On with the show

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The Carillon guide to the music department’s year-end concerts

Paul Bogdan
A&C Writer

“Maybe some people will actually come,” Heather Dolmage said.

“Ugh! You’re making us sound so bad, Heather!” retorted fellow fourth-year music student Brent Gelsinger. Dolmage then clarified that it’s not because music groups at the University of Regina lack talent that their shows have poor attendance, but rather a lack of knowledge by the student body.

“I don’t think that most people know about it, but I bet most people would enjoy it if they came,” Dolmage said.

So, with performances by basically all of the musical groups at the U of R happening within the next week or so, here is the Carillon’s definitive list of university concerts you should attend in the next week because they’re awesome and free – except one. That one’s still awesome. It’s just not free.

Wind Ensemble and Concert Band
Monday, Nov. 28
7:30 p.m.
University Theatre
Conducted by Greg McLean
Free for students

The Concert Band here at the U of R is a non-auditioned group that can be joined by anyone with an instrument. They’ll be performing with the Wind Ensemble, an auditioned group.

“[Greg McLean]’s picked all European composers that are mostly orchestral transcriptions for wind band,” Dolmage said. “It’s all over the place, music from the Romantic period and some modern stuff as well. They’re all pretty cool”.

The Wind Ensemble and Concert Band performance, titled European Masters, will feature exactly what the title suggests, works from major European composers from the 19th century (Hector Berlioz and Georges Bizet), the early 20th century (Gustav Holst and Gordon Jacob) and contemporary pieces by Jacob de Haan, Jan Van der Roost, and Coby Lankester.

Dolmage said audiences can expect a night of music “they’re not normally exposed to, especially with wind band repertoire. Most people aren’t familiar with orchestral music, and that’s a lot more common than wind band is.”

University of Regina Orchestra
Tuesday, Nov. 29
8:00 p.m.,
University Theatre
Conducted by Dr. Alain Perron
Free for students

“The orchestra is doing really accessible stuff,” Dolmage said.

“We’ve got a Christmas theme, and the second half of the concert is [Tchaikovsky’s] The Nutcracker, and it’s actually a pretty difficult piece,” added Gelsinger.

The three other masterworks that they plan to perform include Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” (take that weird look off your face; it was in a Bugs Bunny cartoon), Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll,” and Schumann’s “Concerto in A Minor,” which will also feature pianist Ju Eun Choi. All of these pieces are quite recognizable, so if you’re looking for a night of classical music, but want something more accessible than pieces for wind band, this is probably a good concert to attend.

University of Regina Jazz Band
Wednesday, Nov. 30
8:00 p.m.
University Theatre
Conducted by Chris Jacklin
Free for students

“I think when people think jazz, they think of elevator jazz, but this is big band stuff, so it’s a lot cooler,” Dolmage said. “This is probably the most accessible concert.”

The auditioned group are slated to perform pieces by, but not limited to, Bob Mintzer, Sammy Nestico, Gordon Goodwin, Charlie Parker, Pat Metheny, and Radiohead. Yes, you read that correctly.

Dolmage explained, “We’re playing a ‘All I Need’ by Radiohead, but a jazz band arrangement of it; it’s very much written for a jazz band. It’s not a direct lift of the original.”

Despite being one of the more accessible concerts, Dolmage says this one has generally the smallest audience, so come check out the jazz band, and you’ll likely enjoy front row seats.

New Music Ensemble
Friday, Dec. 2
Noon
Shu Box Theatre
Conducted by Dr. Alain Perron
Free for students

“It’s the concert that I always find to be a lot of fun. Usually it’s pretty weird stuff,” Gelsinger said. This concert plans to feature performances of works that have been written exclusively by students from the university.

“It’s all new works that have been written in the past two months over the course of the semester,” Gelsigner said. “I always enjoy that concert.”

Tone Cartel
Friday, Dec. 2
8:00 p.m.
Le Bistro
$5 for students

“It’s not an official university ensemble; it’s more of a university club,” explained Gelsinger.

The Tone Cartel is a jazz choir that was started by students from the university this semester. They’ll be performing a Bach organ fugue, pieces by The Real Group and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more. The concert, done through the Regina Jazz Society, is slated to be performed at Le Bistro in Monseigneur de Laval School.

Concert Choir and Chamber Singers
Sunday, Dec. 4
7:30 p.m.
Knox Metropolitan Church
Conducted by Dr. John Wiebe
Free for students

The two choral groups at the University of Regina will hold their winter concert, Northern Lights, at Knox Metropolitan Church on Dec. 4.

The concert will feature works from composers from northern countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Canada. “I think the music’s pretty cool; there’s some quite different things,” Gelsinger said.

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