Singing a different tune this year

Holly Mccoach/Staff Writer

Andres Bedoya/The Beacon

University musicians will participate in numerous concerts and workshops this fall.

The School of Music will hold its first choral concert, “Choral Arts Series” on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Concert Hall – Wertheim Performing Arts Center. Dr. John Augenblick, faculty advisor and head of choral studies, will conduct the Women’s Choir, Concert Choir, and Chamber Singers.

Other choral events include “Opera Workshop Concert Golden Days!” that will be held on Oct. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, at the Concert Hall in WPAC. Vocal majors gather and perform various works by John Phillip Sousa, Sigmund Romberg, Rudolf Friml, and Victor Herbert.

As a part of the “Choral Arts Series”, Augenblick will conduct the “Holiday Festival Choral Concert” on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall in WPAC.

Instrumentalists will perform in concerts of various types, including jazz, orchestral, electronic, winds and percussion, and big band.

The University’s jazz musicians kick off their concert season at Pinecrest Gardens in October; this night will include combos such as the Latin Jazz Ensemble, which will present a variety of creative jazz works.

The jazz staff and students will continue to share their talent in Sunny Isles Beach mid-October, where the 5th Annual Jazz Fest of that area will be held. Students interested in attending jazz concerts at the University, however, can enjoy the jazz ensembles’ concerts at the end of October.

Strings and brass will collaborate as an orchestra to present the “Orchestral Masterworks Series: The Poles and Russians”. Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, orchestral director, will present this night, which includes the Kletzki Violin Concerto and Robert Davidovici on violin.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Nowak, Sherrill Milnes, and the FIU Symphony Orchestra will present another concert in the beginning of November, including works by Aaron Copland.

Those interested in electronic music can attend the “Florida Electro-Acoustic Student Festival” on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Concert Hall in WPAC. Electro-acoustic music students from all around Florida will attend, including University students. It will be a presentation of the collaborated work by the musicians, and it will give each musician the opportunity to meet and work with others.

At the University, the FIU New Music Ensemble will hold a concert of the seasons, under the direction of Jason Calloway, assistant professor at The School of Music.

The FIU Marching Band will also be performing an indoor concert, for those who are unable to make the football games where the band usually performs. The Marching Band Prism Concert, held at the end of November, will feature the FIU Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band.

Music lovers will not want to miss the FIU School of Music Studio Jazz Big Band perform in mid-November, directed by Jim Hacker. A fun night of swing, jazz, and the big band era sound should be highly expected. The concert will be held at the Amaturo Theatre at the  Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

The School of Music has a lot in store for the fall season, with an abundance of talented freshmen and returning musicians, it will be a season that no one will want to miss.

–holly.mccoach@fiusm.com