School of Music student artists perform a moving collection of chamber music repertoire for strings, woodwinds, brass and piano. The culmination of rehearsal and coaching during the spring semester, this concert is an integral part of coursework for UMD School of Music students and provides a glimpse into the training they receive for performing in major ensembles.
Presenting an opera double bill, the Maryland Opera Studio juxtaposes two of Weill’s earliest works for the stage — Zaubernacht (1922) and Mahagonny Songspiel (1927). Translating to "magic night," Zaubernacht is an enchanting work for solo soprano and chamber orchestra about a magical fairy who brings toys to life, featuring dance students from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.
Cellist, composer, educator, and UMD School of Music alumna Tomeka Reid is described as "a remarkably versatile player" (Chicago Tribune) for her nimble improvisations with classical cello. Equally adept in classical and jazz contexts, Reid predominantly finds herself in experimental settings and composes for a wide range of instrumentation, from big band to chamber ensemble, that combines groove along with freer concepts. In this performance, Reid presents her Stringtet, combining seven string players with drums in a unique improvisatory ensemble.
Experience the soulful, syncopated sounds of jazz in this lively concert featuring classic tunes performed by the four UMD jazz combos coached by Gerry Kunkel, Michael Quinlivan, Mike Kuhl and Tom Baldwin under the direction of Tim Powell, Interim Director of Jazz Studies. Attend both nights—each performance features a different program.
The Left Bank Quartet presents a “Polish Revival” featuring musical works by two powerful 20th century voices from Poland and curiously, a sublime late work of Beethoven. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth year, Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s music is experiencing a sharp uptick in interest revealing his strong connection to the Russian tradition, inspired by the spirit of Dmitri Shostakovich. The deeply nostalgic and quirky Quartet No. 8 serves as a foil for the music of feisty Grażyna Bacewicz—a woman who broke many “glass ceilings” in her career. Her Quartet No.
A combined concert from two of the School of Music’s most community-minded ensembles. This shared evening of traditional and contemporary wind band music is a perfect concert for the whole family to attend. It’s sure to inspire new and lapsed musicians into incorporating more music-making into their lives.
Conducted by UMD alumnus Bill Sturgis and UMD Interim Assistant Director of Bands Craig Potter.
Noura Mint Seymali’s quartet is built around a deliberate return to Moorish roots, led by the raw music of the azawan, a word in Hassaniya that refers to the ensemble of traditional instruments in Moorish culture; the ardine, tidinit, guitar, t'beul. With a sound described as a molten form of Moorish psychedelic rock, Saharan funk and even “future pop”, this band has been gaining international critical attention with its chart-topping albums and electrifying live performances.
This annual celebration showcases the range and diversity of exceptional talent across the School of Music. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear student artists shine! Performers will include the Omer Quartet, Wavelength Winds, Kunkel Jazz Combo, students from the Maryland Opera Studio, a new student composition, a piece on the guqin - an ancient Chinese instrument - and much more!
Titled The Immigrants 4, this concert features two divergent yet prominent composers of different eras with deep ties in their music to the immigrant experience whether personal or familial. The program includes Gabriela Frank's Requiem for a Magical America: El Día de los Muertos, and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 in E minor.
