What: “The Russians are Coming” a Symphonic Band concert featuring the music of Russian composers
When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 (Thursday).
Where: The Winspear Performance Hall, located in the Murchison Performing Arts Center at 2100 S. Interstate 35 E, Denton.
Cost: $10 adults, $8 senior citizens +55, non-UNT students, children, UNT faculty/staff/retirees and groups of 10+. Free to UNT students (student I.D. required).
Media: For image click here.
DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas College of Music will celebrate the music of Russian composers, some very familiar and some who are not typically featured in popular concert repertoire.
The concert will be performed by the UNT Symphonic Band, conducted by professor of music and associate director of wind studies, Dennis Fisher. A faculty member since 1982, Fisher is known for his extensive national and international experience as a conductor, arranger, clinician and consultant and has served as the principal guest conductor of the Volga Band, in Saratov, Russia since 2006.
“It is exciting to do an entire concert featuring Russian composers,” Fisher said. “To prepare, we brought in the composer and resident conductor of the Volga Band, Dennis Mariev, via Skype so that the students had the opportunity to collaborate with a Russian composer and experience the country’s culture.”
Mariev composed one of the pieces for the concert, Symphony No. 1, that will have its U.S. premier on Thursday.
“With more than 75 percent of the students performing with the Symphonic Band for the first time, I’m very proud of how they have grown in our short time together on this extremely demanding program,” Fisher said. “Attendees are sure to enjoy their exciting and exhilarating first concert of the season.”
For those who are unable to attend the concert in person, be sure to join us via live stream.
About the UNT College of Music
The College of Music is one of the nation’s largest and most respected comprehensive music schools. It offers fully accredited degrees from the bachelor to doctoral levels and is home to the world’s first jazz studies degree program. Faculty include internationally acclaimed artists and scholars in composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, music education, music entrepreneurship, music history, music theory performance and performing arts health. The college presents more than 1,100 concerts and recitals annually. UNT music alumni can be found around the globe in impressive, award-winning careers across a wide-range of music professions. Visit the College of Music online calendar at http://music.unt.edu/calendar and connect with the College of Music on Facebook at Facebook.com/UNTCollegeofMusic, and on Twitter at @UNTCoM
About the Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band has developed an exemplary national reputation for both their performances and recordings. The ensemble is dedicated to playing outstanding and challenging works of diverse musical styles while furthering wind music of artistic and historical significance. The Symphonic Band has released 12 compact disc recordings on the Mark, GIA, Klavier and Eurosound labels. The CD’s have been certified and accepted for entry in the Grammy’s more than a dozen times in three categories. Performances of these CD’s have been regularly featured on classical, NPR and syndicated radio broadcasts.