UNCA Music Department Continues Fall Concert Season

Funky jazz, choral arrangements and upbeat percussion highlight the UNCA Music Department’s November concerts. All events are open to the public.

-- The University Singers accompanied by UNCA’s String Ensemble will give a performance of Luigi Cherubinis’ "Requiem in C Minor" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Basilicia of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., Asheville. The choir and ensemble will be directed by Chuck Taft. Steven Cooper will be featured on piano. Admission is free.

-- UNCA’s Community Chorus and the choir of St. Eugene Catholic Church will join in performing Dave Brubeck’s "To Hope! A Celebration" at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St., Asheville. The choruses will be joined by two soloists, a brass quintet, percussion, strings, a jazz combo, pipe organ and keyboard. A $10 donation is suggested. Due to limited seating, patrons are urged to make their donation in advance to the chorus members, Parish of St. Eugene office or UNCA’s Music Department Office.

-- UNCA’s Percussion Ensemble will perform a variety of significant and challenging percussion works at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Hall room 018. "October Mountain" by Alan Hovhaness, "A La Naningo" by Mitchell Peters and "Ritmica No. 5 and 6" by Amadeo Roldan will be among the featured highlights. A $5 donation to benefit the music department will be suggested at the door.

-- Accomplished trombonist David Vining, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music professor, will appear in concert accompanied by local pianist Virginia McKnight at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Vining will perform sonatas by Gottfried Finger and Juraj Filas as well as a concerto by Kazimierz Serocki. A $5 donation to benefit the music department will be suggested at the door.

-- UNCA’s Community Jazz Band will present its 16th annual Fall Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. The 18-piece big band, made up of UNCA students and community musicians, will showcase a variety of musical styles, including arrangements of "Out of Nowhere," "Brazil," "Body and Soul" and "Hey Good Lookin’." A $5 donation to benefit the music department will be suggested at the door.

-- UNCA’s Student Jazz Ensemble and the new 11-piece UNCA Jazz Lab Big Band will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Featuring soprano sax, a rhythm section and vocals, the Jazz Ensemble will feature samples from traditional jazz. The Lab Band will introduce exciting new big band arrangements of jazz favorites, as well as original compositions written by the UNCA jazz faculty and students. A $5 donation to benefit the music department will be suggested at the door.

-- UNCA’s Student Guitar Ensemble will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Consisting of guitars, bass and drums, the ensemble will feature new arrangements by UNCA Jazz Studies Director Tim Haden. The Monty Craig Project, fronted by UNCA alumnus Monty Craig, will join the Ensemble to demonstrate new musical directions in jazz performance. A $5 donation to benefit the music department will be suggested at the door.

For more information, contact the UNCA Music Department at 828/251-6432.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Charles McKnight, UNCA Music Department Chair, 828/251-6489
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant, 828/251-6526