Around NMU

James A. Strain, professor of percussion at Northern Michigan University, will present a faculty recital featuring the music of Clair Omar Musser at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Musser, considered the founder of the modern concert marimba, was instrumental in the development, design, promotion and early pedagogy for the instrument.

Distinguished pianist Jeonwong Ham will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, in Reynolds Recital Hall as part of Northern Michigan University's Siril Concert Series. In addition to her concert performance, Ham will offer a free piano technique workshop for piano teachers and practitioners, and two free piano masterclasses for NMU students and community members.

Hyeonji Noh, an international student from Seoul, South Korea, came to Northern Michigan University to study English and multimedia production, with the eventual goal of returning to her home country to teach English as a foreign language. Jumpstarting her career with online content, Noh uses her social media presence to create a community of English as a Second Language learners whose native tongue is Korean. She has amassed more than 30,000 Instagram followers with her videos and educational language content.

The College for Kids Jr. program at Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center provides hands-on, minds-on experiences for children in grades K-6 within science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The next classes will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23, and/or Saturday, April 20.

The Scottish folk-rock group Skerryvore will return to Northern Michigan University for another high-energy performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in Forest Roberts Theatre. The concert is part of the annual Winter Roots Festival co-sponsored by the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival and Ore Dock Brewing Company.

Due to the inclement weather, the Northern Michigan University Orchestra Children's Concert scheduled for this evening has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Northern Michigan University undergraduate student Vanessa Steigauf, originally from Singen, Germany, co-authored an article in "Nature," a weekly international journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology. She is a neuroscience-cell and molecular biology student.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will present “The Big Pitch,” the culminating event of its annual New Business Venture Competition, at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, as part of Innovation Week activities on campus. NMU students will present their proposals to a panel of judges, vying for thousands of dollars in funding to get their business ideas off the ground.

Northern Michigan University's Hospitality Leadership Department will host a themed three-course, fine-dining experience before the Saturday, Feb. 24 NMU Theatre and Dance production of Puffs. The event will take place in the newly branded restaurant North Fork, NMU's Teaching Kitchen, in the Northern Center. The space will be transformed with spellbinding decor that reminds guests of a “certain school of magic and magic.”

Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center is scheduled to host the annual Michigan Region I tournament for the 2024 Science Olympiad from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in NMU's Science Building. About 300 Upper Peninsula students typically compete in 46 events. The top-placing middle school and high school teams at this event will go on to compete in the state tournament at Michigan State University in April.