Classical music: Here is the impressive lineup of concerts for the 2013-14 season at the University of Wisconsin School of Music. Today is the Semester I; tomorrow is the second semester.

By Jacob Stockinger

It is only mid-July and Kathy Esposito, the concert manager and director of public relations at the University of Wisconsin School of Music, is on the job.

Kathy has sent The Ear the copy for the UW School of Music’s new brochure with the dates and artists for the impressive lineup of concerts during the upcoming 2013-2014 season. The brochures themselves will be ready in August.

You will notice that a lot of artists and groups have still not submitted programs. But whatever is available right now is here.

So get out your datebooks and start checking for conflicts and penciling in your favorites.

The list is long, so the first semester – the Fall Semester — is featured today; the second semester – the Spring semester — will be featured tomorrow.

Here is Kathy’s introduction:

Hello all,

Attached herewith is our 2013-14 season schedule, which is in the end stages of design and will be printed and mailed this August. I wanted to give you a heads-up, for obvious reasons.

You’ll notice a slew of very interesting concerts. We will feature several highly successful UW alumni, including conductor Ken Woods (below, now working in England); Nate Stampley, Broadway singer; Chris Washburne, a trombonist now based in NYC; and Ilia Radoslavov, a pianist now at Truman State University. 

Other guests include Todd Reynolds, a violinist from NYC, Taiseer Elias & Menachem Wiesenberg (presenting classical Arabic and Israeli music), duoARtia (the piano duo of Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi & Holly Roadfeldt), and Third Coast Percussion of Chicago.

Our tuba professor and SOM director John Stevens (below top) is retiring this year, and he will conduct Chicago Symphony Oecgestra’s Gene Pokorny in the work that Stevens wrote for CSO, some years ago. Opera director Bill Farlow (below bottom, in a photo by Katrin Talbot) will also retire, and will present Hector Berlioz’ “Beatrice et Benedict” in his final appearance as director.

We also have much in the way of more contemporary music, both new classical and electro-acoustic, plus many masterclasses and talks that are open to the public. There’s a lot of experimentation happening all the time at the UW School of Music (SOM).

Best of all: concerts are free – unless otherwise noted with a $$. 

SEPTEMBER 

Annual Karp Family Opening Concert

Mon 2, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Featuring Isabel & Ariana Karp, narrators; Suzanne Beia, violin; Katrin Talbot, viola; Ariana Karp, cello; Parry Karp, cello; Christopher Karp, piano; Howard & Frances Karp, pianos

Music of Handel, Harbison, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn.

Les Thimmig, “The Feldman Trios” Part 1 Faculty Concert

Sun 15, Mills Hall, 1 pm

Prof. Les Thimmig, flutes; Jennifer Hedstrom, keyboards; Sean Kleve, percussion

Three lecture-performances of the late-period work of American composer Morton Feldman; subsequent concerts on Oct 27 and Feb 2.

School of Music Annual Alumni Recital

Sun 15, Morphy Hall, 3:30 pm

Alex Weaver, horn; Michael Mixtacki, percussion; Kristine Rominski, flute; & others

The Center for New Music, University of Iowa Guest Artist

Sat 21, Mills Hall, 8 pm

Performances devoted to late 20^th and early 21^st-century repertoire.

Paul Rowe, baritone Faculty Concert

Sun 22, Mills Hall, 2 pm

Baroque cantatas for strings, voice, and continuo, featuring works by J.S. Bach, J. Ph. Rameau, Heinrich Schutz, and G.F. Handel.

Nate Stampley Guest Artist & UW-Madison School of Music Alumnus

Concert: Sun 22, Mills Hall, 5 pm

Masterclass: Mon 23, Music Hall, 1:15-3:15 pm

Broadway singer and 2008 School of Music alumnus Nate Stampley (below) will return to Madison to perform a free concert of show tunes from recent productions. Stampley, who studied with voice professor Mimmi Fulmer, will star this fall as Porgy in a national Broadway tour of “Porgy and Bess.” Stampley has also appeared on Broadway as Mufasa in “The Lion King” and in many other roles in New York, London, Chicago, and other cities.

Black Music Ensemble

Thurs 26, Morphy Hall, 8:30 pm

Richard Davis, director

An eclectic group of musicians exploring repertoire of black composers.

UW Symphony Orchestra

Sun 29, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

James Smith, conductor

Featuring Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, in celebration of the work’s 100^th anniversary.

OCTOBER

UW Chamber Orchestra

Tues 1, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

James Smith, conductor

Pro Arte Quartet UW Ensemble in Residence

Thurs 3, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

David Perry & Suzanne Beia, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola; Parry Karp, cello

Music of Mozart, Kreisler, and Brahms.

UW Wind Ensemble

Fri 4, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Scott Teeple, conductor

Third Coast Percussion Guest Artist

Concert: Wed 9, 7:30, Mills Hall

Owen Clayton Condon, Fractalia

Steve Reich, Mallet Quartet

John Cage, Third Construction

Augusta Read Thomas, Resounding Earth (commissioned work)

Masterclasses on Western percussion music & the commissioning process: TBA

Chicago-based Third Coast Percussion (below) explores and expands the extraordinary sonic possibilities of percussion repertoire through performances, teaching, and the creation of new works. Founded in 2005, Third Coast Percussion has performed hundreds of concerts across the country, teaches musicians of all ages and experience levels, and has commissioned dozens of new works.

Noa Kageyama: Performance Psychologist Guest Artist

Workshops: Wed/Thurs 9/10, Morphy Hall, 7-9 pm

Keynote Address: “Performance Skills of Top Performers,” Thurs 10, 12-1 pm, Mills Hall

Dr. Noa Kageyama (below) is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and is the performance psychology coach for the New World Symphony in Miami. He specializes in working with performing artists and teaching them how to utilize sport psychology principles and more consistently demonstrate their full abilities under pressure.

HOMECOMING WEEKEND

UW Wind Ensemble

Fri 11, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Scott Teeple, conductor

Presenting “Collage,” an hour of non-stop performances showcasing a variety of musical ensembles and styles from within the UW-Madison arts disciplines.

Wisconsin Brass Quintet UW Ensemble in Residence

Sat 12, Mills Hall, 8 pm

John Aley & Jessica Jensen, trumpets; Dan Grabois, horn; Mark Hetzler, trombone; John Stevens, tuba

Music of Peaslee, Sampson, Scheidt, and others.

UW Concert Band

Sun 13, Mills Hall, 2 pm

Scott Teeple, director

UW University Bands

Sun 13, Mills Hall, 4 pm

Matthew Mireles, conductor

John C. Stowe, harpsichord Faculty Concert

Sun 13, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

UW Choral Collage

Sat 19, Mills Hall, 4 pm

Beverly Taylor, director

James Doing, tenor Faculty Concert

Sat 19, Mills Hall, 8 pm

With Martha Fischer, piano

Michael Norsworthy, clarinet Guest Artist

Sun 20, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

With David Gompper, piano (University of Iowa Center for New Music)

Music of Bermel, Beaser, Schwantner, Epstein, Foss and Gompper.

Michael Norsworthy (below), professor of clarinet at the Boston Conservatory, is one of the most celebrated champions of the modern repertoire, having premiered over 125 new works with leading contemporary music groups.

Javier Calderon, guitar Faculty Concert

Thurs 24, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

University Opera & UW Chamber Orchestra $$

Fri 25, 7:30 pm / Sun 27, 3 pm / Tues 29, 7:30 pm, Music Hall

William Farlow, opera director

James Smith, orchestra director

George Frideric Handel, “Ariodante”

Call (608) 265-ARTS (2787) for ticket info.

Mark Hetzler, trombone (below) & Martha Fischer, piano Faculty Concert

Sat 26, Mills Hall, 6:30 pm

“Meditations and Visions: The Music of Anthony Plog and Anthony Barfield”: Two modern works that feature lyricism and technical virtuosity in a rich romantic language.

Les Thimmig, “The Feldman Trios” Part II Faculty Concert

Sun 27, Mills Hall, 1 pm

Les Thimmig, flutes; Jennifer Hedstrom, keyboards; Sean Kleve, percussion

Three lecture-performances of the late-period work of American composer Morton Feldman. Next concert Feb 2.

Parry Karp, cello Faculty Concert

Sun 27, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Thomas Kasdorf, piano; Suzanne Beia, violin; Parry Karp, cello

Piano trio recital.

 

Michelle Stanley, flute, with cellist Yoriko Morita Guest Artists

Concert: Mon 28, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

Masterclass on flute performance: Mon 28

Music of Lonnie Hevia and Cherise Leiter.

Michelle Stanley is assistant professor of music at Colorado State University and Yoriko Morita is an active cellist in the Boulder/Denver area.

NOVEMBER

UW Symphony Orchestra with guest violinist Rachel Barton Pine  $$

Conducted by Kenneth Woods, UW-Madison School of Music alumnus

Concert: Sat 2, Mills Hall, 8:00 pm

Johannes Brahms, Violin Concerto

Part of the Wisconsin Union Theater Concert Series. Tickets $25 general public, $10 students. Call (608) 265-ARTS (2787) for ticket info.

Chicago native Rachel Barton Pine (below) was a child prodigy who had her earliest appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 10 and 15 and won numerous national and international competitions while still in her teens. The youngest person (at age 17) and first American to win a gold medal at the prestigious 1992 J.S. Bach International Competition in Leipzig, Germany, she also has won top prizes in many international competitions. Rachel Barton Pine also performs rock and heavy metal music with her band Earthen Grave and has jammed with the likes of Slash, Guns N’ Roses, and other rock and metal stars.

Author, conductor, and cellist Kenneth Woods has worked with many orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Budapest Festival Orchestra, and the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra. In 2013, he takes up a new position as Artistic Director and conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra’s subscription concerts. In 1993, Ken Woods received a master’s degree in music from UW-Madison; he is also an alumnus of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

UW Contemporary Chamber Ensemble

Tues 5, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Laura Schwendinger, director

CCE continues its mission to present the music of living composers. This year’s featured composers include Kathryn Alexander, Suzanne Sorkin, and David Gompper.

UW Chamber Winds

Wed 6, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Scott Teeple, conductor

Jeff Hirshfield, percussionist Guest Artist

Concert with Johannes Wallmann Quartet: Wed 6, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

Concert with UW Madison’s Blue Note Ensemble, Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Composers’ Septet: Thurs 7, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

Masterclasses on percussion: Wed/Thurs 6/7

Among the most versatile and in-demand sidemen in jazz, New York City-based Jeff Hirshfield has appeared on over 300 albums. His performance and recording credits include Woody Herman, Jim Hall, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Dr. John, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, John Zorn, Bob Brookmeyer, and many others. The Toronto Star called Hirshfield “a drummer with endless capacity for innovation.”

Combined Concert: UW Concert Choir & UW Chorale

Fri 8, Mills Hall, 8 pm

Beverly Taylor, director

 

Parry Karp, cello Faculty Concert

Sat 9, Mills Hall, 8 pm

With Howard & Frances Karp, piano

Music of Schumann, Tournemire, Brahms, Kirchner, and Beethoven.

Guitar Ensemble

Wed 13, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Javier Calderon, director

UW Black Music Ensemble

Thurs 14, Morphy Hall, 8:30 pm

Richard Davis, director

An eclectic group of musicians exploring repertoire of black composers.

Marc Vallon, bassoon Faculty Concert

Fri 15, Morphy Hall, 8 pm

UW Madrigal Singers

Sat 16, Mills Hall, 8 pm

Bruce Gladstone, director

Chris Washburne, trombonist & UW-Madison School of Music alumnus, with UW Jazz Orchestra Guest Artist

Concert: Sat 16, 8 pm, Music Hall

Masterclasses on music entrepreneurship, improvisation, and artistry: Fri/Sat 15/16

Presenting Latin jazz mixed with funk, hip-hop, gospel, and house.

Now a leading New York freelancer, Chris Washburne (below) received his bachelor’s degree in music from UW in 1986, studying with Richard Davis, Les Thimmig,  and Bill Richardson. He is now Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance program at Columbia University. His book Sounding Salsa was published in 2008 by Temple University Press.

UW Women’s Chorus & University Chorus

Sun 17, Mills Hall, 4 pm

Beverly Taylor, director

duoARtia Guest Artists

Mon 18, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

duoARtia is the piano duo of Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi (below top) and Holly Roadfeldt (below bottom)

Works of Bela Bartok, Witold Lutoslawski, UW-Madison composer Joseph Koykkar, James Leatherbarrow, Ed Martin, Kirk O’Riordan, Rob Paterson, Jamie Wilding, and Yehuda Yannay.

Astolfi is currently a member of the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and Roadfeldt is currently teaching at Lafayette College, has a private studio in New York City and serves as piano faculty with distinction at The Music School of Delaware.

UW Concert Band

Mon 18, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Scott Teeple, director

2$ Broom: The UW-Madison Electro-Acoustic Ensemble

Tues 19, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm
Daniel Grabois & Mark Hetzler, directors

Student performers, composers, improvisers, and engineers will present new music in both acoustic and electronic settings.

Wingra Woodwind Quartet UW Ensemble in Residence

Thurs 21, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

Stephanie Jutt, flute; Kostas Tiliakos, oboe (replacing Marc Fink on far right); Linda Bartley, clarinet; Marc Vallon, bassoon; Linda Kimball, horn

Pro Arte Quartet UW Ensemble in Residence

David Perry and Suzanne Beia, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola; Parry Karp, cello

With guest artist Samuel Rhodes, violist, Juilliard Quartet

Fri 22, Mills Hall, 8 pm

Presenting the Bruckner Viola Quintet and the world premiere of the Benoit Mernier Quartet.

UW Choral Union & UW Symphony Orchestra  $$

Sat 23, 8 pm / Sun 24, 2 pm, Mills Hall

Beverly Taylor, conductor

Ralph Vaughan Williams, Dona Nobis Pacem

Felix Mendelssohn, Die erste Walpurgisnacht

Call (608) 265-ARTS (2787) for ticket info.

Winds of Wisconsin

Sun 24, Mills Hall, 6 pm

Scott Teeple, director

A premier high school wind ensemble on the UW-Madison campus.

UW Trombone Choir

Mon 25, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Mark Hetzler, director

Opera Workshop

Tues 26, Music Hall, 7:30 pm

William Farlow & Mimmi Fulmer, directors

UW Western Percussion Ensemble

Tues 26, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

Anthony Di Sanza & Tom Ross, directors

DECEMBER

UW Early Music Ensemble

Tues 3, Morphy Hall, 8:30 pm

UW Jazz Orchestra & The Sun Prairie High School Big Band

Wed 4, Music Hall, 7:30 pm

Johannes Wallmann & Steve Sveum, directors

Blue Note Ensemble, Jazz Composers’ Septet, & Contemporary Jazz Ensemble

Thurs 5, Morphy Hall, 7:30 pm

Johannes Wallmann & Les Thimmig, directors

UW Wind Ensemble

Fri 6, Mills Hall, 8 pm

Featuring Joel Puckett, composer in residence.

Scott Teeple, director

UW World Percussion Ensemble

Sat 7, Morphy Hall, 12 pm

Todd Hammes & Tom Ross, directors

UW All-University String Orchestra

Sat 7, Mills Hall, 4 pm

Janet Jensen, director

UW Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble

Sat 7, Mills Hall, 8 pm

John Stevens, director

UW University Bands

Sun 8, Mills Hall, 2 pm

Matthew Mireles, conductor

UW “Prism” Concert

Sun 8, Luther Memorial Church, 2 & 4 pm

Concert Choir, Chorale, Women’s Chorus, Madrigal Singers, & University Chorus

Beverly Taylor and Bruce Gladstone, conductors

UW Chamber Orchestra

Sun 8, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

James Smith, conductor

 

UW Master Singers

Mon 9, Mills Hall, 7:30 pm

---