Ascent Act II is a gala celebrating creativity, collaboration, and the future of the MSU Museum. Building on the momentum of last year’s event, the evening brings together art, music, food, and student innovation in a vibrant, campus-wide experience.
Culinary Highlights
Guests will enjoy bites from an outstanding lineup of chefs, many of them MSU alumni, whose work reflects Spartan excellence on a national stage:
- Joseph VanWagner, Echelon Kitchen + Bar (Ann Arbor), MSU alum and national semifinalist for Best New Restaurant from the James Beard Foundation
- Kate Williams, Lady of the House (Detroit), MSU alum and 2018 James Beard Award semifinalist
- Michael Ransom, Ima (Detroit), East Lansing native and returning Ascent favorite
- Alexandra Clark, Bon Bon Bon (Detroit), MSU alum known for inventive, joyful chocolates
Music, Art, and Light
The program features a 30-minute live concert inspired by Blurred Realities, composed and arranged by College of Music doctoral student Michael Antonio Gabriel and performed with fellow students. At the close of the evening, large-scale projections by Professor Alison Dobbins and her students will illuminate the Museum’s south façade, accompanied by music arranged by College of Music faculty, with plans to incorporate the Beaumont Tower carillon.
Experiences Throughout the Museum
Throughout the night, guests can explore interactive experiences across the Museum, including engagement with Blurred Realities, digital surrogates demonstrations, works-in-progress from the upcoming Spartan traditions exhibition, and features from the collection in the Forest Akers Immersive Lab. Proceeds support the MSU Museum’s capital campaign and its ongoing commitment to student learning, creative research, and public engagement.