Rochelle O’Donnell | Staff Writer
The FIU Music Festival returns, featuring seven concerts that emphasize versatility, collaboration, and diversity across the South Florida community.
“Audiences are excited to attend and we’ve extended our reach beyond campus this year,” said Michelle Vires, account manager for the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts.
The events are as follows…
Oct 27: ‘Jazz Party Kickoff with Delfeayo Marsalis’ – 7:30 p.m.
Jumpstarting this year’s festivities, our very own FIU Faculty Jazz Quartet and FIU Jazz Big Band will feature alongside Grammy-winning Jazz trombonist and producer Delfeayo Marsalis.
Oct 28: ‘Opera Gala Concert with Santa Fe Opera Stars’ – 7:30 p.m.
The Santa Fe Opera returns! This year, the famed organization joins the FIU Chamber Orchestra, led by Javier Jose Mendoza, in a night celebrating Italian opera, highlighting arias from Rossini to Bellini and opera choruses from Donizetti and Verdi.
Held at Little Flower’s Comber Hall in Coral Gables, the gala is one of only two concerts taking place off-campus.
Oct 29: ‘Of Angels and Devils: Kaufman & Stravinsky’ – 7:30 p.m.
The Amernet String Quartet, FIU’s Artist-in-Residence Ensemble, will unveil works from composers Fredrick Kaufman (‘Jacob’s Wrestling with the Angel’) and Igor Stavinsky (‘L’Histoire du soldat’), premiering the former for the first time in Florida.
“It takes us on a journey to find ourselves, wrestling with ourselves and our own struggles,” said Vires.
Oct 30: ‘Virtuoso Organist Alcee Chriss’ – 2:00 PM
Praised as one of today’s leading young organists, Dr. Alcée Chriss III, Wesleyan University’s own Artist-in-Residence, drops into the Wertheim, nearing the festival’s midpoint.
Renowned across academia and entertainment alike, Dr. Chriss has featured in many concerts and competitions, having won both First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2014 Miami International Organ Competition.
Nov 4, Nov 5: ‘All-Brahms: From The Wertheim to New World’ – 7:30 PM
The Amernet String Quartet returns, presenting a two-night recital honoring Johannes Brahms’s compositions with support from violinist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, pianist Anton Nel, and cellist Bion Tsang.
Offering a different program each night, the Nov 5 concert will take place at the New World Center in South Beach.
Nov 6: ‘International Contemporary Ensemble’ – 2:00 PM
Celebrating its 20th anniversary season, the New York-based International Contemporary Ensemble strives to amplify voices throughout the musical community.
This award-winning collective has been a pioneering force in helping students develop their work, previously collaborating with FIU student composers to bring their visions to life.
Aside from the Santa Fe Opera’s ‘Opera Gala Concert’ and the iteration of ‘All-Brahms: From The Wertheim to New World’ happening on November 5th, all performances will be held at the Wertheim Concert Hall, located on the Modesto Maidique Campus.
“The festival is still a learning lab where our students help run the festival, get master classes, and perform on stage with renowned artists,” said Vires.
For performances on October 27th and 28th, tickets cost $10 for students; $20 for Faculty/Staff, Alumni, and Senior Citizens; and $25 for General Admission; otherwise, tickets remain $5 for students; $15 for Faculty/Staff, Alumni, and Senior Citizens; and $20 for General Admission throughout the rest of the festival. A livestream option will be available for all MMC concerts. To stay updated, check out the FIU Music Festival website page.
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