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.

Guitar duo to perform at BU Tuesday

The guitar duo of Kenneth Meyer and Steven Thachuk have reunited after a 10-year hiatus to offer a master class Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. in Bloomsburg University’s Haas Center for the Arts, room 227, and a concert at 7:30 that evening in Carver Hall, Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public.

The concert by the Meyer-Thachuk Guitar Duo will feature works by Domenico Scarlatti, Carlo Domeniconi, Joaquin Rodrigo, Marek Pasieczny, Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados, including Rodrigo’s “Tonadilla” and Pasieczny’s “Sakura No Hana.” Meyer-Thachuk Guitar Duo Meyer, an American, and Thachuk, a Canadian, met during their studies at the Eastman School of Music. They performed in recitals and concertos throughout North America between 1997 and 2001 and released a CD of Spanish works, “Evocacion,” in 1999.

Meyer, who received first prize at the Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Artist Competition, continues to appear as a chamber musician and soloist with orchestras throughout North America, South America and Europe. His performances have been featured on film, radio and most recently on the Albany records label. He directs a guitar studies program at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music.

Playing both traditional classical guitar and a steel string instrument, Thachuk has appeared as a chamber musician and soloist with orchestras throughout North America and Europe. His concerts were broadcast on NPR in the United States and the CBC in Canada. Thachuk, who released “Currents,” a solo recital CD of 20th century guitar works, was appointed professor of guitar and chair of guitar studies at California State University, Northridge, in 2002. The program is supported by a Curricular Enhancement Award from BU’s College of Liberal Arts. For information, contact Matthew Slotkin, assistant professor of music, at mslotkin@bloomu.edu.

Guitar and bass concert

Dez Cordas, a double bass and guitar duo featuring Bloomsburg University guitar professor Matthew Slotkin and Craig Butterfield, associate professor of double bass and jazz studies at the University of South Carolina will perform Tuesday, March 11, at 6 pm in Haas Center for the Arts, room 166. Admission is free.

They will perform works by Bela Bartok, Robert Beaser and Alec Wilder, as well as the premieres of two new compositions that we commissioned from Irish composer Greg Caffrey and American composer James Crowley.

More information is here:  www.dezcordas.com, www.butterfieldbass.com, www.matthewslotkin.com.

Matthew Leece to give guitar recital Tuesday

BU music major Matthew Leece will give a guitar recital Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 pm at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 Market Street, Bloomsburg.

Leece will perform all of J.S. Bach's Lute Suite BWV 998, a small suite by modern Australian composer Phillip Houghton, a depiction of Poe's Fall of the house of Usher by Russian composer Nikita Koshkin, and several other pieces.

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.

Guitarist to perform at BU

Guitarist Stephen Mattingly will perform at Bloomsburg University on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Haas Center for the Arts, room 166. Mattingly is active as a soloist and a member of the Tantalus Quartet.  

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

Guitar ensemble to perform at BU on Wednesday

BU’s Guitar Ensemble will give a concert on Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

The show will feature as many seven classical guitars playing together, and a variety of music from the 1600s to the present day, including Renaissance dances, a classical sonata, popular Latin American songs and a contemporary Cuban work. The ensemble is directed by Matthew Slotkin, assistant professor of music. The group's repertoire includes music by Issac Albeniz, Leo Brouwer, Scott Joplin, Stepan Rak, Fernando Sor and folk music from Brazil and Chile. The 15-member ensemble is made up of music majors who study guitar as their primary instrument.

Recitals — guitar, poetry, prose

BU student Shane Nesmith will present a guitar recital Tuesday, March 12, at 7 pm in Carver Hall, Kenneth S. Gross Auditorium. The concert is free of charge.

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Students from BU's Creative Writing Program will read from their original works on Wednesday, March 13, at 6:30 pm at the Moose Exchange, 203 W. Main Street, Bloomsburg. Offering a mix of poetry and prose, the students are part a writing seminar for graduating seniors. In addition to working with creative writing faculty professors Jerry Wemple and Claire Lawrence, the students have been coached by David Miller, theater professor, on ways to present their work. The event, sponsored by the College of Liberal Art’s Center of Visual and Performing Arts, is free and open to the public.

Chops: Guitar and Compositional

Matthew Slotkin, Bloomsburg University's guitar professor, will give a solo recital Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 pm in Carver Hall, Gross Auditorium.

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Linda Buckley, a composer based in Dublin, will give a lecture Thursday, Feb. 7, at 5 pm in Haas Center for the Arts, room 166. Buckley is a member of the Spatial Music Collective, dedicated to the creation and presentation of spatial acoustic and electroacoustic music. She studied Music at University College Cork, and Music and Media Technologies at Trinity College Dublin. She holds a Ph.D in Composition from Trinity College, where she also lectures.