Jeffrey Brown from PBS NewsHour and cellist and humanitarian Yo-Yo Ma sit on stage in chairs having a discussion, microphones in hand. Large panels display scenic images of Purdue University, highlighting Purdue Convocations. The stage is simply decorated, with cords and a small table between them.

Convos Stories

The most inspiring arts and culture stories from Purdue Convocations.

A man in a white t-shirt sits at a table with a bowl of tomatoes, while a woman in a pink patterned dress stands beside him, speaking, evoking a scene from A Bronx Tale. Yellow curtains hang in the background.

February 13, 2020

American Idol Winner Nick Fradiani Will Star in A Bronx Tale North American Tour

Via Playbill.com Nick Fradiani, the 2015 American Idol winner, will play Lorenzo in the the 2019–2020 North American tour of the Broadway musical A Bronx Tale. The forthcoming tour will hold technical rehearsals in Elmira, New York, at the Clemens Center, before officially...
Several people stand with arms raised as various classical instruments—violins, flutes, a lute, and more—are tossed into the air against a cloudy sky, evoking the drama and energy of baroque music and its legendary composers.

February 12, 2020

Little Known Facts About the Composers of Secrets of the Baroque

By Jordan E. Howard - Marketing Intern Baroque music is a deep, vast treasure chest of astonishing virtuosity. On its sixth tour of the United States, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin—or Akamus—is letting stateside audiences in on Secrets of the...
A dancer from the Guangdong Modern Dance Company strikes a dramatic pose, wearing a flowing outfit, extends one arm and bends low with legs wide apart against a bright, white background. The image is in black and white.

February 4, 2020

Interview with a Dancer – Guangdong Modern Dance Company’s Li Siyu

By Jordan Howard - Marketing Intern Guangdong Province is a bridge to inland China, a gateway through which the world saw China “open up” during economic reforms and one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. It’s also a thriving hub of...
A shirtless person, perhaps a Guangdong Modern Dance Company choreographer, performs a dynamic dance move—balancing on one arm and one leg with limbs extended—against a white background.

February 4, 2020

Interview with a Choreographer – Liu Qi from Guangdong Modern Dance Company

By Jordan Howard - Marketing Intern Guangdong Province is a bridge to inland China, a gateway through which the world saw China “open up” during economic reforms and one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. It’s also a thriving hub of...
Four men from Third Coast Percussion stand and sit at a table with colorful handbells arranged on it. One member of the percussion ensemble, in a blue suit, sits on the table, ringing a yellow bell as the others watch and clap against pastel color blocks.

February 1, 2020

Eight Hands Make Light Work for Third Coast Percussion

Compared to, say, string quartets, percussion ensembles are a relatively young phenomenon—they became established in the mid-20th century through works by the likes of John Cage and Iannis Xenakis, and Reich's output in the 1970s helped cement their place. As...
Two men with beards and curly hair, resembling the Brother Brothers folk music duo, stand side by side against a black background. The black-and-white photo uses dramatic lighting as they look directly at the camera.

January 24, 2020

6 Folksy Facts About The Brother Brothers

By Kristen Day - Marketing Intern Who said you can't mix work and family? For brothers Adam and David Moss, their musical partnership has resulted in the folk ensemble, The Brother Brothers. Their unique and harmonious stripped folk sound is...
A group of children excitedly reaches toward a large rod puppet, suspended and operated by visible strings during a stage performance with dark, dramatic lighting.

January 24, 2020

Learn to Make Your Own Rod Puppet!

The sea is filled with fish of different sizes, colors, and talents. Just like you! In the upcoming show, Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure, puppeteers bring these unique underwater creatures to life. Many of the beautifully made puppets are a special type called a rod puppet, meaning they are controlled by rods underneath layers of fabric and other materials. Learn how to make your own aquatic creation.


Actors in costumes perform on stage with a large, open-mouthed dragon puppet looming over them, resembling the awe-inspiring creatures from Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium, while children in helmets react dramatically under bright lights against a dark background.

January 24, 2020

3 Creatures You’ll Meet in Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure

By Kristen Day There's no feeling like watching schools of fish swim over your head in an aquarium. Can you imagine being in the sea, swimming alongside them? On February 9th, the immersive puppetry in Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure allows...
A woman with short brown hair in a white dress holds a cello while standing in a sunflower field, evoking fearless facts from Neyla Pekarek's biography. Sunflowers surround her, some facing down and some upright as she gazes to her left.

January 22, 2020

5 Fearless Facts About Neyla Pekarek

By Kristen Day The old American southwest is filled with stories of heroism, bravery, and suspense. But how many of those stories do you know about women? Cellist and vocalist, Neyla Pekarek sought to settle the score in her latest...
Three people in theatrical costumes stand close together, smiling widely. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the person in the center wears a red dress, while those on either side don black berets and sailor-like outfits—all with expressive, cheerful faces.

January 22, 2020

Down the Rabbit Hole with Alice

By Jordan Howard, Marketing Intern While hiding in her father’s study one day, Alice encounters a strange rabbit who loves to eat books. After chasing him into his hole, Alice discovers Wonderland—a world of strange creatures both friend and foe....
Colorful stage lights shine through mist above a stage. A bold teal banner at the bottom right features the text “INTERN PROFILE” alongside the name Tressa Janes.

January 6, 2020

Intern Profiles – Meet Katherine

Today, we have the opportunity to meet one of our production interns – Katherine! She is a senior studying marketing in the Krannert School of Management. Outside of working for Convos, she is an active member of Student Concert Committee....
Six women, dressed in black attire, pose together and smile in front of a plain black background, embodying the timeless elegance of the Goddesses of Jazz.

January 3, 2020

6 Facts about Artemis: The Godesses of Jazz

By Kristen Day There's always something new to love within the world of jazz. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of syncopation, it's time you meet Artemis. Named for the Greek goddess of the hunt, the all-female supergroup is tearing...