Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Headlines

Past soulstice members entertain listeners with spunk and sound.

On the night of Feb. 16, jazz music will fill the rooms of Gentle House as guests mingle and enjoy wine tasting, gourmet appetizers, dinner and a silent auction, courtesy of Soulstice, Western's student jazz group.

Wine tasting and the silent auction begin at 6 p.m., an Italian dinner will be served at 7 p.m., accompanied by music from Soulstice members. The group will perform seven numbers together, as well as eight to ten instrumental and vocal solos.

Some of the items for sale in the silent auction include coupons for auto service at Skyline Ford, a private tour of a local winery for eight people and tickets to the Western spring dance concert.

Dr. Kevin Helppie expects around 50 people, including staff, faculty and community members to attend the Valentine's Day performance, auction and dinner. Tickets cost $30 each.

This year marks the group's third annual Valentine's Day event, one of its major fundraisers for a spring educational tour to San Francisco, April 15 through April 20.

Dr. Helppie, professor of music as well as Soulstice Director, said the group will make several performance stops during their tour, including southern Oregon towns such as Medford, Roseburg and Ashland.

While in Ashland, Soulstice will meet with renowned jazz choir arranger and director Kirby Shaw to receive coaching on music making. From there, the group will head down to the Bay Area to meet another famous composer, Kerry Marsh. This year Soulstice has focused on Marsh's music.

"In 2005, he wrote a commissioned piece for our group. In 2004, he came to our campus and performed with our group," said Helppie. "He's my favorite arranger. I think his music's very innovative."

Other stops during the trip may include a performance at a Great America Theme Park in Cupertino, California.

From 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Soulstice will host a "Happy Hour" concert where guests can come eat, drink and enjoy music. Voluntary donations will be accepted during the performance.

Last year featured a group of students who had been involved with Soulstice for four, five or even six years. Helppie had only two returning students this year.

"It's exciting, very challenging to bring a lot of rookies on board and bring them up to the level of excellence the group has had in the past," he said.

For junior Mitch Porterfield, the best part of the group is getting close to other members.

"In Soulstice, I know what people like and don't like, what their family does for a living, and how to make them laugh. It's refreshing to have a chance to get to know the members more intimately," Porterfield said.

Helppie said part of this group's success comes from many of the vocalists also being talented musicians who have good ears, a strong sense of rhythm and are able to pick up complicated harmonies that most choirs avoid.

"We have pianists, saxophone players, trumpeters and drummers," Porterfield said. "The level of musicality among the members of the group is unbelievable!"

Overall, Helppie said he hopes Soulstice teaches members how to be better performers from master teachers, promotes Western's music department and allows students to have fun.•

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