Brass quintet schedules busy encore week in area

9/29/2011

Gaudette Brass

The Gaudete Brass Quintet will return to Toledo for a week of public appearances culminating in a concert during the Lourdes University Fall Music Showcase at 4 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Franciscan Center. This performance is part of a three-concert series to begin at 3 p.m. and conclude with a reception at 6 p.m. The entire event is free.

Founded in 2004 and dedicated to performing the highest quality music, the Gaudete ensemble comprises Ryan Berndt and Bill Baxtresser, trumpets; Jean McCullough, horn; Scott Tegge, tuba, and Paul Van Hoff, trombone.

The Gaudete not only performs existing music but has commissioned new works for brass by composers David Sampson, John Cheetham, and Jan Bach. Another wrinkle for the quintet is historically informed performances of Renaissance music on period-style instruments.

At Lourdes, the Gaudete Brass Quintet will be joined by the Lourdes University Chorus, led by Karen Biscay, for part of the concert.

This year's Showcase has a theme of environmentalism, with all music selected to celebrate sustainability and caring for creation. The opening performance at 3 p.m. will include appearances by Lourdes music faculty, students, and guests in a variety of solo and chamber ensemble works plus "Save the Earth" folk songs and video led by Michael D. Biscay.

Following the Gaudete performance, Lourdes choirs and soloists will extend the tribute to Mother Earth with choral music and sing-alongs.

Associate professor of biology James Minesky will speak on "The Year of the Forest," and detail environmental events planned for the fall semester. Nature photographer Jim Hagan will show a photo collage during the program.

The Gaudete quintet also will perform a free, public concert at 11 a.m. Oct. 6 at Owens Community College Performing Arts Center in Studio Theatre, Room 11.

Gaudete will join with the Polaris Brass quintet, the resident group of Ohio Northern University, Ada, for two more performances.

One will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert, Ohio, part of its Community Series. Tickets are available at 419-238-6772. The other will be at Ohio Northern, where trumpeters Dave Kosmyna and Paul Hoverman, Timothy Olt on tuba, Thomas Hunt on horn, and trombonist Dale Laukhuf gather for concerts and teaching. This concert at 8 p.m. Oct. 13 in Snyder Recital Hall will be free.

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Taiwanese pianist Shiau-uen Ding, who is building a career as a proponent and performer of contemporary music, is to appear for an 8 p.m. Monday guest recital at Bowling Green State University in Bryan Recital Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center.

The title for her program is "The Dante Project," and it's based on composers' reactions to work by the Italian writer. On the schedule is a Fantasia in the form of a Sonata by Franz Lizst, Apres Une Lecture de Dante; a new piece by Michael Ippolito, "Liszt It Is;" five short pieces by Joel Hoffman, "Cloudburst" by Mara Helmuth, and other works. The concert will be free.

OctubaFest at BGSU will include the Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble from the music department in a free performance at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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Students of Laura Melton will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Wildwood Metroparks Preserve Manor House. This Scholars of a Different Note event is free.

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Chinese pianist Yuja Wang will perform at 4 p.m. Oct. 9 in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, part of the University Musical Society series. On the program for this 24-year-old virtuoso will be Etudes-Tableaux by Rachmaninoff, works by Ravel, Debussy, and Albeniz, and preludes, etudes, and a sonata by Scriabin. Tickets are $10-$56 at www.ums.org or 734-734-2538.

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BGSU will play host for this year's Ohio Music Teachers Association state conference, Oct. 9-11 in the Moore Musical Arts Center. Sustained to advance the work of music teachers, this organization offers workshops, demonstrations, and performances, as well as lots of opportunities to meet and greet. Among the highlights of this year's program will be speakers Margaret Young, Nicole Biggs, Marvin Blickenstaff, John Boggs, and, in a final performance, the Anderson-Roe Piano Duo.

Information and registration is available at www.OhioMTA.org.

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