Treat for music lovers: Two days, three concerts, six acts

Treat for music lovers: Two days, three concerts, six acts

Enjoy a weekend of great music at Grove City College with three concerts featuring performances by the College’s award-winning musicians and singers on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30.

The shows, held in conjunction with Grove City College’s annual Family Weekend celebration, offer something for most every musical taste and all are free and open to the public.

• The Grove City College Singers will take the stage at 6 p.m. Friday in the Arnold Recital Hall of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus.

The all-female choral ensemble performs sacred and secular music in varied genres. The concert features selections by female composers, including Alice Parker’s “Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal” and Eleanor Daley’s “The Lake Isle of Innisfree.”

The Singers are under the direction of Dr. Stacy Paparone ’93, assistant professor of Music, and student director Rebecca Shakely ’16.

• The Grove City College Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Director of Bands Dr. Joseph M. Pisano ’94, professor and assistant chair of Music, present their spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center.

The show features award-winning American composer and arranger – and Grove City alumnus – Dr. Travis J. Weller ’95 conducting a number of his works, including: “Festival and Ballade for Winds” and “Monsters of Myth.”

The Wind Ensemble will be performing the world premiere of Weller’s “Fanfare for Years to Come,” which is dedicated to Pisano and the Grove City College Band program and based upon the college’s official hymn “O God Our Help in Ages Past.” The ensemble will also perform selections by Derek Bourgeois and Stan Applebaum.

The Symphonic Band will close the concert with Steven Reineke’s “Portrait of Freedom” and feature student conductor Amanda J. Casto ’17 conducting Samuel Hazo’s “Olympiada.” Doors open at 7 p.m.

• The Grove City College Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band hold their spring concert at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center, showcasing a variety of jazz styles and a spectacular light show and stage display.

The Stage Band will open the concert with a program that features: “The Incredibles,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “Birdland” and Ray Charles’ “Halleluiah, I Love Her So.” The Jazz Ensemble will play tunes from multiple jazz genres, including “Boplicity,” “CuBauza” and Bill Strayhorn’s “Upper Manhattan Medical Group.” The College Jazz Trio, featuring Alex Stewart ’16 on set, Karl Egeland ’16 on bass and Logan Hamilton ’17 on piano, will begin playing prior to the start of the concert at 1 p.m.

The ensembles are directed by Pisano with assistance from student directors Tyler Engel ’16, Bruce Passeratti ’16 and Adam Snowden ’17.

Parking for the concerts is available adjacent to the Pew Fine Arts Center and is also free of charge. Additional information is available by calling the Department of Music at Grove City College at 724-458-2084. For more information on the Grove City College Department of Music visit www.gcc.edu/musi.