BOONE—The Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University will present six concerts featuring the university’s student ensembles between Oct. 30 and Nov. 4.
Unless otherwise noted, all the performances will take place in the Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall on the university campus. Admission is free, and a live stream of the performances will be available at http://music.appstate.edu. Details of the events are as follows:
- “Blazing Bassoons,” 4 p.m. Oct. 30
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The program will feature music composed or arranged for ensembles of bassoonists that were directed by Jon Beebe, a professor of bassoon at Appalachian.
The pieces to be played include J.S. Bach’s “Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach” and “Allegro” from Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Trio, Opus 87.” There will also be a suite of movements drawn from two works by Gotthilf Heinrich Kummer.
The rest of the program will be lighter in nature, featuring everything from a suite of Henry Mancini’s music to Walter Gross’ “Tenderly.”
- “An Evening of Saxophone Chamber Music,” 8 p.m. Oct. 30
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The program will feature music composed or arranged for saxophone quartet. In addition, Dr. Scott Kallestad, an associate professor of saxophone and the wind area coordinator at Appalachian, will lead the Appalachian State University Saxophone Choir in several pieces.
The pieces for saxophone quartet will include “Espressivo” from Lennie Niehaus’ “Sonata for Saxophone Quartet”; Erskine Hawkins’ “Tuxedo Junction”; Rich Shanklin’s “Reminiscing”; Michael Torke’s “July”; Yoko Kanno’s “Rouya”; and Eugene Bozza’s “Andante et Scherzo.” Randy Newman’s “Monsters Inc. Theme” will also be performed.
The pieces for saxophone choir will include Percy Grainger’s “Lisbon,” Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep” and Nigel Woods’ “Where Spirits & Demons Dance.”
- Four brass studio ensembles, 8 p.m. Nov. 1
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Each group will perform several pieces. Directed by Dr. Karen L. Robertson, a professor of horn, the Appalachian Horn Choir will perform Nicholas J. Perrini’s “Festival Fanfare.” It will also perform Karl Stiegler’s “Grande Messe de Saint Hubert” and Paul Basler’s “Jambo.”
The Appalachian Tuba/Euphonium Collective will be under the direction of Bethany Wiese, an assistant professor of tuba and euphonium. It will perform “March to the Scaffold” from Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” as well as Kevin McKenzie’s “Axis” and James Barnes’ “Yorkshire Ballad.”
Dr. James Stokes Jr., a professor of trumpet, will lead the Appalachian Trumpet Choir in three pieces. These will be Eric Morales’ “Metallic Fury,” Anton Bruckner’s “Locus Iste” and Ronald Lo Presti’s “Heralding.”
Dr. Drew C. Leslie, an associate professor of trombone, will lead the Appalachian Trombone Choir in three pieces. These will be Steven Verhelst’s “One for the Road: Leffe,” Eric Whitacre’s “Go, Lovely Rose” and Anthony DiLorenzo’s “Full Tilt.”
- Jazz Ensemble I, 8 p.m. Nov. 2
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Under the direction of Todd Wright, Jazz Ensemble I will perform in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Wright is also a professor of saxophone at Appalachian. He’ll lead the ensemble in Phil Kelly’s “Sweet Georgia Upside Down”; Maria Schneider’s “Bird Count”; Chuck Owen’s “Glib”; a Sammy Nestico arrangement of “A Time for Love”; and Don Menza’s “Groovin’ Hard.”
Joseph Henson, a tenor saxophonist who once studied at Applachian, will solo in “Groovin’ Hard.” He’ll be on loan from U.S. Army Blues, a premiere military big band.
The concert will also showcase the composer or arranger talents of Henson, in several works, including “Limehouse Blues,” “I Love You,” “Farewell (For My Father),” “Freedom Jazz Dance” and “Back of the Line.”
- “An Evening of Woodwind Chamber Music,” 8 p.m. Nov. 3
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The program will feature pieces for varying combinations of wind instruments. The ensembles have been coached by Appalachian’s Dr. Jon Beebe, a professor of bassoon; Dr. Alicia Chapman, an assistant professor of oboe; and Dr. John Stanley Ross, the director of bands and an associate professor of music.
The program will include an arrangement for bassoons of the “Allegro” from Beethoven’s “Trio, Opus 87”; the “Allegretto” movement from Gustav Holst’s “Terzetto” (flute, oboe, and viola); and Henry Lazarus’ “Grand Concertante” (two clarinets).
Two alto saxophonists will be featured in the “Lebhaft” movement of Paul Hindemith’s “Concertpiece for Two Alto Saxophones.” Jacques Ibert’s “Cinq Pièces en Trio” for oboe, clarinet and bassoon will be performed, as will “Allegro moderato” from Ludwig Thuille’s “Sextet in B-flat Major, Op. 6.” The sextet features parts for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and piano.
- Chamber Singers and the University Singers, 8 p.m. Nov. 4
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Under the direction of Stephen M. Hopkins, Appalachian’s director of choral activities, the groups will perform music of Anton Bruckner, Ned Rorem, Gwyneth Walker and several other composers. Hollie Lacy, Appalachian’s accompanist, will play the piano.
The University Singers will perform Dan Forrest’s “The Music of Living,” Anton Bruckner’s “Locus iste,” and David Brunner’s “I Am In Need of Music.” Taylor Wafford, a soprano, will solo in “All That Hath Life and Breath Praise Ye the Lord.”
The same group will perform Odd Johan Overoye’s “Praise Be to the Lord,” Forrest’s “Good Night, Dear Heart,” Paul John Rudoi’s “Miniyama Nayo,” and Gwyneth Walker’s “The Tree of Peace.” Jester Hairston’s arrangement of “Hold On,” a spiritual, will also be performed.
As for the Chamber Singers, this group will perform “Exsultate Justi” by Ludovico da Viadana and “Ave verum” Philip W.J. Stopford. Also on the Chamber Singers’ portion of the program will be Giovanni Gastoldi’s “Amor Vittorioso,” Emilio Sole’s “Nadie me salvara,” Thomas Morley’s “I Love, Alas, I Love Thee,” Ned Rorem’s “Tears,” and Orlande de Lassus’ “Bon Jour.” The Chamber Singers will perform Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night” as well as several spirituals.
About the Hayes School of Music
The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation. Noted for quality instruction by national and internationally recognized faculty musicians, the school offers four undergraduate degree programs and three graduate-level programs.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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