Tash Mahnokaren
Staff Writer
On Dec. 31, 2014, Idaho State University will hold its second annual New Year’s Eve Gala hosted by the School of Performing Arts in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters.
“It combines performances by many of the aspects in the arts,” said Patrick Brooks, director of bands. “There are dances, theatre presentations, various types of live music performances, poetry and visual arts”
The gala’s masquerade theme this year will give attendees an opportunity to dress formally for the event while indulging in wine, great food and a live band, according to Brooks.
Brooks said that swing music is making a comeback in the United States and it is becoming increasingly popular for people to dance to big band music of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s.
“We are providing the service function, and maybe more so than some of the other performances,” said Brooks
This year’s two-hour performance at the gala by the ISU Jazz Band will include music from the likes of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Tommy Darcy to name a few.
“We are going to perform live big band music that the people dance to and that will be our contribution to the evening,” said Brooks.
Performing at the gala is also a unique experience for the jazz band as it allows the band to showcase what it does.
Unlike other performances where people are usually seated when enjoying the bands performance, attendees of the gala will be moving around and dancing to the auditory splendor of the band.
The event is just one of many throughout the world meant to celebrate the dawning of a new year.
New Year’s Eve often holds an enigmatic attachment to elegance, something which the gala will provide.
“She had this idea to do something special, to do something that had not been done before and to do it big,” said Brooks of Dean of the College of Arts and Letters Kandi Turley-Ames, who originally came up with the idea to hold the New Year’s Eve Gala.
Tickets for the gala are priced at $125 and the event will be held in the Stephens Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.
Proceeds from the celebration go towards providing scholarships for students in the arts.
