The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University has announced its 2008/2009 season of performances featuring special guest artist performances with Montclair State University students and faculty. Opening in September and running through May, the season includes several unique works by George Rochberg, a fully staged Mozart opera, a notable premiere by Tarik O’Regan with the MSU Singers along with new works by Dean Drummond and David Bixler with the MSU Symphony Orchestra.  All tickets are $15 unless otherwise noted. Highlights of the season include:

Newband-September 13th at 8pm

Directed by Dean Drummond, Newband preserves Harry Partch’s instruments and performs new music commissions. In this performance, the ensemble presents repertoire by Elizabeth Brown, David Lang, Annea Lockwood and Dean Drummond, as well as George Crumb’s Eleven Echoes of Autumn. Drummond and Lockwood’s piece features the 31-tones per octave zoomoozophone that was invented by Drummond.

Choral Activities at MSU

Nov. 1 at 8:00pm, Dec. 7 at 8:00pm, April 25 at 8pm

Director Heather J. Buchanan presents an eclectic mix of choral music. In November, the University Singers join with the Moscow Conservatory Student Chorus under the direction of Stanislav Kalinin for a concert that celebrates the American and Russian choral traditions. The December concert celebrates the sounds of the Holiday Season. To close the choral season, the University Singers will premiere a new work by Tarik O’ Regan and will be joined by the MSU Chorale to perform the masterwork: Fauré’s Requiem.

MSU Symphony Orchestra

Nov. 2 at 2:00 pm, Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm, Feb. 28 at 8:00pm, April 23 at 7:30pm

Under the direction of conductor Paul Hostetter, the MSU Symphony Orchestra offers four diverse programs this season. The first concert will include the Double Bass Concerto No. 2 by Giovanni Bottisini, featuring the John J. Cali School of Music concerto competition winner Nathanial White, and The Planets by Gustav Holst. In December, the orchestra presents a unique program including the Kabalevsky Colas Bruegnon Overture with guest conductor Mary Ann Craig, the world premiere of Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra with David Bixler performing his composition on alto saxophone, and the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4. February’s performance features the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 with Ruth Rendleman, piano, Les illumination by Benjamin Britten, with tenor Stephen Oosting, and The Miraculous Mandarin Suite by Bartók. To end the orchestral season, the orchestra will perform Night Music by George Rochberg, the world première of The Golden Bird by Dean Drummond using instruments of the Harry Partch Collection, and Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche by Richard Strauss.

MSU Opera Workshop Fully Staged Production of La finta giardiniera

May 2 at 8:00 pm, May 3 at 3:00 pm, May 4 and 5 at 7:30 pm

The MSU Opera Workshop, directed by Jeffrey Gall, presents La finta giardiniera (The Pretend Garden Girl), the 18-year-old Mozart’s exploration of passion, deception and lovesick madness. It will be performed in Italian in collaboration with the MSU Symphony Orchestra.

Special Free Event: The Beatrice Crawford Memorial Concert-Dec. 13 at 8:00 pm

The Harry Partch Ensemble, directed by Dean Drummond, performs a concert of microtonal music using original instruments created by the 20th century composer Harry Partch.

The full schedule of all John J. Cali School of Music events that are part of Peak Performance @ Montclair follows. To order tickets, please visit www.peakperfs.org or call the box office at 973-655-5112.

JOHN J. CALI SCHOOL OF MUSIC
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 13th at 8 pm
Newband
Dean Drummond, director

In residence at Montclair State, Newband is known for the preservation of Harry Partch’s instruments in combination with new music commissions. The ensemble will present newer repertoire by Elizabeth Brown, David Lang, Annea Lockwood and director Dean Drummond, as well as George Crumb’s Eleven Echoes of Autumn. Drummond and Lockwood’s piece features the 31-tones per octave zoomoozophone, invented by Drummond, while Elizabeth Brown performs on the shakuhachi in her piece Acadia.

October 10th at 7:30pm
October 11th at 8:00pm
Kaleidoscope

A 90-minute non-stop extravaganza features music of all styles: choral, orchestral, band, jazz, vocal, chamber, musical theatre, and solo instrumental. Kaleidoscope showcases all major MSU student ensembles as well as chamber and solo performances.

Oct. 30th at 7:30pm
MSU Wind Symphony and MSU Symphonic Band
Thomas McCauley, conductor
Paul Cohen, saxophone

Paul Cohen will play the rarely performed original version of the Ingolf Dahl Saxophone Concerto. The Wind Symphony and MSU Symphonic Band will also perform works by Milhaud, Ticheli, Schubert, Varèse, and Wagner.

Nov. 1 at 8:00pm
MSU Singers
Directed by Heather J. Buchanan
Moscow Conservatory Student Chorus
Directed by Stanislav Kalinin

A cultural exchange concert featuring both choirs individually and in combination as they celebrate the American and Russian choral traditions.

Nov. 2 at 2:00 pm
MSU Symphony Orchestra
Paul Hostetter, conductor

The first of four concerts this season will include the Double Bass Concerto No. 2 by Giovanni Bottisini, featuring the John J. Cali School of Music concerto competition winner Nathanial White, and The Planets by Gustav Holst.

Dec. 5 at 7:30pm
WORLD PEMIERE
MSU Symphony Orchestra
Paul Hostetter, conductor

In this unique orchestral program, works will include the Kabalevsky Colas Bruegnon Overture with guest conductor Mary Ann Craig, the world premiere of Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra with David Bixler performing his composition on alto sax, and the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4.

Dec. 6 at 8:00pm
MSU Wind Symphony and MSU Symphonic Band
Symphonic Sweets
Thomas McCauley, conductor

The New Hudson Saxophone Quartet will appear as the featured artists on this evening of symphonic music for wnids. The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will also perform works by Milhaud, Bach, Sousa, and Hindemith.

Dec. 7 at 2:00pm
Jazz at MSU
MSU Jazz Band and MSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Jeffrey Kunkel and Holli Ross, directors

Special Guest: Bucky Pizzarelli

The John J. Cali School of Music presents the MSU Jazz Band, directed by Jeffrey Kunkel, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Holli Ross, in a program of classic and contemporary music for jazz ensemble.

Dec. 7h at 8:00pm
MSU Singers
Celebrating the Sounds of the Season
Heather J. Buchanan, director
Featuring The Montclair Faculty Brass

The MSU Singers join the Montclair Faculty Brass for a concert of holiday music featuring choir and brass. Program to include Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata for chorus and double brass choir, Francis Poulenc's ethereal "O magnum mysterium" from Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noel, Gustav Holst's Christmas Day and other favorites.

Dec. 10th at 7:30pm
MSU Opera Workshop
Opera Scenes
Jeffrey Gall, director

The MSU Opera Workshop presents a scene program drawn from the classic opera repertory. Performances will feature student soloists with piano accompaniment.
Dec. 13th at 8:00 pm
The Beatrice Crawford Memorial Concert
Harry Partch Ensemble
Dean Drummond, Director

The MSU Harry Partch Ensemble performs a concert of microtonal music using original instruments created by the 20th century composer Harry Partch.

Admission: Free (Tickets required for admission)

This free public performance, the Crawford Concert is supported by a generous grant from the Keating Crawford Foundation. It is an annual event presented at Montclair State University in memory of Beatrice Crawford, a Montclair musician who was the director of two choral groups, “The Madrigals” and “the Choraliers.”

Feb. 28th at 8:00 pm
MSU Symphony Orchestra
Paul Hostetter, conductor

This orchestral performance includes the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 with Ruth Rendleman, piano, Les illumination by Benjamin Britten, with tenor Stephen Oosting, and The Miraculous Mandarin Suite by Bartók.

March 1st at 3:00 pm
MSU Wind Symphony
Thomas McCauley, conductor
Bloomfield Youth Band
Patrick Burns, director

The MSU Wind Symphony and the Bloomfield Youth Band perform a concert of diverse wind music highlighted by a performance of composer George Rochberg’s piece, Apocalyptica. The program will also include works by Strauss and Persichetti.

April 22nd at 7:30pm
Jazz at MSU
MSU Jazz Band and MSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Jeffrey Kunkel and Holli Ross, directors

The John J. Cali School of Music presents the MSU Jazz Band, directed by Jeffrey Kunkel, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Holli Ross, in a program of classic and contemporary music for jazz ensemble.

WORLD PREMIERE

April 23nd at 7:30pm
MSU Symphony Orchestra
Paul Hostetter, conductor

This performance closes the season for the MSU Symphony Orchestra. Works include Night Music by George Rochberg, the world première of The Golden Bird by Dean Drummond using instruments of the Harry Partch Collection, and Till Eulenspiegals lustige Streiche by Richard Strauss.

April 24th at 7:30pm
Alexander Kasser Theater
MSU Wind Symphony and MSU Symphonic Band
Night Moves
Thomas McCauley, conductor

Paul Cohen returns to play the Dahl Saxophone Concerto. This evening also features a contemporary piece by composer Libby Larson titled, Introduction to the Moon, which combines music and poetry. Also on the program are works by Hanson, Del Borgo, Persichetti and Rochberg.

WORLD PREMIERE

Saturday, April 25 at 8 pm
MSU Singers & Chorale
Spring Concert
Heather J. Buchanan, director

The 150-voice MSU Chorale will perform Gabriel Fauré’s masterwork Requiem with student soloists, organ and chamber orchestra. This program also includes the University Singers with the world premiere of a piece by Tarik O'Regan commissioned by Montclair State University and an a cappella work by George Rochberg.

May 2nd at 8 pm
May 3rd at 3 pm
May 4th & 5th at 7:30 pm
MSU Opera Workshop
Jeffrey Gall, Director
Paul Hostetter, Conductor

MSU Opera Workshop presents fully staged performances of La finta giardiniera (The Pretend Garden Girl), 18-year-old Mozart’s exploration of passion, deception and lovesick madness. La finta giardiniera will be performed in Italian in collaboration with the MSU Symphony.

Media Contact:
Alfred R. Fredel, Media and Marketing Director
Peak Performance @ Montclair
Fredela@mail.montclair.edu
973-655-3004

Released: July 30, 2008