The Wharton Center's Welcome Week event aims to make theater and performing arts students feel at home on campus. With performances from new indie artists like Charlie Burg and familiar faces like the MSU Accafellas, Wharton Welcomes will have live music for everyone on Sept. 1, at 5 p.m.
Charlie Burg, the headliner of the outdoor concert, wants to bring a fresh R&B and indie rock sound to the campus he studied at. He said it feels like a good homecoming to return with a solo show after performing with bands in recent years.
Burg tries to bring a relaxed environment to his performances. He said that by just having a good time and working off the vibe of the crowd, people that may have not heard of his music will be sold on his performance.
“Live music is something that brings people together and provides a relaxed environment to come and get to know each other,” Burg said. “And have a good time.”
Rayna Gold, President of the Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization, or WSCMO, explained that the students can look up to Burg and relate to his new wave music. She hopes it will bring in students that haven't been able to experience this concert since the pandemic.
This year's welcome event is the first following a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
"It's just a really exciting way to get new students to know about the Wharton Center and more about performing arts and start bringing the arts community back together for the year,” Gold said.
Gold also spoke about collaborating with other groups on campus has been a great way for the Wharton Center to connect with students.
“It's exciting to especially have the Accafellas here because I feel like it brings different types of arts together," Gold said. "But somehow they all kind of mix.”
Gold said this concert is a great way to get people excited to visit the Wharton Center, but it isn't the only event students can get excited about. There are three highly-anticipated performances coming up: Tiempo Libre, Beetlejuice and the Jagged Little Pill.
Jarrod Bradford, Senior Director of Operations and Administration, said that the event works to empower WSCMO students by letting them choose an artist and put on a show. He said it's great to see students share in the same feelings that the Wharton staff feel on a daily: a sense of pride and accomplishment in putting on an amazing show for the community.
“Charlie’ Burgs a great artist in his own right," Bradford said. "He's a former Spartan so he really obviously saw the value in arts and in the Residential College of Arts and Humanities at MSU. He's just a great artist and a singer-songwriter in his own right ... so you're gonna get a good show from a quality artist.”
Bradford is excited to bring back returning students as well as welcome the incoming class to campus by connecting them to an arts center that encourages exploration of the performing arts.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “The Wharton Center's welcome event features Charlie Burg and MSU performers” on social media.
