Henderson State University’s Symphonic Band, under the direction of Ingrid Larrogoity-Martin, will perform its final concert of the semester on May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Hall auditorium. The program, entitled An American Celebration, was designed around the idea of showcasing some of the amazing American composers of wind literature.

The selections consist of the iconic sounds of American wind music, typical American styles, and some exciting collaborations with faculty. The program includes: American Fanfare by John Wasson; Air for Band by Frank Erickson; George Washington Bridge by William Schuman; Fluffy Ruffles by Hamilton/Caehn, featuring guest percussionist Dr. Rick Dimond; Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copeland, featuring guest narrator Dr. William Higgins; Rough Riders by Karl King; and Apollo Unleashed by Frank Ticheli.

The concert is free and open to the public

The Henderson State University Choirs will present a concert on April 29 entitled By Women, For Women, About Women at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts Center’s Harwood Recital Hall. The performance features music that is either written by a woman, written for a woman, written about a woman, or any combination of these elements, according to Dr. Ryan Fox, director of choral activities.

The centerpiece of the concert is Stabat mater by the Italian Romantic composer Giuseppe Verdi. Performed by the Concert Choir, Stabat mater is accompanied by an instrumental ensemble of faculty from Henderson and Ouachita Baptist University, along with HSU students.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Fox at (870) 230-5053 or foxr@hsu.edu.

The Henderson Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Steve Knight, performed its final concert of the spring semester Wednesday evening in Arkansas Hall. Upcoming Department of Music performances include: NuFusion, April 19; Brass Band, April 24; Concert Band, April 28; Chamber Chorale, Concert Choir and Women’s Choir, April 29; Chamber Orchestra, May 1; and Symphony Band, May 1.

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Cover Band, the program will feature wind music that draws musical material from pre-existing sources. The concert will also feature Henderson music professor Dr. Laura Storm, soprano, in a performance of Frank Ticheli’s Angels in the Architecture.

The program also includes: Chester; Trauermusick; March No. 1 in F; Geschwindmarsch; and Pastime. The concert is free and open to the public. It can also be viewed live online at www.hsuband.com.

NuFusion, Henderson State University’s exciting student jazz ensemble, will perform a free concert outdoors on Henderson’s Quad Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m. The performance will feature a wide range of music, much which was arranged by students.

“This is a great family event,” said Dr. Rick Dimond, director of the group. “We encourage an audience of all ages to bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks.”

NuFusion includes about 20 student musicians and features a standard big band horn and rhythm section with lead and background vocalists. This year’s concert will feature music by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Earth Wind and Fire, One Republic, Dire Straits, Led Zepplin, Cee Lo Green, Jimmy Hendrix, some original works, and much more. Henderson music professor Bill Higgins will be featured as a guest artist.

The Quad area is located between the Garrison Center and Russell Fine Arts building. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Garrison Center Day Gym. For more information, please call Dimond at (870) 230-5016.

Henderson State University’s Friends of Music will present its second annual gala on April 14 in the Russell Fine Arts building. The gala serves as the annual membership drive for the Friends of Music, an organization that provides financial assistance to Henderson’s music department.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. with refreshments in the lobby of Harwood Recital Hall, followed by a recital of student soloists and chamber ensembles at 3:30 p.m. Henderson’s bands and choirs will perform at 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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Justin Montigne, a countertenor and yoga instructor, will be in residency at Henderson State University April 9-11 for a recital and a series of workshops. The SingAsana workshops will help Henderson student singers find greater ease and vitality in their singing through better alignment. Montigne will present a recital featuring the works of Schubert, Quilter, Purcell, and Britten on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts recital hall. The recital is free and open to the public.

Montigne is a versatile singer who is accomplished in many styles and time periods of music, including solo, collaborative, and choral capacities. He sang alto for three years with the acclaimed male vocal ensemble, Chanticleer, with whom he performed and recorded a wide variety of works in venues around the United States and the world, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, Disney Concert hall in Los Angeles, The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Musikverein in Vienna.

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Orlando Riveros

Piano students at Henderson State University will showcase their talents at two concerts as part of the spring Piano Concert Series. Sophomore Orlando Riveros will collaborate with a visiting piano student from the famed Oberlin Conservatory of Music on March 27. And other Henderson piano students will play a recital on March 28 celebrating American piano music.

Clara Yunjoo Lee, a junior at the Oberlin Conservatory, will spend her spring break at Henderson interacting with the piano students and rehearsing with them. On March 27, she will perform three selections, and Riveros will follow with two selections. They will then perform together.

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Henderson State University’s Department of Music will present a performance by the DDG Oboe Trio on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, which will be in the Russell Fine Arts recital hall, is free and open to the public.

The trio of Leanna Booze, Lorraine Duso Kitts and Beth Wheeler began playing together in 2010 and has given numerous performances throughout Central Arkansas. In addition to playing the staples of the double reed trio repertoire, the three musicians commission and perform new music. The group is collaborating with composer Stephen Berg on a new project. They were recently invited to perform in June at the International Double Reed Conference.

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Paul Berkowitz

Henderson State University’s music department will host a performance by renowned Canadian pianist Paul Berkowitz on April 1. Berkowitz concentrates his efforts on the quintessential Romantic piano literature written by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms. He has recorded works by these composers on Meridian Records to worldwide acclaim.

Berkowitz’s performance at Henderson will include the complete Impromptus by Schubert, and Klavierstucke by Brahms. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. On April 2, Berkowitz will work with three piano students in an open master class from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Both events will be held in the Russell Fine Arts Building recital hall at 604 North 12th St. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Henderson State University’s Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Steve Knight, will present a concert on March 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Hall auditorium. The program, entitled This World Alive, will feature a new work by the same name. This World Alive, with music composed by Steve Danyew and a film by Cuyler Bryant, is a unique mixed-media experience inspired by the photography of Ansel Adams.

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Henderson State University’s Department of Music will host a recital by bassoonist Scott Pool and pianist Tina Gorter on Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Fine Arts recital hall. The program will include music by Sergi Rachmaninoff, Camille Saint-Saens, Katherine Hoover, and Dr. Phillip Schroeder.

The recital, sponsored by the students of the Composition Studio at Henderson, is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the program. Pool and Gorter will also read and record five works by Henderson student composers on Feb. 18 from 7-9 p.m. in the recital hall.

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Henderson State University choirs will present Music from the Commonwealth March 3 in the Russell Fine Arts recital hall at 3 p.m. The performance features music originating in countries that are or once were part of the British Commonwealth, including: Sing Joyfully by W. Byrd; Come Ye Sons of Art by H. Purcell; Three Irish Folk Songs by Craig Courtney; Dubula by Stephen Hatfield; Fix’d in his Everlasting Seat by G. Handel; Boony Wood Green by Hatfield; and Joseph Flummerfelt’s beautiful arrangement of the famous English folksong Danny Boy.

The concert will also feature student soloists Paige Chastain of Benton, Jordan Murdock of Bryant, Maria Pinkerton of Bryant, Lisa Ridgeway of Cabot, and Caleb Washington of Little Rock. Admission is free and open to the public.

Pictured, from left, are: Matthew Walker, Joshua Hill, Corey Barta, Dr. Glen Jones, Orlando Riveros and Hunter Mabery.

Some of Henderson State’s most talented student musicians performed Tuesday at the annual President’s Concert. Joshua Hill opened the concert with a marimba performance. He was followed by Matthew Walker, countertenor; Corey Barta, flute; Hunter Mabery, piano; and Orlando Riveros, piano. The students were selected from among 21 who auditioned for the concert. Henderson President Dr. Glen Jones was this year’ honoree.