This Valentine's Day, the voices of Ithaca College Jazz Vocal Ensemble and singer Steven Stull will reverberate against the Museum of the Earth's hanging whale bones for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra's annual "Songs of Love" fundraiser.
The Museum of the Earth is the largest natural history museum in Tompkins County and houses records of prehistoric life on Earth. The museum hosts an almost-complete American mastodon skeleton and Prof. Bruce Monger, earth and atmospheric sciences, sends his Introductory Oceanography lab students to the museum to learn about the planet's history.
The museum's 14th annual fundraiser comes at a time when the future of the museum is at risk. As a result of a loss of annual funding from donors, they have been forced to downsize operations, pause their summer camp and seek more ways to fundraise.
Sarah Chandler, the executive director of the CCO, organizes the yearly event to supplement the CCO's funding. Chandler said she was "happy to support" the museum by hosting the concert at the venue. According to Chandler, the event has something for everyone.
"People who maybe have never come to our concerts ... come together for a fabulous evening of live music and delicious food and drink," Chandler said. "They can sing along if they want,and even dance a bit."
The Ithaca College JVE will also be present, performing a mixture of modern music and classics. The group will partner with Stull, a singer with whom JVE director John White has a history of collaboration.
The pair's partnership began 20 years ago when they recorded a jazz album together called "Christmas from the Heart of New York." From there, the pair founded Triphammer Arts, a nonprofit organization that produces predominantly modern dance and jazz shows.
"[Stull] refuses to be defined by genre," White said. "He's not only an electrifying singer, but a choreographer too."
At the event, JVE will perform music from the Great American Songbook, as well as more modern tunes like "Hearts Take Time." White said that he is most excited to hear the ensemble perform Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss" a cappella.
The "Songs of Love" concert doesn't just include songs about falling in love. White said that the program includes songs about love that "didn't go as planned," or heartbreak. By performing songs like these at the event, Stull said that the audience can gain a deeper perspective on love.
"Songs of lost love allow us to commiserate with someone's misfortune and show us how special love can be," Stull said. "I like to think of each love song as a window into someone's heart."
The concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Museum of the Earth, and tickets will be $75.
Atticus Johnson '27 is a Sun contributor and can be reached at [email protected]