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 smiling widely stands against a light background on the left; to the right, bold white text reads Staff Profile featuring Mike Armintrout on a solid black background.

March 30, 2020

Staff Profile: Mike Armintrout

Next up in our staff profiles is Mike Armintrout! What is your position at Convos? I am the Senior Associate Director. How long have you been at Convos? I've been with Convos since June 2016.  What is your favorite Convos...
Bold yellow and black banner reads Cultural Update with your weekly dose of Convos culture beside a silhouette of a head wearing headphones, set against a vibrant yellow background.

March 26, 2020

Convos Cultural Update / Episode 1

Join our executive director Todd Wetzel and senior associate director Mike Armintrout for Episode 1 of the Convos Cultural Update.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx7RsJHovRo&feature=youtu.be Todd's Picks: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center https://www.chambermusicsociety.org/w... DÖKK by fuse* https://www.fuseworks.it/en/works/dokk/ Third Coast Percussion Live Studio performance...
Yellow and black graphic with bold text: FRIENDS FRIDAY. A white spotlight highlights Vince Sitterding’s name on the right side, celebrating Friends Friday.

March 26, 2020

Friends Friday: Vince Sitterding

Welcome to Friends Friday! While we are all trying to "flatten the curve" we wanted to highlight different Friends of Convos. In case you're not aware, Friends of Convos is an influential group of arts supporters who bring world-class performances...
A person with glasses sits in a wicker chair against a brown wall. Text on a black background highlights the staff profile of Mollie Siu-Chong.

March 24, 2020

Staff Profile: Mollie Siu-Chong

Today's staff profile feature is Mollie Siu-Chong! What is your position at Convos? I am the Art Director / Graphic Designer. How long have you been at Convos? Almost 4 years! What is your favorite Convos performance of all time?...
A smiling person with short dark hair, glasses, and a blue striped shirt stands before a colorful butterfly mural. Text on black background reads: Staff Profile—featuring Brooke Sauter.

March 19, 2020

Staff Profile: Brooke Sauter

This week we're getting to know Brooke Sauter! What is your position at Convos? I am the Senior Development Assistant. How long have you been at Convos? Just over a month and a half - I joined the team February...
Smiling woman with blond hair and glasses stands in front of a Purdue University backdrop; text on the right highlights the Staff Profile for Kathy Dietz.

March 19, 2020

Staff Profile: Kathy Dietz

Next up in our Staff Profile series is Kathy Dietz!  What is your position at Convos? I am the Director of Artist Relations and Operations. How long have you been at Convos? 15+ years What is your favorite Convos performance...
A smiling woman with short brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a navy blazer and necklace, stands next to bold white text on a black background that reads: Staff Profile—featuring Erin Diener Mattull.

March 19, 2020

Staff Profile: Erin Diener Mattull

It takes a village to put on a season at Convos. To show our appreciation, we're highlighting our amazing staff over the next few weeks and showcasing the wonderful work they do here at Convos. First up - Erin Diener...
Three women in blue waitress uniforms stand on stage, smiling and holding up order tickets. Behind them is a diner setting. The word WAITRESS, inspired by Sara Bareilles' soulful storytelling, is boldly displayed across the image.

March 9, 2020

Sara Bareilles on “Soulful Storytelling” in Waitress

Sara Bareilles on ‘Soulful Storytelling’ in WAITRESS Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music for the hit musical Waitress.  Broadway in Cincinnati caught up with her in New York in January 2017. Broadway in Cincinnati: How did you get involved in this...
Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee stand side by side in front of a beige wall, both looking at the camera with neutral expressions—perfectly reflecting the poised elegance of Close Encounters With Music.

March 7, 2020

REVIEW: Acclaim for pianists Soyeon Kate Lee and Ran Dank at Close Encounters With Music

When Lee and Dank perform at the keyboard together, they produce an entirely unified sound. Every expressive nuance — every ritardando, accelerando, crescendo, decrescendo — is executed in perfect unison. Their collaboration is seamless and, hence, deceptive; They fool our ears into believing all the notes are coming from a single musician.


A man with dark, wavy hair and a serious expression stands next to a woman with long, straight hair—impressive as Dank and Lee—her hand on his shoulder; both look directly at the camera against a light, textured background.

March 7, 2020

7 Reasons Why Dank and Lee are Incredibly Impressive

By Kristen Day - Marketing Intern Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee are two virtuosic pianists who've made their mark on the classical piano scene. Whether it's the challenges of marriage, parenthood, or mastering a new concerto, the duo exhibits...
Three men from Third Coast Percussion stand before a colorful geometric background, two looking up as one holds a triangle instrument. On the right, creativity shines as a fourth, partially visible person holds a triangle and beater.

March 1, 2020

13 Third Coast Percussion Songs to Fuel Your Creativity [Playlist]

By Kristen Day - Marketing Intern Third Coast Percussion is a Grammy award-winning ensemble that has traveled the globe, released a wide variety of records, and has been performing together since 2005. The supergroup group is currently made up of...
Two young men with beards, known as The Brother Brothers, stand side by side in front of a brick wall, looking directly at the camera. The black-and-white image has a candid feel, as if captured during an interview or while answering questions.

February 26, 2020

10 Questions with The Brother Brothers

By Kristen Day - Marketing Intern Making up the two halves of The Brother Brothers are fiddle player Adam Moss and cellist David Moss. Their harmonious folk sound has traveled across the world on street corners, music festival stages, and...