DENTON (UNT), Texas -- The spring semester is winding down, but the University of North Texas College of Music is gearing up for a busy April. This month brings an African cultural festival, choral and orchestral performances, and a famed jazz singer who has toured with Sting and Paul Simon. Below are a few highlights followed by a complete calendar of April performances.

• The annual African Cultural Festival, "The Africans are Coming," returns to the Paul Voertman Concert Hall for its 19th year at 8 p.m. on April 2 (Saturday). There will be music, dancing, drumming and a special performance by The Afrikania Cultural Troupe from Ghana, West Africa. Tickets, available at the door, are $20 for adults or $10 for UNT students who present their student ID.
• The UNT A Cappella Choir will join College of Music faculty for a performance of Stravinsky's "Les Noces." The complex and exciting work requires four pianos, a large percussion ensemble, four soloists and the A Capella Choir. There also will be a mix of classical and contemporary pieces including songs from Brahms and modern composer David Knaggs. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday) in the Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, non-UNT students, children (12 and under), UNT faculty, staff and retirees, and groups of 10 or more; and are free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT students may pick up their ticket in person at the Murchison Box Office.
• Australian-born singer Jo Lawry joins the UNT Jazz Singers April 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday) for two nights of vocal jazz artistry with freshly penned student and faculty arrangements of Lawry's music. The New York-based singer has become well-known to audiences through her work as a backing vocalist for Sting and Paul Simon. The performances will be held in the Paul Voertman Concert Hall in the Music Building. Tickets cost $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, non-UNT students, children (12 and under), UNT faculty, staff and retirees, and groups of 10 or more; and are free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT students may pick up their ticket in person at the Murchison Box Office.
• In celebration of UNT's 125th anniversary, the UNT Concert Orchestra will perform "Suite for an Anniversary," an original composition by Grammy nominee Richard DeRosa, associate professor and director of jazz composition/arranging. The instrumentation includes a full orchestra mixed with classical and jazz performers, an additional jazz rhythm section, and an improvising saxophonist. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. April 20 (Wednesday) in the Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, non-UNT students, children (12 and under), UNT faculty, staff and retirees, and groups of 10 or more; and are free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT students may pick up their ticket in person at the Murchison Box Office.
• Música Ibérica will be performed by the Baroque Orchestra and Collegium Singers at 8 p.m. on April 22 (Friday). The program will include a notable mass by Italian composer Giovanni Felice Sances. The uplifting performance will feature two trumpets, four trombones, strings and seven vocal parts that alternate between soloists and the full choir. Música Ibérica will be held in the Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, non-UNT students, children (12 and under), UNT faculty, staff and retirees, and groups of 10 or more; and are free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT students may pick up their ticket in person at the Murchison Box Office.
• Haydn's "The Creation" will be performed at 8 p.m. on April 27 (Wednesday) by the Symphony Orchestra, along with the 150-voice Grand Chorus. The three-part work depicts the creation of the universe, planets, animals, and man narrated by three archangel soloists. The work, which will be performed in the Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, was inspired by the book of Genesis and John Milton's "Paradise Lost." Tickets cost $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, non-UNT students, children (12 and under), UNT faculty, staff and retirees, and groups of 10 or more; and are free for UNT students with valid ID. UNT students may pick up their ticket in person at the Murchison Box Office.

Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall is located in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, located at 2100 Interstate 35E. Paul Voertman Concert Hall is in the Music Building, located at 415 S. Avenue C.

For a full list of UNT College of Music events, including recitals by faculty and students, visit the online calendar. Connect with the College of Music on Facebook and on Twitter at @UNTCoM.

For ticket information for performances at the Murchison Performing Arts Center, call the box office at 940-369-7802 or visit the center's website. Some concerts are streamed live online.

Complete list of College of Music events in April:

8 p.m. April 2 (Saturday)
African Cultural Festival
Gideon Alorwoyie, coordinator
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Tickets: $20/$10

5 p.m. April 3 (Sunday)
Avenue C Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Justin Binek, director
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

7:30 p.m. April 4 (Monday)
Brass Band
Nicholas E. Williams, conductor
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 4 (Monday)
Guest Artist and Faculty Recital
Logos String Quartet
Espen Lilleslåtten and Roxana Pavel Goldstein, violin; Elias Goldstein, viola; Dennis Parker, cello; James Ryon, oboe
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 5 (Tuesday)
Faculty Recital
Fred Hamilton and Friends
Fred Hamilton, double bass
Kenton Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 5 (Tuesday)
Faculty Recital
Jeff Bradetich and Friends
Cynthia Roberts, violin; Susan Dubois, viola; Allen Whear, cello; Jeff Bradetich, double bass; Christoph Hammer, fortepiano
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 5 (Tuesday)
University Singers and Concert Choir
Greg Hobbs and Dwight Jilek, conductors
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

9 p.m. April 5 (Tuesday)
Tuesday Night Jazz Series
Latin Jazz Lab
University Union Syndicate
Free

8 p.m. April 6 (Wednesday)
Symphony Orchestra
David Itkin, conductor
Schumann, Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major; Sibelius, Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

9 p.m. April 6 (Wednesday)
Wednesday Night Jazz Series
Five O'Clock Lab Band
Rigo Velez, director
Four O'Clock Lab Band
Garrett Wingfield, director
University Union Syndicate
Free

Noon April 7 (Thursday)
Guest Artist Lecture
Elsa Verdehr, clarinet; Walter Verdehr, violin
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 7 (Thursday)
UNT Opera and Baroque Orchestra present Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)
New edition by Hendrik Schulze and UNT students
Paul Leenhouts, conductor
David Ward, stage director
"In the Know" pre-performance lecture at 7:15 p.m.
Lyric Theater, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $35/$25/$15

8 p.m. April 7 (Thursday)
Zebras Contemporary Jazz Ensemble
Aaron Hedenstrom, director
Kenton Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 8 (Friday)
UNT Opera and Baroque Orchestra present Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)
New edition by Hendrik Schulze and UNT students
Paul Leenhouts, conductor
David Ward, stage director
"In the Know" pre-performance lecture at 7:15 p.m.
Lyric Theater, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $35/$25/$15

5 p.m. April 9 (Saturday)
Afro-Cuban/Brazilian/UNT Latin Jazz Ensembles
José Aponte, director
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 9 (Saturday)
UNT Opera and Baroque Orchestra present Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)
New edition by Hendrik Schulze and UNT students
Paul Leenhouts, conductor
David Ward, stage director
"In the Know" pre-performance lecture at 7:15 p.m.
Lyric Theater, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $35/$25/$15

3 p.m. April 10 (Sunday)
UNT Opera and Baroque Orchestra present Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)
New edition by Hendrik Schulze and UNT students
Paul Leenhouts, conductor
David Ward, stage director
"In the Know" pre-performance lecture at 2:15 p.m.
Lyric Theater, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $35/$25/$15

8 p.m. April 11 (Monday)
Night of Percussion
Classical Percussion Ensembles
Christopher Deane and Tim Feerst, directors
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

6:30 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday)
Guest Artist Recital
Scott Roeder, tuba; Brendan Kinsella, piano
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday)
Guest Artist Master Class
Scott Roeder, tuba
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday)
A Cappella Choir
Richard Sparks, conductor
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday)
Nova Ensemble
Elizabeth McNutt, coordinator
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

9 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday)
Tuesday Night Jazz Series
Jazz Combo Night
U-Tubes
University Union Syndicate
Free

7:30 p.m. April 13 (Wednesday)
Concert Band and University Band
Kelly Desjardins and Jacqueline Townsend, directors
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 13 (Wednesday)
Ružević Cello Studio
CelloBellisimo
Nikola Ružević, director
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

9 p.m. April 13 (Wednesday)
Wednesday Night Jazz Series
Seven O'Clock Lab Band
Elliot Scozzaro, director
Six O'Clock Lab Band
Conner Eisenmenger, director
University Union Syndicate
Free

6:30 p.m. April 14 (Thursday)
UNT Classical Guitar Ensemble
Thomas Johnson, director
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

7:30 p.m. April 14 (Thursday)
Wind Symphony
Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 15 (Friday) and 8 p.m. April 16 (Saturday)
Jazz Singers
Jo Lawry, jazz vocalist
Jennifer Barnes, director
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 16 (Saturday)
Faculty Recital
Kirsten Broberg, composer
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 18 (Monday)
Osadchy Cello Studio
Viva Celli
Eugene Osadchy, director
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 19 (Tuesday)
Men's and Women's Choruses
Dean Jilek and Matthew Brady, conductors
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 19 (Tuesday)
Third Street Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Ryan Howe, director
Kenton Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 19 (Tuesday)
Center for Chamber Music Studies
George Papich, coordinator
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 20 (Wednesday)
Concert Orchestra
Clay Couturiaux, conductor
Richard DeRosa, Suite for an Anniversary [commissioned by UNT Celebrating 125 years]
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

9 p.m. April 20 (Wednesday)
Wednesday Night Jazz Series
Nine O'Clock Lab Band
Luke Wingfield, director
Eight O'Clock Lab Band
Payton Stevens, director
University Union Syndicate
Free

8 p.m. April 21 (Thursday)
Global Rhythms
Guest Artist Andy Narell, steel drum
Various Percussion Ensembles
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

1 p.m. April 22 (Friday)
Guest Artist Clinic
Andy Narell, steel drum
Recital Hall, Music Building
Tickets: $5 (at the door)

3 p.m. April 22 (Friday)
UNT Opera presents Project X
Lyric Theater, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Free

8 p.m. April 22 (Friday)
Baroque Orchestra and Collegium Singers
Musica Iberica
Works by Cabanilles, Soler, Scarlatti, Durón et al.
Paul Leenhouts and Richard Sparks, conductors
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 23 (Saturday)
UNT Music Library 75th Anniversary Concert
Arturo Ortega, coordinator
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 25 (Monday)
Spectrum
Presented by Composers Forum
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

6:30 p.m. April 26 (Tuesday)
Flute Ensemble
Daniel Pardo, director
Voertman Hall, Music Building
Free

5 p.m. April 27 (Wednesday)
A Recital in Honor of Professor Gene Cho
Hosted by the Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology Division
Mark Spicer, guest lecturer
Recital Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 27 (Wednesday)
Symphony Orchestra and Grand Chorus
Haydn, The Creation
Richard Sparks, conductor
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

7:30 p.m. April 28 (Thursday)
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble
Dennis W. Fisher and Nicholas E. Williams, conductors
Winspear Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10/$8

8 p.m. April 28 (Thursday)
West End Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Andrew Evangelista, director
Camille DeVore, assistant director
Kenton Hall, Music Building
Free

8 p.m. April 29 (Friday) and 8 p.m. April 30 (Saturday)
Student Chamber Music Concert Series
Nikola Ružević, coordinator
Voertman and Recital halls, Music Building
Free

About the UNT College of Music
The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the world. Approximately 1,500 music students attend the college each year, participating in nearly 70 widely varied ensembles while engaged in specialized studies in performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, music history, music theory or ethnomusicology. Music students, alumni and faculty have made appearances on the world's finest stages, have produced numerous recordings with many receiving Grammy awards and nominations, and have written influential texts in a variety of areas in music scholarship. Distinguished University alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities, and schools.