Puttin’ on the Ritz
By Chelsea McLennan '10
A wonderful evening of jazz music and dancing, Puttin’ on the Ritz is an annual event typically held in the spring and coordinated by Willamette’s music department. This year was no different: the on-campus venue was filled with elegant sounds from instruments and singers alike, and passers by would have seen the occasional black silhouettes of dancers and partners.
Held in Willamette University Center’s Cat Cavern, the event is open to the public as well as Willamette Students. Its purpose is to provide much more than a DJ and a dance floor: this year Bon Appetit catered the event, the Willamette Singers provided their voices, and instrumentals were provided by the Willamette Jazz Ensemble.
Puttin’ on the Ritz is student-organized and all proceeds from the event go back to the Music Department for the production of the Willamette Singers CD, which will be sold to the public.
Sophomore and Willamette Singer’s member Erin O’Neill, who sang at the event, is a big fan. “Being a part of Ritz is such a unique experience from a singer’s standpoint," she says. "Not only was I able to perform, but I was also able to sit back and enjoy the music and the atmosphere. The decorations were so well done that the Cat didn't even look like itself and really made the jazz club feeling authentic.”
We think this is why the event always garners so much attention.
For more information about the music department and their events, visit the music website.
