BGSU opens its season with Faculty Artist Series

Madalyn Parnas, violinist, and Cicely Parnas, cellist, who make up the group duo parnas, will perform Aug. 28 at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor. Enlarge

Lonesome County performs Saturday at the Ark. Enlarge

Can it be that summer is really drawing to a close? Notices from area universities suggest that's the case.

Bowling Green State University will open its jam-packed 2010-2011 performing arts season with the first of the Faculty Artist Series events at 8 p.m. Aug. 25 in Bryan Recital Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center. Like most BGSU music events, this will be free.

Performers Jennifer Goode Cooper, bass-baritone Sean Cooper, and pianist Kevin Bylsma will present a program of works by Hugo Wolf, Aaron Copland, and Gerald Finzi.

On the same FAS series, jazz saxophonist and composer David Bixler will be featured in recital at 3 p.m. Aug. 29 in the Great Gallery of the Toledo Museum of Art. Joining Bixler will be guitarist Chris Buzzelli, bassist Jeff Halsey, and percussionist Roger Schupp, all to play music by Brooks Bowman, John Coltrane, and Bixler.

Hornist Andrew Pelletier with pianist Robert Satterlee will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 in Bryan Hall on campus.

In preparation for the new season, BGSU will hold open auditions for the University Choral Society, a town-gown ensemble directed by BGSU director of choral studies Mark Munson. The UCS will perform Handel's “Messiah” with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and soloists Dec. 4 and 5 at the Toledo Museum of Art. The choir will join the BGSU Collegiate Chorale, the A Cappella Choir, and the TSO to perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Feb. 4 and 5 in the Peristyle. The season will close for the UCS with a performance of Beethoven's “Mass in C Major” with the Bowling Green Philharmonic April 20 in Kobacker Hall.

Chorus rehearsals will be 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the Moore Center. For more information and audition appointments call the college, 419-372-2186.

• Kerrytown Concert House will present duo parnas — violinist Madalyn Parnas and cellist Cicely Parnas — in recital at 8 p.m. Aug. 28 in the historic venue at 415 North Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. On the program planned by this up-and-coming internationally known duo are works by J.S. Bach, Joseph Haydn, Bohuslav Martinu, and William Bolcom. Tickets are $10-$25 in assigned rows; call 734-769-2999.

• The University of Michigan Choral Union announces its first call for singers to share in the upcoming season, which includes performances of “The Messiah” Dec. 4 and 5 in Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor; a production of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of 1,000” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Slatkin March 18 and 19; three performances of Beethoven's Ninth with the DSO April 14-16 in Detroit's Orchestra Hall, and performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and Arie Lipsky April 30 in the Michigan Theatre.

Auditions will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Great Lakes Room of Palmer Commons, Washtenaw Avenue and Palmer Drive.

Audition times must be scheduled in advance through Choral Union Manager Kathy Operhall, by e-mail at choralunion@umich.edu or by phone at 734-763-8997. Auditions are open to singers of all ages. Auditions comprise vocalization exercises, a prepared solo no longer than three minutes, and a sight-reading of a J.S. Bach chorale. Accompanists are provided; auditioners should bring a piano score.

• The Children's Choir of Northwest Ohio will hold group auditions for prospective singers in grades 4-8 Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 7-8 at Community of Christ Church, 6517 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse. The choir presents concerts through 2010-2011 under the leadership of Lisa Alleman. For more information and audition appointments call 419-377-7710 or visit www.ccofnwo.org.

• The Lourdes College Chorus is calling for new members for its 26th concert season. Weekly rehearsals start Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the lower level of the Franciscan Theatre and continue through the season. The chorus presents public concerts at the college and tours to other states and countries. The first event will be a Choral Showcase Oct. 10; the annual Christmas concert will be in December with the Maumee Community Band.

For more information or to join, contact Karen T. Biscay at 419-824-3772 or e-mail kbiscay@lourdes.edu. Visit lourdes.edu/music for the latest news and events from Lourdes Music Department.

Items for News of Music should be sent to svallongo@theblade.com at least two weeks ahead of the performance date.