Wisconsin Union: Lineup of Free Madison Jazz Festival Events, Including World-Renowned Headliners, Will Come to the Terrace June 15-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Wisconsin Union
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/2024-madison-jazz-festival

LINEUP OF FREE MADISON JAZZ FESTIVAL EVENTS, INCLUDING WORLD-RENOWNED HEADLINERS, WILL COME TO THE TERRACE JUNE 15-16

MADISON – The annual tradition, the Madison Jazz Festival, will return to the outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace June 15-16 with free jazz performances presented by the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) and the Arts + Literature Laboratory.

The Madison Jazz Festival at the Terrace will feature headliners the Orrin Evans Quartet on June 15 and the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet: “We Exist!” on June 16. Seating for Madison Jazz Fest shows at the Terrace is available on a first-come, first-served basis. During inclement weather, Madison Jazz Festival events scheduled to take place at the Terrace will move to Shannon Hall in the nearby building Memorial Union, when possible.

The full Jazz Fest lineup at the Terrace includes:

• June 15:
  • 1-2 p.m. – Madison Jazz Fest High School All Stars
  • 3-4:30 p.m. – Gerri DiMaggio and Friends featuring Peter Dominguez
  • 5-6:15 p.m. – Heirloom
  • 7-8:30 p.m. – Orrin Evans Quartet
  • 9-10:30 p.m. – “¡Azucar! A celebration Honoring Celia Cruz,” featuring Betty Guerrero y La Combi
• June 16:
  • 1-2:15 p.m. – A.S.T.R.O.
  • 3-4:15 p.m. – John Christensen Quartet with Russ Johnson
  • 5-6:15 p.m. – Pawan Benjamin Trio with Javier Santiago and Jeremiah Collier
  • 7-8:30 p.m. – Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet: “We Exist!”

            “We are excited for the return of this quintessential Madison summertime event and even more excited that all the Terrace performances, even the headliners, will be free of charge,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “The Madison Jazz Festival and the Memorial Union Terrace are two of Madison’s best ways to gather in community, and Madisonians will get to celebrate both Wisconsin-based and internationally-renowned jazz musicians all in the same place and for free.”

GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Orrin Evans will lead the Orrin Evans Quartet during its free June 15 performance and has been a leader in jazz innovation throughout his three-decades-long career. He has become known for infusing other genres into jazz, such as blues and soul. In addition to Evans, the ensemble includes drummer Justin Faulkner, bassist Vicente Archer and saxophonist Caleb Wheeler Curtis.

            “I go head-first for a lot of things,” Evans has said. “I like to stretch out. Wherever the music takes me, I’m going there.”

GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning vocalist, musical theater star and producer Dee Dee Bridgewater will conclude the festival with the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet on June 16 at the Terrace. Bridgewater’s “We Exist!” tour focuses on the struggles women have faced and the successes women have achieved through their talent. Bridgewater earned her Tony for her work playing Glinda in “The Wiz.” The jazz songstress enjoys re-envisioning jazz classics. Her mentors have included Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and Betty Carter.

“I hope that I will be exploring things until I don’t have the voice, or until my body gives out, or until they both give out, or until I just leave this Earth,” said Bridgewater in an interview with Morgan Enos of GRAMMY.com.

In addition to the free events at the Terrace June 15-16, other Madison Jazz Festival free and ticketed events will occur throughout Madison June 7-14, including performances by Raul Midón on June 8 and Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo “El Arte Del Bolero” on June 10.

The WUT team recently announced its 2024-2025 season of what’s next now — the Theater’s new tag line — with up-and-coming musicians, vocalists and dancers as well as renowned artists in performing arts. The lineup includes the Theater’s annual cornerstone series in jazz and classical as well as the new Black Box Sessions featuring hip-hop music. The 2024-2025 season also includes two theatrical productions as well as the return of Japanese Taiko drumming. Current subscribers can renew now; general public sales for subscriptions and single tickets start on May 28.

Patrons can support future Wisconsin Union Theater and Wisconsin Union events as well as student leadership opportunities by making purchases at the Memorial Union Terrace, the Memorial Union, Union South, Wisconsin Union markets and cafes, and TerraceStore.union.wisc.edu. Supporters can also make events like this and performing arts student leadership roles possible by giving tax-deductible donations here.

Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/madison-jazz-festival for the WUT-hosted Madison Jazz Festival lineup and details about the WUT-hosted festival events. Details about the rest of the Jazz Festival events can be found at madisonjazzfestivalwi.org.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. WUT presents an annual season of performing arts and hosts hundreds of rental events in Shannon Hall and the Play Circle in Memorial Union. WUT has an extensive history of presenting world-renowned musicians, dancers, actors, and speakers and strives to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all. WUT is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company: Michelle Niemec promoted to Vice President, Controller

Madison, Wis. (May 20, 2024) – Michelle Niemec has been promoted to Vice President, Controller at National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL). Niemec joined NGL in 2021 as Assistant Vice President, Accounting Policy and has been instrumental in determining the accounting treatment for the sale of various blocks of business over the last several years, as well as managing the relationship with NGL’s external auditors.

Niemec will oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, accounting policy, expense analysis and financial planning functions at NGL.

“Michelle has a done an excellent job establishing the accounting policy function and managing our external auditor relationship. She is a collaborative leader with a passion for mentoring staff. Aligning our accounting functions under Michelle will allow us to improve processes and controls, in addition to focusing on employee development opportunities,” said Nancy Stoddard, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at NGL. “I look forward to continuing to work with her and our entire team as we focus on business excellence.”

“NGL has a long history of financial strength. I remain committed to further enhancing our processes and achieving our long-term financial goals as the organization continues to grow,” said Niemec.

Niemec is a CPA who joined NGL with a wealth of experience supporting various organizations in accounting on a statutory, GAAP and IFRS basis. She has a background in public and technical accounting, as well as private equity and strategic transition support.

Niemec holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

She also enjoys hiking, mountain biking and spending time with her family.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Kraus-Anderson Madison names Michael Hinderman Director of Operations

MADISON, Wis. (June 2024) – Kraus-Anderson Construction (KA) has named Michael Hinderman as director of operations for the company’s Madison office. In his new position, he will lead the day-to-day operations of the Madison region, including overseeing all construction projects, marketing programs and business development initiatives. 

A 22-year industry veteran, Hinderman joined KA in 2008 as a project manager. In January 2024, he was promoted from senior project manager to project executive, the company’s top project management position.

Hinderman has overseen dozens of projects in numerous building sectors, including healthcare, education, government, office, retail, conference centers and advanced manufacturing facilities. Some of his notable repeat clients include Verizon, Scheels, Cabela’s, Fidelity Investments, Lowes, Room and Board, Kroger-Roundy’s and Pick ‘n Save. Other project highlights include:

–  La Crosse Center – 90,000-square-foot expansion and renovation;

–  Menasha Corporation – 85,000-square-foot manufacturing center in Pelahatchie, Miss.;

–  Kalahari Resorts Hotel – new four-story, 237-unit hotel  and addition at Wisconsin Dells;

–  Memorial Health of Lafayette County – 82,000-square-foot replacement hospital in Darlington, Wis. 

Hinderman is a member of BioForward of Madison, American Institute of Architects of Wisconsin, Downtown Madison Inc., Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Smart Growth and Wisconsin Hospital Association. He received an A.A.S. degree in Construction Management and an A.A.S. degree in Construction Technology from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also holds an ICRA Healthcare Construction Certificate.

About Kraus-Anderson

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies and services, including facilities assessment, K-12 pre-referendum planning, strategic facility planning, sustainability and insurance operations. Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

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Over 200 Shows Already Confirmed for 12th Annual Make Music Madison Festival, Organizers Targeting Historic 700+ Concerts for Friday, June 21 holiday

For release: April 11, 2024

Contact: Meri Rose Ekberg

Phone: (608) 571-7556

Email: info@makemusicmadison.org

Website: www.makemusicmadison.org

Over 200 Shows Already Confirmed for 12th Annual Make Music Madison Festival, Organizers Targeting Historic 700+ Concerts for Friday, June 21 holiday.

Madison, Wis. – Make Music Madison opened registration for its 12th annual citywide music celebration held on the summer solstice, June 21. Last year’s festival featured 621 registered concerts at 196 locations presenting music by over 1,500 individual artists. We exceeded our goal of 500 shows and were thrilled to learn Madison had the highest number of events of any chapter in North America. Make Music Madison 2023 received international attention and equaled the scale of last year’s Make Music Day celebration in Berlin, Germany, a city approximately 13x Madison’s size. In 2024, Make Music Madison organizers hope to surpass 700 registered shows! Registration to perform or host a performance opened April 1st. Interested parties can learn more at www.makemusicmadison.org.

Make Music Madison welcomes performers of all genres and experience levels. The organization aims to engage every sector of Madison’s music industry and provide our community with free and accessible music, while encouraging the public to support local artists, and invest in the creative economy.

Each year the event fills the city with music from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at venues hosted at community centers, museums, retail shops, restaurants, parks, theaters, places of worship, private residences, and other locations. Anyone can perform or host a performance, but events must be within the City of Madison, free, accessible to the public, and maintain space on sidewalks for pedestrians.

Make Music Madison is part of Make Music Day, an international music celebration occurring in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Beginning in 1982 in Paris as Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day brings our community together to celebrate the magic of live music. All varieties of live sound creation are welcome, and our motto is “Performed by anyone, enjoyed by everyone.”

There are more than 20 other Make Music Day chapters across Wisconsin.

“Every music superstar is a local hero somewhere, and many of them are searching for audiences and opportunities to perform live. Musicians and music appreciators are vital to the culture of a society, and this holiday honors and amplifies the importance of live music.” says Make Music Madison Board Secretary Kristian Petrov Iliev.

Make Music Madison is also welcoming a new Musician-in-Residence to the team, singer-songwriter Tzêra. Originally from Puerto Rico, Tzêra is a self-taught guitarist whose upbringing in the Caribbean immersed her in an eclectic fusion of rhythmic genres, such as Salsa, Latin Jazz, Reggaetón, and R&B. Accompanying her soulful voice with her mellow guitar, her performances include autobiographical unreleased tracks and covers from artists such as Cultura Profética, Amy Winehouse, and Nathy Peluso.

Registration opened April 1st and closes on June 1st. There are no registration fees or limits to the number of musicians or locations who can participate. Sponsors and volunteers are welcome. For complete details on Make Music Madison, visit www.makemusicmadison.org.

For release: April 11, 2024

Contact: Meri Rose Ekberg

Phone: (608) 571-7556

Email: info@makemusicmadison.org

Website: www.makemusicmadison.org

Más de 200 conciertos ya confirmados para el 11º Festival Anual Make Music Madison,

Los organizadores apuntan a más de 700 conciertos históricos para el feriado del viernes 21 de junio.

Madison, Wis. – Make Music Madison abrió la inscripción para su duodécima celebración musical anual en toda la ciudad que se llevará a cabo en el solsticio de verano, el 21 de junio. El festival del año pasado contó con 621 conciertos registrados en 196 lugares, donde más de 1,500 artistas individuales presentaron música.El año pasado superamos nuestra meta de 500 espectáculos y nos emociona saber que Madison tuvo la mayor cantidad de eventos en América del Norte. Make Music Madison 2023 recibió atención internacional e igualó la escala de la celebración del Make Music Day del año pasado en Berlín, Alemania, una ciudad aproximadamente 13 veces más grande que Madison. ¡En 2024, los organizadores de Make Music Madison esperan superar los 700 espectáculos registrados! La inscripción para actuar o albergar una actuación se abrió el 1 de abril. Las partes interesadas pueden obtener más información en www.makemusicmadison.org.

Make Music Madison da la bienvenida a artistas de todos los géneros y niveles de experiencia. La organización tiene como objetivo involucrar a todos los sectores de la industria musical de Madison y brindar a nuestra comunidad música gratuita y accesible. Al mismo tiempo, alienta al público a apoyar a los artistas locales e invertir en la economía creativa.

Cada año el evento llena de música la ciudad de 8 a 21 horas. en lugares alojados en centros comunitarios, museos, tiendas minoristas, restaurantes, parques, teatros, lugares de culto, residencias privadas y otros lugares. Cualquiera puede actuar o ser anfitrión de una actuación, pero los eventos deben realizarse dentro de la ciudad de Madison, ser gratuitos, accesibles al público y mantener espacio en las aceras para los peatones.

Make Music Madison es parte del Make Music Day, una celebración musical internacional que se lleva a cabo en más de 1000 ciudades de todo el mundo. Desde 1982 en París como Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day reúne a nuestra comunidad para celebrar la magia de la música en vivo. Todas las variedades de creación de sonido en vivo son bienvenidas y nuestro lema es “Interpretado por cualquiera, disfrutado por todos”.

Hay más de 20 capítulos más del Make Music Day en todo Wisconsin.

“Cada superestrella de la música es un héroe local en alguna parte, y muchos de ellos buscan audiencias y oportunidades para actuar en vivo. Los músicos y los amantes de la música son vitales para la cultura de una sociedad, y esta festividad honra y amplifica la importancia de la música en vivo”. dice el secretario de la junta directiva de Make Music Madison, Kristian Petrov Iliev.

Make Music Madison también le da la bienvenida al equipo a un nuevo músico residente, la cantautora Tzêra. Originaria de Puerto Rico, Tzêra es una guitarrista autodidacta cuya crianza en el Caribe la sumergió en una fusión ecléctica de géneros rítmicos, como la salsa, el jazz latino, el reggaetón y el R&B. Acompañando su conmovedora voz con su melosa guitarra, sus actuaciones incluyen temas autobiográficos inéditos y covers de artistas como Cultura Profética, Amy Winehouse y Nathy Peluso.

La inscripción se abrió el 1 de abril y cierra el 1 de junio. No hay tarifas de inscripción ni límites en la cantidad de músicos o ubicaciones que pueden participar. Patrocinadores y voluntarios son bienvenidos. Para obtener detalles completos sobre Make Music Madison, visite www.makemusicmadison.org.

Backflip Creative Marketing experiments with commercial advertising in a Backflippy way!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Backflip Creative Marketing Experiments with Commercial Advertising in a Backflippy Way!

Madison, WI – May 17, 2024 – Backflip, a trailblazer in creative marketing and video production, is thrilled to announce its latest venture into commercial advertising. With a distinctive approach that blends creativity, strategy, and a touch of ‘Backflippy’ magic, Backflip is stepping into the landscape of broadcast TV advertising for one of its toughest clients: itself.

Our recent “Sell More, Better” TV commercial is a testament to our commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional results for our clients. This commercial is not just about selling a product; it’s about telling a story that resonates with audiences and drives meaningful engagement.

A fresh take on self-promotion

At Backflip, we believe that effective advertising is about more than just getting your message out there—it’s about making a lasting impression with something awesome. Our “Sell More, Better” commercial exemplifies this philosophy by combining top-notch cinematography, comedic narratives and performances, and the ever-useful tool: repetition. Also, we employed the use of repetition.

The Challenge of Marketing Ourselves

Creating a commercial for our own brand presented a unique set of challenges. As a marketing agency, we are often our own toughest critics. The task required us to step back and objectively view our brand through the eyes of our audience. It involved a deep introspection into what makes Backflip unique and how we can effectively communicate that to potential clients.

Our team tackled this challenge head-on, leveraging our collective expertise to produce a commercial that highlights our capabilities and captures the essence of who we are. Love it or hate it, you’ll absolutely remember it. The process was a valuable exercise in self-reflection and creativity, ultimately resulting in a product that makes us feel incredibly proud.

About Backflip

Backflip is a full-service creative marketing agency based in Madison, WI. We specialize in branding, video production, web design, and digital marketing, offering a holistic approach to help businesses grow and thrive in today’s competitive market.

We invite businesses looking to elevate their marketing efforts to join us in this exciting journey. Whether you’re a small business aiming to increase local visibility or a large corporation seeking to enhance your brand presence, Backflip has the expertise and creativity to help you succeed.

For more information about our services or to see our “Sell More, Better” TV commercial, visit our website at letsbackflip.com.