Performances by students, both solo and in ensembles, as well as accomplished faculty and guest artists, have been announced for fall 2016 by the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music.
Faculty and students in the department perform in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center and in Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall, as well as around the globe. Many performances are free, and those that are ticketed help support the department’s programs, including UAB Concert Choir, UAB Opera and the UAB Gospel Choir.
The Department of Music student ensembles consist of about 100 music majors and approximately 100 more students from many other majors, representing all colleges and schools at UAB, says Chair Patrick Evans, D.M.
Eric ZuberThis fall, the UAB Piano Series will present Eric Zuber on Sunday, Oct. 23. On the program are works by Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. Zuber rose to international acclaim in 2007 after winning the Gold Medal in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. More prizes followed in Seoul and Sydney in 2008, Dublin in 2009, at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master and Cleveland International Piano Competitions in 2011, at Honens in 2012, and another Gold Medal at the Bosendorfer International Piano Competition in 2013. He was awarded the Arthur Rubinstein Prize by The Juilliard School, and has twice received the Gina Bachauer Prize at Juilliard.
The UAB Gospel Choir will present “The Classics” at its 21st anniversary concert, on Monday, Nov. 14, at the Alys Stephens Center. Directed by Kevin P. Turner, the evening will feature songs that have stood the test of time. Turner guarantees this concert will have the audience singing along with the choir from start to finish.
Continuing the Department of Music’s collaboration with Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, the fourth Chamber Music @ AEIVA on Thursday, Nov. 17, will feature a concert in the gallery in conjunction with the exhibition “Luis Cruz Azaceta: War and Other Disasters.” The free Chamber Music @ AEIVA event includes a reception at 5 p.m., followed by a concert at 5:30 p.m. On the program are Dmitri Shostakovich, Piano Trio No. 2, to be performed by Yakov Kasman, piano; Pei-ju Wu, violin; and Laura Usiskin, cello; and Kurt Weill, “Walt Whitman Songs,” to be performed by Patrick Evans, baritone; and Chris Steele, piano.
UAB Opera will present “Amahl and the Night Visitors” on Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18, in the Alys Stephens Center. The opera, written by Gian Carlo Menotti, is the story of a crippled shepherd boy who tells his mother he has seen an enormous star with a long tail. His mother believes he is lying and grows angry; but a knock at the door reveals three kings who have come with gifts, seeking a newborn child. Amahl offers his crutch as an additional gift, and suddenly finds that he can walk. He leaves with the kings to pay homage to the child who has healed him. Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, DMA, directs the production.
Christmas at the Alys, an annual choral celebration which began in 2001, has welcomed thousands of young choral singers from schools throughout the Birmingham community to perform together with UAB Choirs. This year, the event is set for Monday, Dec. 5, and will feature traditional holiday favorites and standard choral classics.
UAB Department of Music’s fall performance season:
Tuesday, Sept. 13
UAB Music Faculty Recital featuring James Zingara, trumpet, with Chris Steele, pianist, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Kristine Hurst-WajszczukUAB Department of Music presents a Faculty Potpourri Recital, 12:20 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Thursday, Sept. 22
Birmingham Art Music Alliance presents new works of music by Birmingham-area composers and artists, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. For ticket information, call 205-934-8056. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Friday, Sept. 23
UAB Music Guest Artist recital featuring soprano Polly Butler Cornelius and pianist James Douglass, 7:30 p.m., UAB's Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Both international performers, the duo will present a concert featuring Spanish and contemporary American repertoire. Cornelius is coordinator of vocal studies at Elon University where she works with music and music theater majors. Douglass is head of collaborative piano studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Monday, Sept. 26
UAB Faculty Recital featuring Lisa Wienhold, flute, and Chris Steele, pianist, 7 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
UAB Student Recital featuring advanced students in the Department of Music, with Chris Steele, pianist, 12:20 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Saturday, Oct. 15
The National Association of Composers, USA (Mid-South Chapter) presents new music by regional composers, 7:30 p.m., UAB's Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Friday, Oct. 21
UAB Choirs in concert, 7 p.m., in Southside Baptist Church, 11th Avenue South at 19th Street. Conducted by Brian Kittredge. A donation of $5 is suggested. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Sunday, Oct. 23
UAB Piano Series presents Eric Zuber, 4 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall. Hailed as an “irresistibly fluid” and “illuminating” pianist by The New York Times and Cleveland Plain Dealer, Zuber is established as one of the leaders of a new generation of American pianism. On the program are works by Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. Read more at www.ericzuberpiano.com. Tickets are $15; $5 for students through grade 12 and UAB employees; free to UAB students. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
UAB Student Recital featuring advanced students in the Department of Music, with Chris Steele, pianist, 12:20 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Thursday, Oct. 27
UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band in concert, 7 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Conducted by Gene Fambrough, and Cara Morantz. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Sunday, Oct. 30
UAB Voice Studio Recital featuring the students of Won Cho, Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, and Paul Mosteller, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Nov. 2
UAB Jazz Ensemble in concert, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Morris K. Sirote Theatre. Directed by Steve Roberts. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Monday, Nov. 7
UAB Percussion Ensemble in concert, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Morris K. Sirote Theatre. Directed by Gene Fambrough. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Tuesday, Nov. 8
UAB Jazz Combos in concert, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Directed by Carlos Pino and Steve Roberts. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Nov. 9
UAB Brass Chamber Ensembles in concert, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Featuring Blazer Trumpets, Trombone Choir, Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble and other brass student ensembles. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Yakov KasmanThursday, Nov. 10
UAB Faculty Recital featuring Denise Gainey, clarinet, and Yakov Kasman, pianist, 7 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Friday, Nov. 11
UAB Computer Music Ensemble in concert, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Directed by Matthew Bryant and featuring new works of electro-acoustic music and multimedia by student composers. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Saturday, Nov. 12
UAB Music presents Nick Tyler Senior Trumpet Recital, with pianist Chris Steele, 3 p.m., UAB's Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Monday, Nov. 14
UAB Gospel Choir presents “The Classics” at 21st anniversary concert, 7 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Directed by Kevin Turner. Tickets are $7 general admission; $6 for UAB students, faculty and staff; and $6 each for groups of 20 or more with advance purchase. Call 205-975-2787 for ticket information. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Tuesday, Nov. 15
UAB Piano Studio and Piano Ensembles Recital, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Featuring the students of Yakov Kasman, with Piano Ensembles directed by Tatiana Kasman. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Wednesday, Nov. 16
UAB Student Recital, 12:20 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Featuring advanced students in the Department of Music, with Chris Steele, pianist. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Thursday, Nov. 17
Chamber Music @ AEIVA, reception at 5 p.m., concert at 5:30 p.m., in the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts. Continuing the Department of Music’s collaboration with AEIVA, the fourth Chamber Music @ AEIVA features a concert in the gallery in conjunction with the exhibition “Luis Cruz Azaceta: War and Other Disasters.” On the program are Dmitri Shostakovich, Piano Trio No. 2, to be performed by Yakov Kasman, piano; Pei-ju Wu, violin; and Laura Usiskin, cello; and Kurt Weill, “Walt Whitman Songs,” to be performed by Patrick Evans, baritone; and Chris Steele, piano. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Thursday, Nov. 17-Friday, Nov. 18
UAB Opera presents “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Sirote Theatre. Written by Gian Carlo Menotti, directed by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20, with $5 tickets available for any college student with an ID or anyone under 18. Advance purchase tickets are $10 each for groups of eight or more. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Tuesday, Nov. 29
UAB Music presents Elaine Liaw Senior Flute Recital, with pianist Chris Steele, 7:30 p.m., in UAB’s Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Middle School Honor Bands Concert, 2 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Featuring the best middle school musicians from around the area. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Christmas at the Alys Monday, Dec. 5
UAB Music’s Christmas at the Alys, 7 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Featuring the best of traditional holiday favorites and standard choral classics, the event is a celebration for the entire family. Directed by Brian Kittredge. Tickets are $8 general admission and $5 for all students. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.
Saturday, Dec. 10
High School Honor Bands Concert, 3 p.m., in UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Featuring the best high school musicians from around the area. Free. Call 205-934-7376 or visit www.uab.edu/cas/music.