From a musical tour of France and a jazz dinner dance to the rhythmic percussion of Africa and the family-friendly imaginary world of "Fantasia," Eastern Michigan University's Department of Music and Dance presents 49 winter events sure to please.
New this season is a series of special events designed to promote the piano program and EMU's first full-scale opera production under the direction of lecturer Kathleen Segar.
"The department has launched an All-Steinway School initiative in an effort to upgrade its piano inventory," said Marsha Rinke, a music coordinator and adjunct lecturer. "'Music Education First' means the department strives to offer our music students a world-class experience in a world-class environment."
Highlights from the series include:
The winter concert series begins Saturday, Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall, with a vocal workshop geared especially for high school students preparing for solo and ensemble festivals. Topics include stage deportment and how to prepare for auditions. The following day, the area's finest high school band students — selected by audition this past November — culminate a weekend of intense rehearsals and workshops with a concert for parents and friends, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
The EMU Dance Program presents Covering Ground, its 56th annual faculty and guest artist choreography concert Friday, Jan. 18, through Sunday, Jan. 20, Quirk Theatre. Julianne O'Brien Pedersen, Sherry Jerome and Phil Simmons along with guest artists Ojeya Cruz Banks, Daniel Gwirtzman, Lisa Johnson and Tim Smola stage dances based on covering the grounds of consciousness, fertile ground, geographical location, sacred territory, volcanic eruption and the streets of Broadway. Covering Ground tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students with ID. Performance times are: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 p.m .
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Jennings |
Christina Jennings, guest flutist from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Texas Music Festival, performs a solo recital and presents a master class Sunday, Jan. 20, 1-3 p.m., Alexander Recital Hall.
In support of the music department's new All-Steinway School initiative, faculty members Joel Schoenhals, Garik Pedersen, Anne Beth Gajda, Kathryn Goodson, Idil Ulgen and department head David Woike take the Pease stage for "Zero to Eight Hands." The four will play a surprising assortment of piano repertoires for one to four players Friday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a weeklong taste of France with the French Symphonic Organ Festival Monday, Jan. 28, through Friday, Feb. 1. Deborah Friauff takes the Pease organ on a tour of France with works written in honor of the heroic memory of Jehan Alain, as well as Alain's own magnum opus, "Trois Danses," Monday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m., Pease Auditorium.
Friauff also leads EMU students in a master class of works by Jehan Alain Thursday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pease Auditorium. Jeremy David Tarrant will follow with a master class Friday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m. to noon.
Faculty cellist Diane L. Winder and Garik Pedersen, piano, present premieres and seldom-heard works, including the "Chopin Sonata," a tour-de-force for keyboard and cello, Saturday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. EMU students, local students and professionals contribute to the premiere of the opening movement of Travel Modalities (2007) for 16 cellos by EMU alumna Laurie Jarski.
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Sanchez |
In support of the department's All-Steinway School initiative, Luis Sanchez, professor of piano at St. Petersburg College in Florida, will perform the music of Liszt, Mozart, Nazareth and Schubert, Thursday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
During Winter Winds, Director of Bands Miller Asbill directs the Wind Symphony in "Turnbridge Fair." Associate Director of Bands John Zastoupil conducts the Symphonic Band in a wind arrangement of Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in g minor," Charles Ives' "Old Home Days Suite," and "Bali" by Michael Colgrass. Percussionist Brian Young, one of two winners of the 2007 William Stewart competition, will perform the fifth movement of Michael Daugherty's "UFO," with the Symphonic Band, Sunday, Feb. 10, Pease Auditorium, 3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan sponsors a workshop for the high school Choral Invitational Monday, Feb. 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ten high school choirs will perform district festival selections, 7 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
Faculty artists Kimberly Cole-Luevano and Kathryn Goodson present the world premiere of Roshanne Etezady's "Bright Angel", Francis Poulenc's "Sonate", and "Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano" by Alban Berg. Guest artist Deborah Chodacki, a University of Michigan clarinet professor, joins in with Pochielli's "Il Covegno," Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Pease Auditorium.
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SCHOENHALS ON STEINWAY: Eastern Michigan
University faculty pianist Joel Schoenhals sits at the
Steinway Rhapsody piano. As part of EMU's All-
Steinway School initiative series, Schoenhals will
perform with Detroit violinist Kyoko Kashiwagi Feb.
12 in the Alexander Recital Hall.
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The All-Steinway School initiative series continues Tuesday, Feb. 12, with Detroit-based violinist Kyoko Kashiwagi and EMU faculty Steinway Artist Joel Schoenhals performing three monumental and glorious Brahms violin sonatas, 8 p.m., in Alexander Recital Hall.
Percussion enthusiasts will enjoy an ensemble under the direction of John Dorsey Monday, Feb 18, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. The Percussion Ensemble combines forces with the Flint Institute of Music Percussion Ensembles, directed by Delaina Oberman, to present an exciting and rhythmically vibrant evening of works.
Students compete for scholarship honors while displaying their musical achievements during the Graduate competition Friday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
Competitions continue Friday, March 7, with undergraduate music students competing for scholarship honors at the Barry Manilow competition, 4 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
Presented by the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the EMU Organ Program, hear Oberlin University's Sarah Moon, winner of the 2007 AGO Young Artist Competition, perform Friday, March 14, 7:30 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
Pianists Anne Beth Gajda and Garik Pedersen present "Fantasia," designed especially for families. This concert takes the audience on a journey into the imaginary world of fantasy. Selections include musical fantasies by Mozart, Schubert, Haydn and the "Oz Fantasy" by Hirtz, Sunday, March 16, 4 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
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Van Oyen |
Saxophone enthusiasts will enjoy guest performer Lawrence Van Oyen of North Central College in Naperville, Ill., with assistance by EMU's Max Plank. The recital features the Michigan premiere of Whitney Prince's "Chiaroscuro" for saxophone and piano, along with works by Alfred Desenclos, Ryo Noda, Fisher Tull and Paul Hindemith Thursday, March 27, 8 p.m., in Alexander Recital Hall.
In their seventh annual collaboration, EMU trumpet students and alumni present music for trumpet ensembles Saturday, March 29, Pease Auditorium, 3 p.m., followed by the Symphony Orchestra Alumni Concert, featuring alumni guest conductor Geoff Benes, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
The EMU Dance Program hosts an annual Community Dance Day Saturday, April 5. Events include master classes taught by dance faculty and guest artists, concluding with a 4 p.m. concert highlighting southeastern Michigan dance studios and programs, 4 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. Tickets cost $6.
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Hawes |
Randall Hawes of the Detroit Symphony collaborates with faculty pianist Kathryn Goodson in a recital of works for trombone and piano during Trombone Tuesday with Randall Hawes April 8, 7 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
Trey Jacobs conducts the University Choir and the Chamber Choir in "Season of the Lark," a concert celebration of nature featuring works by Bernstein, Jannequin, Britten and Stanford, Friday, April 11, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
EMU Clarinet Days 2008 features a clinic, master class and two recitals. Nathan Williams, artist teacher at the Interlochen Arts Academy, presents a 10 a.m. master class, followed by a clinic on clarinet repair by Sam Merciers of Meridian Winds at 1:30 p.m. Area professional clarinetists perform in a potpourri recital at 3 p.m. The day concludes with a 7 p.m. recital by Nathan Williams. All events will take place in Alexander Recital Hall. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for non-university students and seniors, and includes entry into all events.
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ALL THAT JAZZ: Al Townsend's The
Couriers and the EMU Jazz Ensemble will
perform at the 2008 Annual Jazz Dinner
Dance April 12, 6 p.m., in the Convocation
Center. |
Dance with Al Townsend's The Couriers and the EMU Jazz Ensemble at the 2008 Annual Jazz Dinner Dance Saturday, April 12, 6 p.m., in the Convocation Center Atrium. Admission is $60 per person and includes food and dancing with a cash bar. Reserved tickets are required. For tickets, call 487-0277.
John Dorsey and Kofi Ameyaw lead the Percussion Ensemble and African Ensemble in a diverse rhythmic program showcasing multi-ethnic percussion instruments and repertoire Monday, April 14, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium.
The EMU Early Music Ensemble, under the direction of Deborah Friauff, performs the world premiere of 16th to 18th century Spanish villancicos from the Guatemala City Cathedral during the Collegium Musicum Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Student Chapel, and Sunday, April 20, 4 p.m. at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Road, Bloomfield Hills.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra soloist John Hagstrom performs a trumpet concerto by Hummel with the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kevin Miller, during the Symphony Orchestra and Opera Gala Friday, April 18, 8 p.m., in Pease Auditorium. EMU opera workshop students, under the direction of Kathleen Segar, present memorable scenes from beloved operas in collaboration with the orchestra.
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Brandon |
Kristy Meretta, professor of oboe, and her students perform a variety of works for oboe and English horn during the Oboe Studio Recital Sunday, April 20, 2 p.m., in Alexander Recital Hall.
The EMU Women's Chorus concludes the series with a salute to Ernest Brandon as he bids fond farewell in his final concert as director following a long, well-respected career as a beloved vocal instructor at EMU since 1973. The concert is scheduled Sunday, April 20, 8:30 p.m., in Holy Trinity Student Chapel.
For additions and changes to the winter 2008 music and dance series, visit www.emich.edu/music/html/events.html or call 487-4380.
