By Zach Taylor, University Relations Student Writer
Do you enjoy hearing string, brass, wind or percussion instruments? Are choruses more your taste? Do you enjoy jazz, classical, or more modern music? The UTC Department of Music will present a wide range of concerts, recitals, and performances, showcasing a number of different styles and instruments. Performances will be free and open to the public, with seating given on a first come first served basis.
On April 3 the UTC Trumpet Ensemble and Low Brass Ensemble perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall of the UTC Fine Arts Center. The ensemble is directed by Dr. Erika Schafer (Assistant Professor, Assistant Band Director, Jazz Band Director, Applied Trumpet), and includes student performers Zach Langley, Justin Wilson, and Nick Wysong. Leif Atchley (Ridgeland High School) and Blake Vayda (Central High School) will accompany the ensemble to perform Ronald Lo Presti’s “Suite for Five Trumpets.” The Low Brass Ensemble, directed by Dr. Kenyon Wilson (Associate Professor, Theory, Applied Low Bass) features euphonium, trombone, and tuba students. The ensemble will perform a number of pieces, including “Isle of Mann,” by Wilson himself.
The Chattanooga Singers and Chamber Singers Spring Concert on April 7 at 7:30 p.m. will be held in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Directed by Dr. Kevin Ford (UC Foundation Professor of Music, Director Chattanooga and Chamber Singers, Applied Choral Conducting), the Chamber Singers will perform pieces that have been arranged by Stacey V. Gibbs and William L. Dawson, as well some that will be conducted by Ethan McGrath and Blaine Tooley.
The Roland Hayes Concert Hall will be the location of the UTC Jazz Band Spring Concert on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. Also directed by Dr. Erika Schafer, the recital will feature guest clarinetist Nikolasa Tejero, and vocalists Amy Elizabeth Oaks and Alea Tveit. Performances will include a variety of styles from some of jazz’s most respected and revered musicians, including works by Gordon Goodwin, Artie Shaw, George and Ira Gerschwin, Ray Bryant, Richard Rodgers, and Les Hooper.
The UTC Percussion Ensemble will present its annual spring recital “Catch the Groove” on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Directed by Dr. Monte Coulter (Professor, Applied Percussion), the performance features high energy, occasionally improvisational percussion based pieces. New to the stage in Chattanooga are two movements from Patrick Long’s “Winter Nocturnes”–the perfect way to say good-bye and good riddance to such a cold winter season! Jesse Ayer’s “Yobel”–a stirring entrada for mallet instruments–is meant to depict the silver trumpet that announces the Year of Jubilee in the Jewish calendar. Performers include: Dylan Bailey, Mack DeFriese, Erik Gehrke, Eaven Holder, Michael Pagan, Cameron Perkins, Ian McNeese, Hayden Smith, and Kyle Windham.
The spring concert for the UTC Men’s Chorus, directed by Dr. Lee Harris (Department Head, Music), and Women’s Chorale, directed by Dr. Rebecca Atkins (Assistant Professor, Music Education, Women’s Chorale Director), will be held on April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall.
Performances over the summer include the Piano Arts Competition Winners Recital, featuring middle and high school aged performers from around the area, on May 18 at 3 p.m. in Cadek Recital Hall, as well as the UTC Master Chorale Concert on June 19 at 7:30 p.m. The group’s annual show, directed by Dr. Kevin Ford, will be held at Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Chattanooga on Pine St.
Auditions for fall 2014 UTC Chamber Singers (MUS 0022) will be held on April 7-8 and April 14-16 by appointment. The main touring chorus at UTC, the Chamber Singers regularly perform at the local, state, regional, and national level, along with conducting an international performance every three years. Auditions consist of singing “My Country ‘tis of Thee,” scales, tonal memory, and sight singing examples. Contact the choral activities office for an appointment at either 423-425-4612 or Marion-Perkins@utc.edu.
For a full schedule of Music Department performances, as well as other information, visit http://www.utc.edu/music/projects/performances.php or call 423-425-4601.
