Student musicians and employees of SOTA continue to struggle with quarantine
Melissa Joseph, Staff Writer
May 6, 2020
With citizens forced to quarantine and almost all events in the city cancelled, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Chico State School of the Arts to cancel all productions. SOTA and Laxson Auditorium student employees were not initially informed about the cancellation of all events. Employees re...
Chico State arts programs are planning for a semester online
Danielle Kessler and Kati Morris
May 4, 2020
With the university’s shift to online instruction, many arts programs have found new ways to adapt. With in-person classes already canceled and potentially next semester, events are being reimagined for a digital audience. Companies like School of the Arts and Chico Performances that host...
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” delivers an erotically fun show
October 23, 2019
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” was a gritty and gruesome, yet erotically captivating musical production. The musical, produced by Chico State’s School of the Arts (SOTA), was originally written and produced by Richard O’Brien and was later made into a film adaption, named ...
Chico Unplugged presents the creative heart of the community
Abram Melendez
October 8, 2019
The Chico Unplugged contest began at Madison Bear Garden on Thursday. This Chico State School of the Arts event is an American Idol-style competition in which contestants play two songs. After everyone is finished, the judges decide who wins and places in the competition.This was the first round of ...
Soloists perform lauded classical pieces
September 10, 2019
Four soloists took on the grueling challenge of recreating the masterpieces of Beethoven, Schubert and Hindemith Sunday afternoon at Zingg Recital Hall. The soloists included cellist Leighton Fong, clarinetist Russel Burnham, Bradley Martin, pianist and violinist Anna Presler from the Left Coast Chamber En...
School of the Arts hosts final choir concert of the semester
April 29, 2019
The Chico State Department of Music and Theatre held a choir concert, featuring Chico State’s Chamber Singers and Acappella Choir, Saturday at the Harlen Adams Theatre. The concert, titled, “And the Earth Sings,” was held in part to commemorate Earth Day, so many of the songs carried t...
“The River Bride” brings magic and heartache to Chico State
Rayanne Painter
April 7, 2019
There’s no fairy godmother to save the day, or happily ever after while riding off into the sunset. This isn’t a typical Walt Disney fairytale.Chico State School of the Arts’ Department of Music and Theatre presented “The River Bride” on Thursday, its opening night. Describe...
Chico State musicians tackle Terry Riley’s ‘In C’
Rayanne Painter
March 3, 2019
Ever read “choose your own adventure” books as a child? Chico State’s New Music Symposium recreated just that, but with music and rhythm.Guest composer Terry Riley joined the audience at the Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall on Thursday evening to watch the musicians recreate his masterpie...
Chico Unplugged Winners’ Showcase blew the roof off Madison Bear Garden
February 23, 2019
Madison Bear Garden was filled with an adoring crowd and acoustic music as Chico State’s School of the Arts (SOTA) hosted “Chico Unplugged,” an acoustic competition that spans over the course of three nights at Madison Bear Garden. Musicians perform acoustic renditions of songs they've wr...
Fall Acoustics show brings relaxing vibes to The Hub
Grant Schmieding
December 2, 2018
Wet fall leaves littered the floor as students entered the room. Christmas lights twinkled across a raised stage and melodic acoustic guitar songs rang through the relaxed crowd. Students escaped the cold, wet weather at the first ever Fall Acoustics show in The Hub Thursday evening. Hosted by the Sc...
TV producer and writer shares journey through the entertainment industry
Grant Schmieding
October 26, 2018
From playing punk rock, practicing media law, managing a record label and radio broadcasting to writing and producing TV shows and movies, Joe Escalante has done it all. Escalante, founder of Kung Fu Records with a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, shared the story of his remarkable journey t...
Chico Unplugged rocks Madison Bear Garden with local talent
Grant Schmieding
September 22, 2018
The crowd, tightly packed, mostly stands—mingling as shoulders brush and bump. The stage is small, pushed into a corner, surrounded by bright, colorful lights. Beams of purple, blue and red dance across the venue, forming pools around moving shadows. School of the Arts (SOTA) employees in black...
