College Music Department

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BRASS CHOIR SPOOKTACULAR CONCERT PROMISES WACKY FUN
The University of Rochester Brass Choir will present its first annual "Spooktacular" concert on Friday October 30th at 8:00pm in Strong Auditorium on the UR River Campus. This Halloween-themed concert will feature scary, spooky, and downright wacky brass arrangements, some of which were composed by students in the 45-member group. The director of the Brass Choir is Josef M. Hanson.

A special feature of the "Spooktacular" will be the massed tuba ensemble, a collection of euphonium and tuba players that will perform a few selections, including a world-premiere arrangement of "Big Bottom," a song made famous by the fictitious rock group Spinal Tap. The massed tuba ensemble consists of current UR students AND local alumni, students at local high schools and colleges, and active brass musicians from the Rochester community.

Admission to the Spooktacular is free, and audience members can certainly come in costume to add to the Halloween flair! For more information, contact the Music Department at 585-273-5157 or jhsn@mail.rochester.edu

PROGRAM:
One-Winged Angel Nobuo Uematsu/arr. McLoone
Kraken Chris Hazell
Action Brass Brain Sadler
International Tuba Day March Sy Brandon
Big Bottom Spinal Tap
Trombones A-Plenty Gilbert and Pollack
Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson/arr. Holtzman
Frankenstein Edgar Winter
Elected Alice Cooper

MUSIC DEPARTMENT ENSEMBLES PRESENT MELIORA WEEKEND CONCERTS
Support your fellow River Campus musicians by attending a few concerts this weekend! Admission to all events is FREE!

Friday, October 9th at 4:00pm: Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Singers in Upper Strong Auditorium featuring pianist Zora Mihailovich, UR Artist-in-Residence, performing Franck's "Symphonic Variations," and the combined Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Singers performing Haydn's "Te Deum."

Friday, October 9th at 7:00pm: Wind Symphony and Men's Glee Club in Upper Strong Auditorium featuring the music of Percy Grainger, Johan de Meij, Brian Balmages, Edvard Grieg, and more.

Saturday, October 10th at 12:00pm: Brass Choir Fanfares and Ringing of the Carillon at Dandelion Square:
festive brass fanfares and the tolling of bells-- stop by after the Meliora keynote address by Dr. Stephen Chu

Saturday, October 10th at 7:00pm: Symphony Orchestra and Women's Chorus in Upper Strong Auditorium:
The 110-member Symphony Orchestra will perform orchestral masterworks including Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite"; then, the Women's Chorus will present a diverse program of folk hymns and season songs.

Sunday, October 11th at 1:00pm: Gospel Choir and Jazz Ensemble in Upper Strong Auditorium:
A great way to top off the Meliora Weekend experience! Featuring the music of John Coltrane, George Gershwin, and James Cleveland.

Orientation 2009: Welcome Freshmen!

- Audition information and sign-up sheets for the College Music Department ensembles are posted on the large bulletin board in the second floor stairwell of Todd Union. Stop by Todd Union when you arrive on campus for Orientation. Here are the tentative ensemble audition times (note that not every ensemble requires an audition):

Thursday, August 27th: Wind Symphony auditions: 2-5pm, Lower Strong Auditorium

Friday, August 28th: Jazz Ensemble auditions, 12-3pm, Todd Union room 202F and Women’s Chorus informal voicings: 2-5pm, Todd Union room 108

Saturday, August 29th: Chamber Singers auditions: 9am-3pm, Todd Union room 108 and Gospel Choir informal voicings: 12-3pm, Todd Union 202F

Sunday, August 30th: Gospel Choir informal voicings: 2-4pm, Todd Union room 108

Monday, August 31st: Orchestra auditions for upperclassmen (all day in Strong Auditorium)

Tuesday, September 1st: Orchestra auditions for incoming freshmen (all day in Strong Auditorium) and Wind Symphony auditions: 1-4pm, Lower Strong Auditorium. Also, auditions for Rock Repertory Ensemble: 4:15-6:15pm, Lower Strong Auditorium

Wednesday, September 2nd: Women’s Chorus informal voicings, 3-5pm in Todd Union room 108, and Jazz Ensemble auditions: 1-4pm, May Room in Wilson Commons

- An audition may be required for Brass Choir, but generally any dedicated student who played a brass instrument throughout high school can participate; attend the first Brass Choir rehearsal on Friday September 11 at 2:30pm in Strong Auditorium to find out more.

- There will be an informational meeting on the Percussion Ensemble during the first few weeks of classes; sign up for the meeting on the bulletin board in Todd Union.

- The a cappella group audition times will be announced during orientation.

- If you are interested in joining the Men’s Glee Club, simply show up at the first rehearsal in Lander Auditorium (Hutchison Hall) on Monday Sept. 14 at 6:00pm.

- Note on private lessons: Private instruction is available for credit through the Eastman School to any River Campus student who can demonstrate an intermediate level of accomplishment on an instrument or voice. Auditions for these lessons will take place during the first week of classes. If you have not done so, please contact Josef Hanson for more information. (206 Todd Union, jhsn@mail.rochester.edu, 273-5157).

- The Music Theory Placement Test will be given on Wednesday, August 26th at 1:00pm in Lower Strong Auditorium (right before the Music Q+A Session). If there is even a slight possibility that you will take a music theory course while at UR, you should take this test. This will be the only time the test is given this year. If you plan to take the test, simply show up that day with a pencil-- there is no need to RSVP.

- Still have questions? Attend the Music Q+A Session on August 26th at 1:30pm in Lower Strong (immediately following the music theory placement test).

Hopeman Summer Carillon Recital Series 2009

The melodies of campus bells will ring in July with a series of evening concerts at the University of Rochester that are free and open to the public. Carillonneurs from around the country will play the University’s Hopeman Memorial Carillon, one of the largest carillons in New York State, which is located in the landmark tower of Rush Rhees Library on the River Campus. The carillon consists of 50 bells that were cast in bronze in 1973 by the Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry of Asten in the Netherlands.

 The Hopeman Memorial Carillon Summer Recital Series will begin on Monday, July 6, and will continue over the next three Mondays. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets and enjoy the ambiance of the Eastman Quadrangle while listening to pieces ranging from classical and popular music to compositions written specifically for the carillon. Performing on the carillon will be Sue Bergren from Naperville, IL; Dennis Curry from Bloomfield Hills, MI; Laura Ellis from Florida; and Jeremy Chesman from Springfield, MO.

Each program will begin at 7 p.m., rain or shine, and last about an hour. Listeners will be able to meet each performer on the library steps following the concert. The art of carillon playing has been around for more than five centuries, originating in Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France. Carillons must consist of at least 23 tuned bells and are controlled by a keyboard. The stationary bells are sounded by clappers that are connected to wooden keys and petals. The carillonneur plays the instrument by depressing these baton-like keys with a loosely clenched fist. The pedals, connected to the heavier bass bells, are depressed with the feet. Like a piano, carillon playing is expressed by the varying touch of the musician.

 

Two Cultures, One Passion-- Chamber Orchestra Tour to Chile

The University of Rochester Chamber Orchestra, a 40-member ensemble made up of River Campus undergraduates, recently completed a musical outreach tour to Chile. Under the leadership of Dr. David Harman, the conductor of the group, the students performed concerts in Valparaiso, Santiago, Paine, and even visited with U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul Simons. Read more about this adventure by following this link to the Currents article.

The feature segment from the Chilean National News is now on YouTube.  Here's the address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ITAPLy_NK0