Poulenc’s Aubade, originally composed as a ballet about women’s solitary experiences, features faculty piano soloist Rita Sloan. Zhou Long’s Concerto for Wind Symphony evokes ancient Chinese rituals and sounds in a tour-de-force for the ensemble, contrasted by Stravinsky's Octet for Winds, a neoclassical masterpiece.
Premiered in 1957, Poulenc's opera explores religious devotion and self-sacrifice through the story of Blanche de la Force, a young aristocratic woman who joins the Carmelite Order to escape the violence of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror.
The opera will be performed in French with English surtitles.
Experience the sights, sounds, and rhythms of Korean percussion — Samulnori!
Samulnori is an ensemble of four percussion instruments: an hourglass drum, a barrel drum, a small gong and a large gong. This exhilarating contemporary form of Korean music will be performed by the UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble. In addition, director Sebastian Wang will be accompanied by trained professionals who will perform some of the great repertoire of Samulnori.
Simon James is joined by faculty pianist Rita Sloan for a program of works by Schnittke, Schumann and Mozart.
In 2017, the world celebrates the 500th anniversary of the symbolic start of the Reformation, when Luther nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg. Cappella 500th anniversary of the symbolic start of the Reformation, when Luther nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg. Cappella Pratensis marks this year with a program devoted to the very first music of the Protestant movement. The program will show that Luther retained much more of the liturgical and musical tradition than is normally assumed.
One of the most compelling and exciting young jazz artists ushering the genre into groundbreaking new territory is trumpeter and band leader Etienne Charles. In this performance, he buoyantly taps into a myriad of styles rooted in his Afro-Caribbean background and explores the musical depths of the islands, from calypso to Haitian voodoo music. Also in the jazz amalgam mix are rock steady, reggae, belair, kongo, rock, Motown and R&B.
Swing with the UMD jazz combos as they play new tunes arranged by UMD jazz students and beloved standards. Attend both nights — each performance features a different program.
For a 16th consecutive year, the High School Choir Invitational puts the future of choral music in the spotlight as talented area high school choirs gather for a vibrant performance alongside UMD choral students.
Participating High Schools:
Chopticon High School
Sarah Lorek, director
Chesapeake High School
Michael Brisentine, director
Glenelg High School
Ross Rawlings, director
Clarksburg High School
Amy Vanek Kurtz, director
Walter Johnson School
Kelly Butler, director
Which School of Music student will be the next featured soloist with the UMD Symphony Orchestra?
In the preliminary round of the annual UMSO Concerto Competition, students perform excerpts of a concerto or concert piece for an independent jury panel. A select number of competitors are advanced to the final round where a winner, runner-up and second runner-up are announced.
