KINGSTON, R.I. – November 22, 2013– The annual Holiday Concert by the University of Rhode Island Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir is a highlight of the URI fall music season. This year, it is one of five concerts presented by the Department of Music, Dec. 7-9. All events will be held in the URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston.
• The Holiday Concert will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. The concert will feature Handel’s Coronation Anthem “The King Shall Rejoice,” and the “Shepherds’ Farewell” by Hector Berlioz, performed by the two ensembles jointly. Music Professor Ann Danis directs the Orchestra, and Professor Mark Conley directs the Choir. Graduate orchestral conductor Charles Kalajian will conduct the Berlioz piece. Graduate choral conductor Eddie Wilkin will direct the choir singing Bernard Hughes’ new carol “The Linden Tree,” and the choir will greet the audience with music Mark Conley learned from choirs of the Manda Wilderness in Mozambique. The orchestra will also perform a Rimsky-Korsakoff piece and seasonal favorites. Admission is $12 general public, $7 students.
• On Sunday, Dec. 8 there will be a full day of music, with concerts at noon, 3 and 7 p.m.
— At Noon, the Undergraduate String Quartet will present a program of advanced string chamber repertoire. Coached by Carly Flemming, the quartet features the University’s top string players. Members are Jennifer Langevin, violin; Shannon Petrik, violin; Brandon Kaplan, viola, and Nina Perry, cello. The quartet will play the four movements of String Quartet Op. 76 No. 1 by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). Admission is free.
— At 3 p.m., the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, directed by Music Professor Gene J. Pollart, will perform with the URI Percussion Ensemble, directed by Robert McEwan. The Percussion Ensemble will open with Fallin’ Leaves by Bruce Hagist, a URI junior from North Kingstown, followed by Piru Bole, an avant garde composition with ensemble playing as well as singing rhythms. The Wind Ensemble follows with five contemporary works: Alleluia! Laudamus Te by Alfred Reed, a “hymn of praise” without words; San Antonio Dances by Frank Ticheli; Art In The Park by Robert Sheldon; Bayou Breakdown by Brant Karrick, “a bluegrass fugue with a Cajun twist”; and Perseus by Satoshi Yagisawa. Admission is $12 general public, $7 students.
— At 7 p.m., the URI Student Composers concert will showcase some works-in-progress by members of the Composition Program, and offers brand-new music in a variety of styles, performed by fellow students and faculty. Participants will include: Kim Konieczny, Ian Otenti, Connor Ragas, Alex Barnhart, Bruce Hagist, Tom Peppard, John Prevedini, Shaun Cayabyab, Peter Scartabello, and others TBA. The works range from Otenti’s piece using electronic tape plus piano, viola and violin, to Konieczny’s set of two piano and viola miniatures, to Prevedini’s “Sanctus” from his larger choral work The Providence Mass, with choir and piano. Admission is free.
• On Monday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m., URI’s celebrated vocal chamber ensemble, Lively Experiment, will perform. “For this holiday season,” says Professor Conley, “our choir gives to you: five Bird Songs (arrangements of folk songs by Paul Crabtree), four Christmas Carols, three Swan Songs by Bernard Hughes, two Jazz Pieces arranged by Sharon Broadley (accompanied by a jazz quartet of Daniel Hill, piano; Clay Nordhill, guitar; Garrett Campbell, bass, and Jesse-ray Leich, drums), and a Festive Festival Fanfare (It Is Good to be Merry and Wise by Jean Berger)!” Admission is $12 general public, $7 students.
Tickets are available at the box office by cash/check starting 45 minutes before each concert. The URI Concert Hall is handicap-accessible, and parking is available in the lot behind the Fine Arts Center, off Bills Road. For more information, please contact the URI Department of Music, 874-5955, or check the website: www.uri.edu/music.
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