ISSUED: 15 November 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Cecelia Mason
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s School of Music Community Music Division will present two concerts in early December that will showcase the talents of program participants.
December 5 Recorder Ensemble and Youth Chorus
The Recorder Ensemble and Youth Chorus will perform on Tuesday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank Arts Center Theater.
The Shepherd Community Recorder Ensemble is directed by Andrea Diggs, adjunct professor for flute at Shepherd. Ensemble members are comprised of adult musicians from the community, faculty, and students. Pieces included in the program are “Two Fantasias” by Johann Jakob Froberger and “Variations on La Folia” arranged by J.C. Schickhardt.
The Shepherd Youth Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Austin Showen, will have two chorus groups performing. The program will include a variety of songs from around the world, such as “Haida and Toembai” from Israel, “Pitter Patter” from Ghana, “Four White Horses” from the Caribbean, “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
December 6 Community Orchestra and Sinfonia
The Community Orchestra and Sinfonia will perform on Wednesday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank Center Theater.
Sinfonia is a learning string ensemble under the direction of Shepherd alumna Renee Shaw Nutwell and is made up of both students and adult musicians from the community. The program will include “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych as arranged by Peter Martin, “Air and Dance” by Peter Martin, “Gregorian Christmas” by Elliot Del Borgo, and “Skaters’ Waltz” as arranged by Richard Meyer and Emile Waldteufel.
The Shepherd Community Orchestra is under the direction of Camilo Pérez-Mejía, adjunct professor for cello. The Shepherd Community Orchestra is comprised of middle and high school string students from Jefferson and Berkeley counties, as well as Washington County, Maryland, community adult string players, Shepherd faculty, and string, brass, woodwind, and percussion musicians from the Shepherd University School of Music program.
The orchestra will perform “Toccata & Ritornello” from “Orfeo” by Claudio Monteverdi, scene and dances from “The Three-Cornered Hat” by Manuel de Falla, “Fugue for Small Orchestra from Symphony no. 4” by Charles Ives, and “Overture from Ruslan and Ludmila” by Mikhail Glinka.
Admission to each community music concert is $7, and free for Shepherd students with a valid Rambler ID.
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