Captivating Performances Await at VCSU's Music Faculty Showcase

Valley City State University is thrilled to present an evening of captivating performances by its esteemed music faculty in the 2024 Fall Music Faculty Showcase. The showcase will take place on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall on the VCSU campus.

Immerse Yourself in the Diverse Talents of VCSU's Music Faculty

Klezmer-Inspired Clarinet Duet and Chopin's Nocturne

The concert will open with a dynamic performance by woodwinds professor Dr. Katrina Clements, who will be joined by President Alan LaFave. Together with Dr. Ozzie Johnson on piano, they will perform Konzertstück a la Feidman, a clarinet duet in a Klezmer style, featuring virtuosic cadenzas and familiar themes. In addition to playing with many of the faculty on the evening's recital, Dr. Ozzie Johnson will captivate the audience with his rendition of Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, a small masterpiece that showcases his exceptional piano skills.

Euphonium Tone Paintings and Brass Virtuosity

VCSU Director of Bands, Professor Jerrold Heide, will follow with a performance of Four Short Narratives for solo euphonium, a set of miniature tone paintings depicting different times of day. The night will continue with Dr. Kenneth Jimenez, chair of the VCSU Music Department, showcasing his talent on cornet and cornopean, a rarely performed French brass instrument, with an arrangement of Cavatine d'Anna Bolena by Donizetti and Conversation for Cornet by Clare Grundman.

Pushing the Boundaries of Performance Art

Dr. Taylor Long will take the stage with an eccentric and rhythmically intense work for hand gestures and synchronized tape by American composer Mark Applebaum, pushing the boundaries of performance art and captivating the audience with his unique and innovative approach.

Emotional Resonance with Mahler and Gershwin-Inspired Jazz

Rounding out the program with a stunning distillation of emotional energy, Dr. Stephen Cunningham will perform Ich bin der welt by Gustav Mahler, which is a setting of a poem by German poet Friedrich Rückert. The showcase will conclude on a lighthearted note with After You, Mr. Gershwin! by Béla Kovács, performed by Dr. Katrina Clements with Dr. Ozzie Johnson. This playful piece draws inspiration from early jazz and blues music, reminiscent of George Gershwin, offering a delightful, upbeat finale that will leave the audience energized and entertained.Attendees can look forward to an exciting evening of music, showcasing the diverse talents of VCSU's esteemed music faculty. The concert is free and open to the public, providing a unique opportunity to experience the exceptional artistry of these accomplished musicians.