Sonoma State University Music Department performances for the spring 2016 semester include a joint concerts with SSU jazz ensembles and acclaimed saxophonist Michael Blake, as well as Latin band and hot club ensembles with Cuban vocalist and bandleader Alberto Faya. The season also includes a production of "Into the Woods" and student and faculty ensembles.
Tickets are $8 unless otherwise noted. Parking on campus is $5-$8. Department of Music concerts are free of charge to SSU students with ID. For more information, call the Box Office at (707) 664-4246 or email tickets@sonoma.edu. Order online at https://tickets.sonoma.edu/Online/.
Sonoma County Honor Band Concert
Saturday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m., Weill Hall
Middle School Honor Band, James Mazzaferro, guest conductor; High School Honor Band, Brian S. Wilson, guest conductor
Middle School Honor Band Program (to be selected from):
Erik Morales -Soaring
David Shaffer - Fire Dance
Elliot Del Borgo (arr.) -Hatikvah
Todd Stalter -Rampage!
Gustav Mahler/Richard Saucedo -Finale to Sym No. 3 Sousa - Fairest of the Fair
High School Honor Band Program:
Percy Grainger/Brian S. Wilson -British Waterside (The Jolly Sailor)
Brian S. Wilson -Orange Was Her Color
William Schuman -George Washington Bridge
William Schuman -Chester (Overture for Band)
Leonard Bernstein / Clare Grundman - SLAVA!
Into the Woods
(A co-production by the departments of Music and Theatre Arts & Dance)
Feb. 4-14, Evert B. Person Theatre
Thursday, Feb. 4 through Saturday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 7, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. (student matinee); Thursday, Feb. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
Details at http://www.sonoma.edu/theatreanddance/
Tickets, $10-17
One Great City Duo
(Alexandra Iranfar, guitar and soprano; Timothy Sherren, guitar)
Friday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Protégés of Sergio Assad at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Alexandra Iranfar and Timothy Sherren bring a journey of discovery to every recital they prepare. Recently accepted as affiliates with San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music, One Great City Duo has charmed audiences at prestigious Bay Area venues with its creative repertoire featuring classical guitar and voice, frequently promoting music by young composers including Eric Choate, Shahab Pranj and Judah Adashi. Guitar aficionados are encouraged to attend the afternoon master class from 1-2:30 p.m. in Schroeder Hall.
Program:
Eric Choate - A Dream Within a Dream
Machado, Barber, Metheny & Rorem - Excursions Suite
Sergio Assad - Tres Cenas Brasileiras
Eric Choate - Selections from The Bells
Shahab Paranj - Guitar Duo
Dusan Bogdanovic - No Feathers on This Frog
Cole Porter - Selections
Trio Navarro
Chamber Artists-in-Residence
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
The North Bay's "premier piano trio," Navarro Trio includes Marilyn Thompson, SSU pianist and director of chamber music; Victor Romasevich, San Francisco Symphony violinist; and Jill Brindel, San Francisco Symphony cellist and SSU cello instructor.
Program:
Beethoven - Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No.1 (the "Ghost")
Schumann - Trio in D minor, Op. 63
Wind Power
Faculty recital with Dave Len Scott, trumpet
Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Trumpet Studio instructor Dave Len Scott will perform classical and jazz works with pianists Marilyn Thompson and Ken Cook. Joining him will be trumpeter Daniel Gianola-Norris in a solo set, and the SSU Faculty Brass Quintet featuring Dave Len Scott and Daniel Norris, trumpets; Ruth Wilson, horn; Anthony Collins, trombone; and Scott Choate, tuba.
Program:
Stravinsky - Fanfare for a New Theatre (Dave Len Scott and Daniel Gianola-Norris, trumpets)
Dave Len Scott, trumpet
Jean Baptiste Arban - Characteristic Study No. 1
Oskar Bohme - Concerto in F Minor for Trumpet and Piano
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Daniel Gianola-Norris, trumpet, amplified trumpet and electronics
Lauren Bernofsky - Concerto for Trumpet and Piano, mvts. 2 and 3
Robert Erickson - Kryl
Robert J. Bradshaw - Birds of the Windy City (world premiere)
SSU Faculty Brass Quintet
J.S. Bach - Contrapunctus IX from The Art of Fugue
Lawrence Weiner -Prelude, Air and Fugue
Michael Hurd - Harlequin Suite for Brass Quintet
Instrumental Repertory Recital
Wednesday, March 2, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Instrumental students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire.
Alberto Faya Ensemble, SSU Hot Club Ensemble & Latin Band
Friday, March 4, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Culminating a three-day residency, Alberto Faya, a founder of the nueva trova movement in Cuban music, performs with his ensemble. SSU's Hot Club Ensemble (Dave Len Scott, coach) and Latin Band (led by Kendrick Freeman) will play opening sets. Alberto Faya, voice and leader; Miguel de Armas, piano; David Faya, bass; Reinier Mendoza, percussion
Vocal Repertory Recital
Wednesday, March 9, 2 p.m., Weill Hall
Voice students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire.
Michael Blake Quartet, SSU Contemporary Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Weill Hall
Saxophonist and composer Michael Blake makes music that bristles with originality and vision.Blake's quartet features Frank Kimbrough (founding member of New York City's Jazz Composers Collective) on piano, composer/arranger Ben Allison on bass and Rudy Royston, Denver native and Ron Miles protégé, on drums. The opening set will feature SSU's Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, coached by Kasey Knudsen, and the SSU Jazz Orchestra, led by Doug Leibinger.
Faculty Composers Concert
Thursday, March 10, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Composers in the Department of Music create in all styles, from modern-classical to Jazz, musical theatre and avant-garde. This annual celebration of homegrown new music draws top performers from throughout the North Bay.
Program includes:
"Angels" for Brass and Organ by Brian S. Wilson, featuring Jonathan Dimmock, organ
Carol Menke, soprano
In recital with SSU music faculty
Sunday, March 13, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
The North Bay's first-call soprano performs in recital with Marilyn Thompson, piano and Roy Zajac, clarinet. The concert includes songs by Brahms and Turina and will feature Schubert's beloved Shepherd on the Rock for clarinet, piano and voice, and Brian S. Wilson's Kherdian Songs.
Inaugural SSU Concerto Competition
Tuesday, March 22, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
SSU students will be performing concertos, concert pieces, arias and song cycles in front of a panel of esteemed judges. The judges will select one or more of the evening's performers to be featured in concert with the Sonoma State University Symphony Orchestra during the concert season. Tickets not required.
Laxmi G. Tewari
Hindustani vocalist
Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Recently retired from his 40-year career as professor of ethnomusicology, Pandit Tewari will perform classical music of Northern India with his ensemble on traditional Indian instruments.
Trio Navarro
Chamber Artists-in-Residence
Sunday, April 3, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
In residence since 1992, the Navarro Trio includes Marilyn Thompson, SSU pianist and director of chamber music; Victor Romasevich, San Francisco Symphony violinist; and Jill Brindel, San Francisco Symphony cellist and SSU cello instructor.
Guest performers Phillip Santos, violin, and Nancy Ellis, viola.
Program:
Anton Arensky - Piano Quintet in D Major, Op.51
Sergei Taneyev - Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 30
Seawolf Day Sampler Concert
Saturday, April 9, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
As part of Seawolf Day the Department of Music presents a free, all-student concert of solos, combos and conducted ensembles representing a broad cross-section of department life. Tickets not required.
Brass Ensemble: Heroes and Villains
Thursday, April 28, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
It's true--the bad guys get the best theme music. Enjoy selections for brass from Billy the Kid, Turandot, Games of Thrones and Beauty and the Beast. Not to overlook the heroes, and what heroic tribute isn't complete without some epic John Williams themes from the Star Wars franchise.
Symphonic Chorus Chamber Singers
Friday, April 29, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Conducted by Dr. Jenny Bent, director of choral activities
SSU Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, May 1, 7:30 p.m., Weill Hall
"Musical Postcards," conducted by Dr. Alexander Kahn, director of orchestral studies.
Program (subject to change):
Felix Mendelssohn, The "Hebrides" Overture
Leonard Bernstein, Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront Franz Joseph Haydn, Symphony No. 104, "London"
Instrumental Repertory Recital
Tuesday, May 3, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Instrumental students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire.
Instrumental Repertory Recital
Wednesday, May 4, 2 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Instrumental students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire. Open to families, friends and the general public.
Percussion and Improvisation Ensemble
Wednesday, May 4, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Under the direction of Jennifer Wilsey Marsh, the Percussion and Improvisation Ensemble performs music rooted in deep listening practices and various forms of trans-idiomatic improvisation.
Guitar Ensemble
Friday, May 6, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
The Guitar Ensemble plays everything from solos by Piazzolla and Villa-Lobos to student- composed works and ensemble pieces under the direction of Eric Cabalo.
Rock Collegium
Monday, May 9, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Original rock music composed and performed by students, each written in a particular style. Led by Dr. John Palmer, professor of musicology.
Jazz Combo Concert
Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Performers include the SSU Hot Club Ensemble (Dave Len Scott, coach), Latin Band (Kendrick Freeman, coach), and Contemporary Jazz Ensemble (Kasey Knudsen, coach).
Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, May 11, 7:30 p.m., Weill Hall
It's a two-fer! The SSU Jazz Orchestra and the Santa Rosa Junior College Jazz Band each perform a set, in addition to a jazz combo from SSU. Led by Dr. Doug Leibinger, director of jazz studies at SSU, and Dr. Jerome Fleg, director of instrumental music at SRJC.
Music Theatre Scenes Workshop
Thursday, May 12, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Voice students collaborate to create a brand-new staged, choreographed musical on a student-selected theme using favorite songs.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
Dr. Andy Collinsworth, conductor; special guest conductor Keith Brion; and Diablo Valley College Symphonic Band, Dr. Jonathan Knight, conductor
Friday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., Weill Hall
Three wind bands will perform, including Sonoma State's Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, Dr. Andy Collinsworth, conductor, and the Diablo Valley College Symphonic Band, Dr. Jonathan Knight, conductor. Guest conductor Keith Brion is an internationally recognized John Philip Sousa scholarand Director of Bands Emeritus at Yale University. Program details to be announced.
Student Composers Concert
Monday, May 15, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Original compositions written, performed and directed by students.
Vocal Repertory Recital
Tuesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m., Schroeder Hall
Voice students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire.
Vocal Repertory Recital
Wednesday, May 18, 2 p.m., Weill Hall
Voice students receiving studio instruction perform solo and small ensemble repertoire.
Jazz Forum performances
Doug Leibinger, program director, curates the Jazz Forum at SSU, a unique performance/master class designed to expose jazz majors and guests to a wide variety of jazz styles. Guest musicians perform their music with commentary in a relaxed atmosphere. Concerts are on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. in GMC 1029. Admission is free and limited seating available on a first come, first served basis. Details at http://www.sonoma.edu/music/concert_calendar/jazzforums_s16.html
Feb 3: Passing Dreams Trio feat. Randy Vincent, guitar; Vishal Nagar, table; and Frank Tusa, bass
Feb 17: Ryan Keberle & Catharsis
Feb 24: SSU Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, led by Kasey Knudsen, with guest clinician
Mar 2: Camino de Santiago Project with Alberto Faya
Mar 9: Michael Blake Quartet
Mar 23: Schimscheimer Family Trio feat. Kasey Knudsen, saxophone; Michael Coleman, keyboard; and Jon Arkin, drums
Mar 30: SSU Hot Club Ensemble, led by Dave Len Scott, with guest clinician
Apr 6: Jazz Studies Major Junior Recitals
Apr 20: Billy Hart, jazz drummer and educator
Apr 27: SSU Latin Band, led by Kendrick Freeman, with guest clinician