KINGSTON, R.I.—April 4, 2008— The strength of the University of Rhode Island Music Department is never more evident than in the last weeks of spring semester every year. The April calendar quickly fills with all variety of concerts, building, like a great piece of music, to a grand finish. The final 10 straight days of concerts at URI will kick off on Sunday, April 20, with a concert by URI’s University Chorus.

The chorus, a 75-voice ensemble of students, faculty, and community members will present “Sound of Spring” at 3 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston. The concert program will include “God of Life” from Haydn’s oratorio “The Seasons,” and “Wedding Cantata” by the late Daniel Pinkham. Other works will include Schubert’s “Lebenslust,” Brahms’ “Der Gang Zum Leibchen,” and a set of pieces based on the works of Lewis Carroll.

Student soloists will include Brooke Bovard, Ariana Clements, James Cocoris, Kristen DeJulio Smith, and Grace Giramma. The chorus is directed by Nathan Zullinger, who will conduct. Admission to the concert is $8 general, $2 students.

On Monday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m., student musicians will perform for their peers, faculty and the public in a rare evening convocation. The event promises a wide variety of offerings, and the admission is free.

The URI Spring Jazz Series continues on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m., with the third evening of jazz in that four-night series, and on Wednesday, April 23, the URI Guitar Ensemble, coached by guitarist/composer Mychal Gendron will perform at 7:30 p.m.

The program for the Guitar concert includes Musette, Sarabande and Gavotte by J.S. Bach; Trio for Three Guitars by Paul Hindemith; and Russian Steppes, Jazz Waltz, Penultimate Waltz and Fandango by Derek Hasted. In addition, individual members will perform guitar solos by J. S. Bach, Mauro Giuliani, Leo Brouwer and others. Guitar Ensemble members are: Raffi Donoian, Jared Maynard, Mark Medeiros, Kevin McConeghy, and Jeremiah Wilson.

On Thursday, April 24, the last concert of the Jazz Series will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Admission to these three concerts (Tuesday-Thursday) is $8.00 general, $2.00 students.

Five more concerts remain in the season, slated for April 25-29. Watch for details, or check the URI Music Department website at: www.uri.edu/artsci/mus.

All concerts will be held in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall off Upper College Road on URI’s Kingston campus. Seating is on a first-come basis. The box office opens 45 minutes before each concert.

For more information, call the URI Music Department at 874-2431.