DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The University of North Texas College of Music announces a dynamic Fall 2012 season featuring more than 45 student ensemble concerts, 14 faculty recitals, first-rate guest artists and numerous recitals featuring student performers and composers.

The UNT College of Music presents more concerts than any other organization in North Texas, averaging more than 1000 events each academic year. The fall season includes something for every type of listener, from family-friendly holiday concerts and first-rate jazz concerts to stunning operatic and symphonic performances.

"Each season of events at the College of Music brings its own magic," said James Scott, dean of the UNT College of Music. "Our fall season is especially remarkable for the musical collaborations that are taking place, including those among guest artists and our own musicians as well as those deriving from institutional partnerships with the Dallas Symphony and the Sichuan Conservatory. The quality and variety of fall offerings at UNT should attract music lovers to our campus every week of the season."

Fall 2012 Highlights

• A Gift of Music - 8 p.m. Sept. 7 (Friday)
• Fall Festival of Orchestras - Sept. 21 (Friday) to Oct. 14 (Sunday)
• Jazz at UNT
• Choral Music at UNT
• Early Music at UNT
• Gounod's Roméet Juliette - 3 p.m. Nov 11 and 18 (Sundays) and 8 p.m. Nov. 16

A Gift of Music
At 8 p.m. on Sept. 7 (Friday) in Winspear Hall, the College of Music will offer a special free concert exploring many of the genres and styles to be heard throughout the fall season. Titled A Gift of Music: A mosaic in sound showcasing superb College of Music students and ensembles, the program will range from Brahms to Broadway and from a jazz trio to the A Capella choir.

"It is not often that such a variety of College of Music ensembles and musical styles is represented in one concert," said James Scott, dean of the UNT College of Music. "We invite area residents to enjoy this free concert as a gift from the College of Music to our community."

Fall Festival of Orchestras – Sept. 21 (Friday) to Oct. 14 (Sunday)
Over a span of about three weeks this fall, the College of Music will present six concerts of orchestral music in Winspear Hall, beginning with a program by David Itkin and the UNT Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. on Sept. 21 featuring two of the repertoire's most celebrated concerti. UNT Regents Professor Adam Wodnicki will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, and the orchestra itself is featured in Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra.

"In the fall of 2011 the UNT Symphony performed Stravinsky's Rite of Spring to a capacity crowd, and this fall they will offer one of the other masterworks of the twentieth century, Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra," said Itkin. "Performing a work like the Bartók is a major event in the lives of young musicians, and I'm looking forward to a stunning performance."

At 8 p.m. on Oct. 3 (Wednesday), Clay Couturiaux and the UNT Concert Orchestra perform Ravel's arrangement of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, followed closely by the 8 p.m. Oct. 5 (Friday) performance Early Music from France by the UNT Baroque Orchestra and Collegium Singers led by Paul Leenhouts and Richard Sparks.

East meets west at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8 (Monday) in an evening of symphonic music by the Sichuan Conservatory of Music Orchestra led by conductors David Wong and Qiyuan Zhu, in which Western classical music shares the bill with works by Chinese composers, including the world premiere of the Bamboo Flute Concerto by Ke Yi and Yi Jia Yi.

In a continuation of a 65-year partnership, UNT hosts the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 (Tuesday) for a program including Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 and the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 performed by UNT alumnus and DSO principal cellist Christopher Adkins.

Finally, the College of Music Gala, Symphony Meets Jazz, will be held at 4 p.m. on Oct. 14 (Sunday). This program of symphonic music, jazz and American standards features original arrangements by UNT's Richard DeRosa along with jazz-inspired music of Gershwin and Bernstein. All will be performed by the UNT Symphony Orchestra under David Itkin, joining forces with an array of vocal and instrumental soloists, leading to a grand finale that adds the Jazz Singers and A Cappella Choir.

"One of the many unique features of the UNT College of Music is the extraordinary breadth and expertise of its faculty," said Itkin. "The Symphony has the opportunity to benefit from that in our College of Music Gala, as we collaborate with arranger Rich DeRosa in this special ‘symphony meets jazz' concert."

Jazz at UNT
UNT's Division of Jazz Studies has an active semester planned. Early in the semester, the One O'Clock Lab Band celebrates the release of its new album Lab 2012 with a performance at 9 p.m. Sept. 5 (Wednesday) in the Syndicate at the University Union, located one block west of Welch and Prairie streets in Denton, Texas. For their major concert of the semester at 8 p.m. on Nov. 20 (Tuesday) in Winspear Hall, they collaborate with jazz guitarist Mike Stern, who is known for his performances with Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, the Yellowjackets and many other renowned jazz artists.

"In addition to the November 20 concert with Mike Stern and the "Symphony Meets Jazz" concert for the College of Music Gala, I'm also very excited about the Jazz Repertory Ensemble's performances of music by the Woody Herman band on October 11," said John Murphy, chair of the Division of Jazz Studies.

Choral Music at UNT
The famed A Cappella Choir, led by Jerry McCoy, will begin its season with a "Bon Voyage" concert at 8 p.m. on Sept. 9 (Sunday) in Winspear Hall, just before their departure for a major performance at the International Choral Festival in Daejeon, South Korea. The ensemble is the only American choir invited to participate, and they will perform alongside professional groups from Germany, Taiwan, South Korea and a world-famous children's chorus from Norway.

Another major choral event this fall is the debut performance of the University Singers, a new 60-voice choir, at 8 p.m. on Nov. 19 (Monday).

Early Music at UNT
UNT has one of the largest and most active centers for the performance of early music in the country. This semester's performances begin with a faculty recital by Jennifer Lane, mezzo soprano; Paul Leenhouts, recorder; Cynthia Roberts, baroque violin; Allen Whear, baroque cello; and Christoph Hammer, fortepiano; at 8 p.m. on Sept. 17 (Monday) in Voertman Hall.

Hammer will also perform on fortepiano with guest artist Dorothea Seel on Boehm flute in a recital titled Blaue Blume at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 (Sunday) in Voertman Hall.

The Baroque Orchestra and Collegium Singers present a pair of concerts featuring early music from France at Oct. 5 (Friday) and England on Nov. 2 (Friday), both at 8 p.m., followed by a program of chamber music at 8 p.m. on Nov. 28 (Wednesday) in Voertman Hall.

Gounod's Roméo et Juliette
The University of North Texas Opera is nationally recognized, having earned first place in the National Opera Association's Opera Production Competition for its 2011 production of "Regina." This fall, UNT Opera takes on Gounod's Roméo and Juliette, in a production directed by Paula Homer and conducted by Stephen Dubberly with the UNT Symphony Orchestra. Performances are at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 and 18 (both Sunday) and at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 (Friday) in the Lyric Theater at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. An "In the Know" pre-concert lecture begins 45 minutes prior to each performance.

Seasonal Celebrations
The College of Music has two holiday concerts planned for this fall, beginning with a special "Halloween Spooktacular" with Clay Couturiaux and the Concert Orchestra. The lighthearted concert, at 8:00 p.m. Oct. 31 (Wednesday) in Winspear Hall, features dancers from the Tuzer Ballet and musicians performing in costume.

UNT's Holiday Concert at 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 30 (Friday) in Winspear Hall, brings together the A Cappella Choir, University Singers and Concert Choir with faculty soloists for a musical celebration of the season.

For the full roster of recitals and concerts by faculty, students and guest artists, visit the UNT College of Music online events calendar. Pricing for ticketed events can be found at www.theMPAC.com.

For more information, contact Rachel Yoder: 940-369-5962

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country. About 1,500 music students attend UNT each year, participating in more than 40 widely varied ensembles and pursuing specialized studies in performance, composition, music education or music scholarship. UNT faculty members and students have made appearances on the world's finest stages and have produced numerous recordings, many receiving Grammy awards and nominations. Distinguished UNT alumni can be found around the globe, in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities and schools.