Music Ensemble Performances 2017-18
Friday, October 27, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. (hosted by Phantoms)
Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. (hosted by GraceNotes)
(student-produced event)
DC A Cappella Festival
This annual event co-hosted by the Phantoms, GU’s first co-ed a cappella group, and the GraceNotes, GU’s first all-female a cappella group, features different guest groups each weekend. Programs include songs ranging from oldies to rock to pop, mixing traditional and eclectic styles and featuring debuts of new arrangements. Guest groups include (on Oct. 27) Naturally Sharp from Virginia Tech and (on November 11) The NYU N’Harmonics and The GW Vibes.
GASTON HALL, HEALY BUILDING
$10 GENERAL | $8 STUDENT
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Concert Choir
Prof. Frederick Binkholder, artistic director
Ballad of the Brown King
Music by Margaret Bonds
Text by Langston Hughes
This holiday concert features the nine-movement Christmas cantata Ballad of the Brown King, with music by African-American composer Margaret Bonds and text by writer Langston Hughes, her long-time collaborator. Frontpage dedication of the work notes that it is “Inspired by and Dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” This concert is part of the GU Concert Choir’s “A Year of Margaret Bonds,” which features works from the Special Collections Research Center at Georgetown University’s Lauinger Library, including Bonds’ and Hughes’ Easter cantata Simon Bore the Cross, which will have its world premiere on April 30.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Chamber Singers and GU Jazz Ensemble
Prof. Frederick Binkholder, artistic director: GU Chamber Singers
Prof. Aaron Broadus, music director: GU Jazz Ensemble
Jazz in the Chamber
Join the Georgetown University Jazz Ensemble and Chamber singers as they present an exciting evening of choral music and jazz, including a combined performance of works by Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Thad Jones and Jimmy McHugh.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
$5 GENERAL | FREE STUDENT
Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 2 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
Guild of Bands
Professor David Murray, director
Fall Concert
Performance featuring all of the ensembles of the Guild of Bands. Selections will include original music composed by the band members and covers of popular songs.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 7 p.m.
(student-produced event)
World Percussion Ensemble
Professor David Murray, director
Fall Concert
In an exciting program of rhythmic exploration, the World Percussion Ensemble performs works by some of America’s prominent percussion ensemble composers, along with original pieces by members of the WPE.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Sunday, November 19, 2017, at 5 p.m.
Pre-concert talk at 4:15 p.m.
With the participation of music historians Saul Lilienstein and Joseph Horowitz
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Orchestra
Professor Angel Gil-Ordóñez, music director
Richard Wagner’s Parsifal and The Valkyrie
The GU Orchestra in collaboration with the Wagner Society of Washington DC (WSWDC) presents a selection of musical excerpts from “Parsifal” and “The Valkyrie”. With the participation of bass-baritone Kevin Deas and tenor William Green (alumnus of “The American Wagner Project,” a partnership of WSWDC with Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices).
GASTON HALL, HEALY BUILDING
FREE
Monday, December 4, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
Messiah Sing-Along
hosted by the GU Concert Choir
Prof. Frederick Binkholder, conductor
with Modern Musick
Allison Mondel, soprano
Barbara Hollinshead, mezzo-soprano
Joseph Regan, tenor
Antony Zwerdling, baritone
Celebrating its seventh year! Ring in the holiday season with a singing of the Christmas portion of Handel’s famous oratorio. Prof. Binkholder and professional soloists and orchestra will lead the gathered ensemble through the choruses of Part I: “And the Glory of the Lord,” “And He shall Purify,” “Glory to God,” “O thou that Tellest,” “His yoke is easy,” and “Hallelujah.” In keeping with the philanthropic tradition of this work, donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to the Lombardi Cancer Center. Feel free to bring your own score, or one can be provided for you. Doors open at 7 p.m.
GASTON HALL
FREE, DONATIONS ACCEPTED
Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Chamber Music Ensembles
Prof. Netanel Draiblate, director
Netanel Draiblate and Grace E. Kim, coaches
Fall Concert
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
$5 GENERAL | FREE STUDENT
Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.
(student-produced event)
Spring Sing
This high-energy a cappella concert features Georgetown Superfood, the Georgetown Saxatones, and other local groups.
GASTON HALL, HEALY BUILDING
$7 GENERAL
Saturday, April 21, 2018, from 12 p.m.- 3 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
Georgetown University Jazz Festival
Bring a blanket and join us for a day of great big band jazz from local and Grammy Award-winning artists at the Georgetown University Jazz Festival.
12 p.m. Annandale Jazz Ambassadors
1 p.m. Georgetown Jazz Ensemble
2 p.m. United States Navy Commodores
WHITE-GRAVENOR PATIO/COPLEY LAWN
(RAIN SITE: MCNEIR HALL)
FREE
Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 3 p.m.
Pre-concert talk at 2:15 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Orchestra
Professor Angel Gil-Ordóñez, music director
The Star of Ethiopia: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in DC
with the participation of the Metropolitan AME Church Chorus
Marty Lamar, music director
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was a black British composer whose sudden fame was as suddenly extinguished after his death. His historic visits to Washington, D.C. — where he explored his African roots and was the toast of the African-American community — were once legendary. GU exhumes this forgotten story of African-American culture, which connects to W. E. B. DuBois, Harry Burleigh, James Rosamond Johnnson, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and others in the Coleridge-Taylor orbit. A collaboration with Dumbarton Concerts in its celebration “The Music of Dumbarton” as part of GU/PostClassical Ensemble educational partnership. Post-concert discussion with the artists joined by Prof. Anna Celenza (Music Program), Prof. Anthony Cook (Law School), Prof. Maurice Jackson (Dept. of History), and music historian Joseph Horowitz.
GASTON HALL, HEALY BUILDING
FREE
Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Jazz Ensemble
Professor Aaron Broadus, music director
Jazz with Appreciation
Program includes popular Big Band arrangements from classic and contemporary composers and arrangers, including Duke Ellington, Gordon Goodwin and Sammy Nestico.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
$5 GENERAL | FREE STUDENT
Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Chamber Singers
Prof. Frederick Binkholder, artistic director
Genius in Miniature
In musical composition, as with the rest of life, genius can reveal itself in the smallest moments and simplest motivic ideas. Great composers can, in one phrase, show their complete mastery of the art. The GU Chamber Singers will perform a concert of these small “miracles” of genius in a concert of unaccompanied works for the chamber ensemble, including works by Tallis, Byrd, Gallus, Poulenc and Siegfried.. Translations will be provided.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Chamber Music Ensembles
Prof. Netanel Draiblate, director
Netanel Draiblate and Grace E. Kim, coaches
Spring Concert
MCNEIR HALL, NEW NORTH BUILDING
$5 GENERAL | FREE STUDENT
Sunday, April 29, 2018, at 2 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
Guild of Bands
Professor David Murray, director
Spring Concert
Performance featuring all of the ensembles of the Guild of Bands. Selections will include original music composed by the band members and covers of popular songs.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Sunday, April 29, 2018, at 7 p.m.
(student-produced event)
World Percussion Ensemble
Professor David Murray, director
Spring Concert
In an exciting program of rhythmic exploration, the World Percussion Ensemble performs works by some of America’s prominent percussion ensemble composers, along with original pieces by members of the WPE.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
Monday, April 30, 2018, at 8 p.m.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MUSIC PROGRAM
GU Concert Choir
WORLD PREMIERE: Simon Bore the Cross
Music by Margaret Bonds
Text by Langston Hughes
Concert Choir concludes the academic year 2017- 2018 with a world premiere. The cantata Simon Bore the Cross by the African-American composer Margaret Bonds, was long thought to be lost. When the Special Collections of the Lauinger Library recently purchased the archives of Margaret Bonds, handwritten parts were discovered. Again, her long-time collaborator Langston Hughes created the text for this work. Professor Binkholder is creating a performance score from the handwritten manuscripts, and this performance will be the first time this work has ever been heard. This concert is part of the GU Concert Choir’s “A Year of Margaret Bonds.”
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE
7:15 pm pre-concert lecture:
Experts Dr. Tammy Kernodle (Miami University) and Dr. Anna Celenza (Georgetown University) will give a pre-concert lecture about Simon Bore the Cross, Margaret Bonds, and the importance of her legacy in music history.
View an archive of 2015-16 Music Ensemble Performances or 2016-17.