Music

Ear Training: These informal gatherings are for musicians of any kind who want to work on ear training, including sight reading, rhythms, dictation, canons, and chorales. The focus will be slightly geared toward choral singing, though all are welcome and it would be beneficial for non-choral singers as well.

Frank Gunderson, associate professor of ethnomusicology at Florida State University, discusses how Radio Tanzania invested in song composition and censorship from 1973–1993. Two different songs entitled “Nelson Mandela,” now considered examples of zilipendwa (golden oldies), express a revolutionary sentiment that addresses workers and party leaders alike. 

A Music Department event. Free

An evening of sparkling, sophisticated mainstream jazz will be enhanced by a chance to look behind the curtain and see how jazz is created.  Long a favorite of Vermont audiences, the Jazz Group features Forman on piano, with some of New England’s finest musicians:  Paul Asbell, guitar; Michael Zsoldos, sax; Jim Daggs, bass and Geza Carr, drums.  Forman is the Music Department’s Director of Jazz Activities, and teaches jazz piano and jazz voice. Free

Affiliate artist Diana Fanning performs a beautiful program of piano music by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Villa-Lobos. “Diana Fanning entranced her audience, expressing diverse atmospheres and nuances through the beauty of her colorful playing”— Le Progrès, France. Free

Students of affiliate artists Carol Christensen, Susanne Peck, and Beth Thompson cap off a semester of vocal study with an evening of songs and arias. Accompanied by affiliate artist Cynthia Huard, piano. Free

Three terrific, flexible artists—Mary Rowell, violin; Emily Taubl, cello; and Cynthia Huard, piano—collaborate with students in a program of chamber music. Composers include Maurice Ravel, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Matthew Taylor, Professor Peter Hamlin ‘73, Australian composer Padma Newsone, Jorge Martín, and Franz Schubert. A Music Department event. Free

Intermediate and advanced instrumentalists are invited to attend this workshop in which Dr. Carlos Odria will help students to develop cross cultural improvisation techniques. Free

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw sings with Roomful of Teeth, plays violin with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, has composed and performed with Kanye West, and recently appeared on the Amazon TV series “Mozart in the Jungle.” Join Shaw as she discusses blurring genre boundaries and collaboration in music making. Sponsored by the Rothrock Family Residency Fund, Ross Commons, Chellis House, and the Department of Music. Free.

Music Department reception for music majors and their families. MCA lower lobby.

Jeff Rehbach, conductor; Tim Guiles, accompanist

The 90-voice chorus welcomes spring with its popular spring concert including a delightful mix of choral works from times past and present. With a history that dates back more than 150 years, the chorus brings singers together from on and off campus to present this joyful performance. Note: The chorus also presents this program at the Brandon Town Hall on Saturday evening, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Department of Music. Free