A series of concerts are scheduled at Gustavus Adolphus College this weekend as the Department of Music ensembles complete the fall term. This collection of ensemble performances is free and open to the public.
The Gustavus and Vasa Wind Orchestras, under the direction of Dr. Douglas Nimmo, open the weekend in Christ Chapel on Friday evening, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. The Wind Orchestras (formerly the Gustavus and Adolphus Bands) will each present one half of the concert and perform works by Howard Hanson, Frank Ticheli, John Philip Sousa, Dmitri Shostakovich, John Williams and others. This is the final concert of the season for the Gustavus Wind Orchestra as it prepares for its annual winter concert tour in February through Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana.
On Saturday evening, Steve Wright and the Gustavus jazz ensembles present their fall concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall. The Adolphus Jazz Ensemble opens the concert with works by Matt Harris, Count Basie, Bob Washut and others. The Gustavus Jazz Lab Band will close the concert with works by Thelonius Monk, Mike Tomaro, Sammy Nestico, Jerome Kern, Henry Mancini and Frank Mantooth. Mantooth, who passed away in 2003, was a renowned jazz pianist, composer, arranger and clinician. He was artist-in-residence at Gustavus in the fall of 2002 and performed with the jazz bands on their fall concert.
On Sunday, November 21, the Gustavus Percussion Ensembles present their fall concert in Bjorling Recital Hall at 1:30 p.m. Robert Adney directs the percussion program at Gustavus and has developed a program which includes a variety and combination of works for percussion. The program includes a work based on a Ghanaian drum theme, a concert piece for 2 marimbas and eight hands, along with combined works for multiple percussion instruments.
Sunday evening, November 21, features vocal chamber performances by the Birgitta Singers, St. Ansgar’s Chorus and the Gustavus Chamber Singers at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. Directed by Julie Aune and Gregory Aune, LET THE MUSIC RESOUND! includes a variety of compositions ranging from Baroque and sacred works, to the jazz and pop tunes of contemporary American culture.
This weekend of music is open to the public at no charge.