<p>Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and Kanye West are just some of the few artists that appear on our iPods. But how many of us listen to music from the 1940s? On March 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., in Chapin Auditorium, the Vocal and Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke will transport the campus back to 1941 as part of the fifth annual Big Broadcast, an event honoring the radio shows of the 1940s. The ensembles, directed by Mark Gionfriddo, will sing and play tunes from musicians like George Gershwin, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Cole Porter and Charlie Barnet, and will also include real commercial messages from the past. Brian Lapis, the WWLP News Chief Meteorologist will act as announcer Fred Kelley. </p>
<p>The Big Broadcast is a night of nostalgia and fun, where people are transported to the 1940s and the glory of radio days, said Miriam Cantor-Stone 12, member of Vocal Jazz and the Jazz Ensembles. </p>
<p>However, the show is more than authentic commercial messages and music. We're very committed to making the show as realistic as possible, said Emilie Heidel 10, Vocal Jazz member and production manager of the Big Broadcast. All the songs the Jazz Ensembles perform are authentic. We make sure to dress like they would have done in the 1940s, and have our hair done in authentic styles. </p>
<p>The Big Broadcast is not something easy to organize. Careful research and planning went into the production to make it as realistic and nostalgic as possible. Many Jazz Ensemble members even took a January Term class to study the 1940s and to write the shows extensive script and radio play. </p>
<p>The Big Broadcast is important to the MHC community because it's a really fun way to explore another era, said Heidel. Its a history lesson, but one that teaches us about everyday life in the 40s rather than the big, earth-shattering events. The Big Broadcast has also become a way to reach out to local communities: it attracts a lot of local people, including many people who remember hearing this music in the 1940s.</p>
<p>Many upper-classwomen may remember this event from previous years, but first-years will likely have never heard of it. Firsties should definitely come and see the Big Broadcast, said Heidel. The popular and often sold-out show is highly recommended. I would recommend this event to new students because it is a great introduction to Mount Holyoke's Jazz Ensembles, or jazz in general if one doesn't listen to a lot of jazz! said Cantor-Stone. Whether you're a big fan of jazz or not, the Big Broadcast is a fun way to see your peers sing and perform, and you may see a side of a new friend that you never knew existed! </p>
<p>We try to put as much life and humor into the show as possible, which is actually very easy, because the 1940s were a really lively and fun time! I recommend everyone come who possibly can you definitely won't regret it, said Heidel. </p>
<p>Who knows, maybe some of us will be adding 1940s music to our iPod libraries after the show.</p>