Oct. 4 and 5, the University’s School of Music is hosting a two-day festival to showcase the incredible students, world-class faculty and diverse musical traditions that make our University’s music program so extraordinary. From jazz to opera, electroacoustic soundscapes to world drumming, there will be something for everyone to experience and enjoy. The festival begins on Oct. 4 with a free open house from 5 to 7 p.m. The Church Fine Arts and University Foundation Arts buildings will be opened for the public to explore and drop in for a variety of live performances and interactive workshops. The entire festival will be free for K-12 students and educators.
In the Atrium, attendees are invited to join a hands-on world drumming clinic, immersing themselves in rhythms that resonate across cultures. In the beautiful, state-of-the-art Harlan O. and Barbara Hall Recital Hall, voice faculty and students will be performing choice selections from opera and musical theater scenes, while elsewhere combined student ensembles will take on the challenge of Miles Davis’s iconic “Birth of the Cool.”
A journey through the philosophy and social-cultural practice of music-making will be guided by Ruthie Meadows and Julianne Lindberg, who are each presenting their recent critically acclaimed books. For those interested in sound technology, the electroacoustic music lab and recording studios will provide a unique opportunity to experience award-winning composer Jean-Paul Perrotte’s spatial sound installation while offering a glimpse into the workings of this cutting-edge compositional space. Then, at 7:30 p.m. in Nightingale Concert Hall, the evening will close with an epic performance by five combined student ensembles. The Nevada Wind Ensemble, the University Choir, the University of Nevada, Reno Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir will join forces to create a one-of-a-kind musical experience featuring the School of Music’s hardworking students.
Festivities conclude on Oct. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Harlan O. and Barbara Hall Recital Hall. This evening will showcase performances by faculty artists, including oboist Aaron Hill, clarinetist Josh Anderson, and bassoonist Eric Fassbender, alongside student musicians in a woodwind octet. The event will also feature acclaimed faculty members of international stature, cellist Dmitri Atapine and pianist Adela Hyeyeon Park. One and all are encouraged to join in on an invitation not just to listen, but to be immersed in the rhythms, harmonies and vibrations that animate the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Music and contribute to the vibrant presence of the arts in our community.