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Handel’s ‘Messiah’ marks 28th year at MTSU School of Music

November 21, 2012 By

The MTSU Concert Chorale and Middle Tennessee Choral Society will present one of the greatest works associated with the holiday season, Handel’s “Messiah,” to the community on Dec. 2 and 3.

Concerts are scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, and at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in Hinton Music Hall inside MTSU’s Wright Music Building.

About 140 choristers, along with harpsichord and chamber orchestra, will perform the Christmas portion of the work, which includes some of its most popular recitatives, arias and choruses.

The choruses to be performed include “And the glory of the Lord,” “And He shall purify,” “For unto us a child is born,” “Glory to God” and the ever-popular “Hallelujah” chorus.

“We are pleased to once again present this most beloved oratorio to our Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee community,” said Dr. Raphael Bundage, director of choral studies at MTSU and conductor for the Middle Tennessee Choral Society.

Soloists for the Dec. 2 performance include Stephen White, Drew Jenkins, Corbin Phillips, Emily Dennis, Garrett Doo, Bill Hennings, Elizabeth Bumpas, Kristine Phillips, Elizabeth Elliott, Kayla Allsop, Sarah Wofford, Beth Ann Stripling, Bethany Landers and Morgan Myers.

Bumpus, Phillips, Elliott, Allsop, Stripling and Landers will return as soloists for the Dec. 3 performance, joined by soloists Jonathan Thibado, Sam Hagler, Will Duke, Virginia Daugherty, Caleb Imboden, Spencer Miller, Sarah Upchurch and Kayla Holt.

Tickets for each performance are $10 at the door. MTSU faculty, staff and students will be admitted free with valid IDs.

For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visit the Concert Calendar at www.mtsumusic.com.

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Hallelujah! Handel’s ‘Messiah’ marks 27th year at MTSU

November 23, 2011 By

The MTSU Concert Chorale and Middle Tennessee Choral Society will partner once again to create the memorable music of Handel’s “Messiah” for the community Dec. 4 and 5.

Concerts are scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, and at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in Hinton Music Hall inside MTSU’s Wright Music Building. The event is part of the University’s Centennial Celebration.

In addition to “Messiah,” the concert will feature the MTSU Women’s Chorale performing a portion of Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols.”

“This is my 27th year of conducting the ‘Messiah’ for MTSU and the Rutherford County area,” says Dr. Raphael Bundage, director of choral studies at MTSU and conductor for the Middle Tennessee Choral Society.

“I want to particularly thank the MTSU Choral Society for their annual support of this event over the last 27 years.”

Bundage adds that the choral groups, which number about 150 members, will perform “the Christmas portion of the ‘Messiah,’” which makes the work last about an hour.

Advanced vocal majors from MTSU will serve as soloists, the director says, noting that there are approximately 20 soloists over the two nights of performances.

The “Messiah” chamber orchestra comprises professional musicians from the Nashville area and MTSU faculty members Angela Tipps on organ and Pat Ward on harpsichord.

Tickets for each of the Dec. 4 and 5 performances are $10 for general admission and $5 for non-MTSU students. MTSU faculty, staff and students will be admitted free with valid IDs, and senior citizens can receive discounted prices.

Tickets will be available at the door one hour before each performance.

For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com and click on the “Concert Calendar” link.

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Faculty, guests jazzing up classic ‘Nutcracker’ Dec. 1

November 21, 2011 By

MTSU jazz faculty and special Nashville guests will jazz up a classic this Christmas season, performing “The Jazz Nutcracker” on Thursday, Dec. 1, as part of the 2011-12 MTSU Jazz Artist Series.

The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall in the university’s Wright Music Building.

Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky created “The Nutcracker Suite” for ballet in 1891. Jazz greats Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn transformed it into a nine-movement work for jazz orchestras for a 1960 Columbia Records release that has become a treasured classic.

“Performed in the Christmas season, this ballet score has become one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular pieces,” said Jamey Simmons, an associate professor of jazz studies and jazz trumpet at MTSU. “Because these (jazz) arrangements were written for the soloists in Duke’s band, it makes it fun to get inside their approach to performing.”

Performing “The Jazz Nutcracker” alongside Simmons on Dec. 1 will be MTSU jazz faculty members Don Aliquo on saxophone, Jim Ferguson on bass, Rick Mraz on saxophone and Derrek Phillips on drum set. Trombonists Roger Bissell and Greg Cox and trumpet players Matthew White and Steve Herrman, all jazz professionals from Nashville, will join them.

In addition, Matt Pivec, head of jazz studies at Butler University, will be the lead alto saxophone and clarinet player. The band also will feature a number of MTSU students and alumni.

During the performance, guest commentator Austin Bealmear, host of the syndicated radio show “Jazz on the Side,” will provide insights into the history of this jazz version of “The Nutcracker Suite.”

Tickets for the Dec. 1 show are $15 each for the general public. Admission is free for MTSU faculty, staff and students with proper ID.

For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com and click on the “Concert Calendar” link.

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