Daily Archives: August 16, 2011

BG Alum Wins International Guitar Competition -Mark Kroos Triumphs with a “Double” Feature

all, alumni, jazz, jazz-alumni

Acoustic guitarist Mark Kroos took first place in Guitar Player Magazine’s 2011 International Guitar Superstar Competition on July 23rd in Nashville. Mark and 4 other competitors each performed one original composition in front of renown guitar judges Muriel Anderson, Reeves Grabrels, Carl Verheyen and host Larry Carlton. Mark took the cake with his piece titled “Flight Attempt.” Fredrik Halland from Norway placed second and Arek Religa from Chicago came in third.

Currently based in Williamsburg, VA, Mark graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of the Arts in music. He resided in Bowling Green for a year following graduation to teach guitar and perform in his ska / punk band, The Argonauts.

Mark plays two guitar necks at the same time, one with each hand. His style is reminiscent of the late Michael Hedges and draws influence from guitarists such as Leo Kottke, Phil Keaggy and Tommy Emmanuel as well as various punk and indie rock bands.

Mark has been on tour since May, 2010 save a few short breaks for rest, playing concerts or giving clinics every other night on average. Mark plays at bars, coffee houses, listening rooms, churches, schools, house concerts and just about any kind of venue available. He was recently added to the roster of artists endorsed with Ovation Guitars.

Winning the Guitar Superstar Competition awards Mark with a number of prizes including a feature in Guitar Player Magazine and copious amounts of other press. Other endorsements and sponsorships have been offered and Mark has also finalized a partnership with D’Addario Strings and Planet Waves Accessories.

Video of Mark’s winning performance is available at www.markkroos.com.

Print quality photos available at www.sonicbids.com/markkroos

For further information, contact
Mark Kroos
kroosms@hotmail.com
www.markkroos.com

(Submitted by Mark Kroos)

BGSU Choral Society holds auditions

all, student news, voice

The College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University will hold open auditions for the 2011-12 season of the University Choral Society (UCS), a large chorus consisting of both University and community singers.

The ensemble will perform Handel’s “Messiah” with soloists and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 3 and 4 as part of the symphony’s regular season at the Toledo Museum of Art. On Feb. 25, the choral society, along with other BGSU choruses, soloists and the Bowling Green Philharmonia, will perform an opera gala program to celebrate the opening of new Wolfe Center on campus. On March 25, Toledo’s Rosary Cathedral will be the setting for a performance of Mozart’s “Requiem” with the choral society and Philharmonia. To close the season, on April 21, the UCS will perform Prokofiev’s “Alexander Nevsky” with the Lima Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Lima’s Crouse Performance Hall.

Mark Munson, director of choral activities, serves as the director of the chorus. During his 22 years at BGSU, he has led the Collegiate Chorale, A Cappella Choir and University Women’s Chorus. He is also director of the Lima Symphony Orchestra Chorus and is founder and director of the local vocal ensemble OPUS 181. During the 2005-06 school year, Munson lived in Sweden where he conducted and taught choral music. He is a past president of the Ohio Choral Directors Association.

The chorus rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:30 at the College of Musical Arts, with the first rehearsal scheduled for Aug. 30. For more information, and/or to schedule an audition, call the college at 419-372-2186.

(Submitted by Mark Munson)