable networks HBO, Lifetime, Showtime, and Cinemax, as well as for the major television networks ABC, NBC, and CBS. Credits include the cult film Sid and Nancy, The Linguini Incident (starring the late great David Bowie), Straight to Hell, Trust Me, Zandalee (with Judge Reinhold and Nicholas Cage), and the Fox television series Key West.

Brown is currently dividing his time performing with Katerina Brown,The Jose Neto Band, Narada Michael Walden, and many others. He continues to compose, perform, and produce with various artists and is writing music for his solo project.

Brown is a bass instructor and has taught and coached for SFJAZZ Education, OPC Oakland Public Conservatory, UC Berkley Jazz Dept., Marin Country Day School, SF Jazz Music Program, and The Healdsburg Jazz Operation Jazz Band Program.

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