This week in music at BU

Guitar Ensemble – The Guitar Ensemble will perform tomorrow (April 14) at 7:30 p.m. in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall.

Faculty Recital – Matthew Slotkin, guitar, and Joseph Murphy, saxophone, will present a faculty recital Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in Carver Hall, Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium.

Percussion Ensemble – The Percussion Ensemble will perform Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall.

BU Concert Choir – The BU Concert Choir’s spring concert will be presented Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg.

University Concert Band Spring Concert – The University Concert Band’s annual spring concert will be presented Sunday, April 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall.

Admission is free.

The season for holiday concerts and shows

Students Tyler Knipe and Alex Link will present a guitar recital Monday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market St. The event is free and open to the public.

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Though not strictly holiday-related — An evening of 10-minute plays, projects directed by Bloomsburg University students, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in the Theatre Lab, Bookstore Annex. The event is free and open to the public.

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The fall concert by Bloomsburg University’s Jazz Ensemble will be held Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 7 pm in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the Jazz Ensemble, contact Stephen Clickard, chair of music, theatre and dance, at sclickar@bloomu.edu.

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Bloomsburg University’s Guitar Ensemble will perform Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 pm in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Admission is free.

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The Carols by Candlelight Concert featuring Bloomsburg University’s Concert Choir, Husky Singers and Women’s Choral Ensemble will be presented Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6,at 7:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg. Admission is free but tickets are required, and available at Bloomsburg University’s Mitrani Hall box office, 570-389-4409.

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An evening of one-act plays directed by Bloomsburg University students, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in the Theatre Lab, Bookstore Annex. The event is free and open to the public.

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BU’s Celebrity Artist Series kicks off the holiday season with a jazz performance, Christmas with Sara Gazarek, Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 pm in Bloomsburg University’s Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Tickets for the Celebrity Artist Series show are $30 for regular admission and $15 for BU students and children. For tickets or more information, visit www.bloomu.edu/cas or call the box office at 570-389-4409.

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The Jubilate Choir and Orchestra will hold a holiday concert Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 pm and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 3 pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market St. The concerts by the 70-member choir and 30-member orchestra are free and open to the public.

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A Tuba Christmas will be presented Saturday, Dec. 7, at 3 pm in Bloomsburg University’s Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Musicians who wish to perform may pre-register by calling 570-389-4284. Open registration will begin at noon, with rehearsal at 1 p.m.

A preview of concerts and shows at BU

Here's the schedule of concerts and plays at BU for the 2013-2014 academic year. Most concerts are free. There's a modest admission charge for most plays. It's early, so there may be adjustments to the schedule down the line.

For myself, I'm particularly interested to see what the Chamber Orchestra does with guitarists Matt Leece and Victoria Hummer and the theatre shows, which seem to include a number of new pieces and a provocative classic by Lillian Hellman. — EGF.  

University-Community Orchestra: Young Person’s Concert, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts. Mark Jelinek, conducting.

Fall Choral Festival: Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg. Featuring Women’s Choral Ensemble, Husky Singers and the Concert Choir Alan Baker conducting.

Chamber Orchestra Concert: Oct. 27, 2:30 p.m. Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market St., Bloomsburg. Featuring Victoria Hummer and Matthew Leece, guitar. Mark Jelinek conducting.

Percussion Ensemble Concert: Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., Mitrani Hall, Haas Center Gifford Howarth, directing.

Theatre: Avenue Q, by David A. Miller Performed by Bloomsburg Players Nov. 7, 8, 9, 10. Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St, Bloomsburg.

University-Community Orchestra: Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m., Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts. Featuring Todd Hunter, trombone. Mark Jelinek, conducting. A trombone master class will be offered Nov 9. Email mjelinek@bloomu.edu for information.

Wind Ensemble: Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts Stephen Clickard, conducting.

Theatre: An Evening of 10-Minute Plays,  Student-Directed Projects, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Lab, University Bookstore Annex.

Jazz Ensemble: Dec. 3, 7 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts Stephen Clickard, conducting.

Guitar Ensemble: Dec. 4, 7 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts Matthew Slotkin, directing.

Carols by Candlelight: Dec. 5 and 6, 7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg. Featuring the Concert Choir, Husky Singers, and Women’s Choral Ensemble. (Admission free, but tickets required; pick up at Performing Arts Box Office located in lobby of Haas Center.)

Theatre: An Evening of One-Act Plays, Student-directed projects, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. Theatre Lab, University Bookstore Annex

SPRING 2014

Spring Music Residency, PROJECT Trio: Feb. 7 to 9.

Theatre: February Festival, 30 Plays in 60 Minutes: Original scripts by the BU Players. Feb. 13-15, 19-20, Alvina Krause Theatre.

Theatre: 24-Hour Plays, Feb. 22, Alvina Krause Theatre.

Theatre: The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman, April 11-15, Alvina Krause Theatre.

Fourth Annual Dance Minors Concert, April 27-28, Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts

Honors Recital: Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts

Chamber Orchestra: March 9, 2:30 p.m. St. Matthew Lutheran Church 123 N. Market St., Bloomsburg

Jazz Festival: April 4, noon Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts

Spring Orchestra Concert: April 6, 2:30 p.m., Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts. Mark Jelinek directing. A piano master class will be offered April 5. Email mjelinek@bloomu.edu for information.

BU Choirs Spring Concert: April 12, 7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church 345 Market St., Bloomsburg

Concert Band: April 13, 2:30 pm Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium, Carver Hall

Guitar Ensemble: April 15, 7 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts

Percussion Ensemble: April 17, 7:30 p.m. Mitrani Hall, Haas Center for the Arts

A tribute in song this Sunday

BU's  Husky Singers and the Women’s Chorale will give a concert on Sunday, April 21, at 2:30 pm in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Admission is free.

The program’s highlight will be the premiere performance of a new work from Canadian choral composer Stephen Hatfield. “As She Goes” was commissioned by the Bloomsburg University choirs in memory of Eileen Hower, assistant professor of music, who passed away in December 2012. For this new work, Hatfield combined his original text and music with musical quotations from the Celtic folk song, “Wild Mountain Thyme,” one of Hower’s favorite tunes.

Other works to be performed by the women’s ensemble include Eleanor Daley’s “In Remembrance,” sacred Renaissance works of Arcadelt and Palestrina, a variety of spirituals and gospel arrangements, and a jazz arrangement of “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music.”

Selections by the Husky Singers, BU’s male vocal ensemble, will include music from the southern gospel tradition, spirituals, glee club standards, Morten Lauridsen’s “Dirait’on” and “Hol’ You Han,” a Jamaican/rap novelty song.

Directed by Alan Baker, associate professor of music, the Husky Singers specialize in doo-wop, barbershop and other popular arrangements, complete with comic sketches and Motown-inspired dance moves.

The Women’s Chorale’s repertoire ranges from ancient to contemporary pieces, directed by of Andrew Robinette, professor of music. Both ensembles are accompanied by pianist Valyn Boy.

Celebrate the season with song

There are still some tickets left for Bloomsburg University's annual Carols by Candlelight concert on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at 7:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg.

The event features the Concert Choir, Husky Singers and Women's Choral Ensemble. Admission is free, but tickets are required. The free tickets are available at the Haas Center Box Office — and if there are any left — at the door. Alan Baker and Eileen Hower conduct the ensembles at this popular event.

If you're interested, get your tickets early. They are usually all gone by showtime. — E.G.F.

Seeking: Oud and Dumbek Players

An unusual request.

The Bloomsburg University's Women's Choir is performing an Andalusian/Arabic song, "Lamma Badaa Yatathanna." They are seeking  someone who can perform on the dumbek and someone who can perform on the oud. If you are a "performance caliber accompanist" on one of these instruments (or know of someone who is) and are game to perform with the group, contact director Eileen Hower.

For myself: I'd love to hear the song with the traditional instruments.