December 4, 2008

Drexel's Fall Music Festival features performances by student musicians in several ensembles. Dr. George Starks will direct the Jazz Orchestra and Jazztet as they perform pieces by Tadd Dameron, Oliver Lake, Bobby Watson and Lionel Hampton on Thursday, December 4th at 8 PM in the elegant AJ Drexel Picture Gallery, home to19th century paintings by artists of the Barbizon School and Dusseldorf Academy.

The Percussion, Mediterranean and Rock Ensembles will come together for a concert on Wednesday, December 3rd at 8 PM. Director Bruce Kaminsky will lead the Percussion Ensemble through a musical tour of the Orient and Europe. Special guests include Meesha and Rena of the Belly Dance All Stars, as well as members of the Seven Animal Martial Arts School.

Wanda Canfield's Keyboard Ensemble will perform Red River Valley, Habanera from Carmen and selections from the Polovetzian Dances from Prince Igor on Friday, December 5th at 7:30 PM.

"Naturally Sharp,' Drexel's Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Dr. Steven Powell, will perform the 1947 big band hit Time After Time, the New York Voices' arrangement of Sing, Sing, Sing, and Duke Ellington's classic Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce, along with many other jazz standards, at their concert on Saturday, December 6th at 3 PM.

Singing from the Psalms will be the theme of the Gospel Choir concert on Saturday, December 6th at 7:30 PM. Reverend Gregory Ross will direct works by Calvin Rhone, Kevin Davidson, Norris Garner, Joseph Pace and more.

The University Chorus and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Steven Powell, will perform In Windsor Forest by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Festival Te Deum by Benjamin Britten and various spirituals and madrigals on Sunday, December 7th at 3 PM. This concert will take place in the Main Auditorium in the Main Building.

Drexel's Concert Band will close the festival on Sunday, December 7th at 7 PM with a program of American music. Dr. Mike Moss will conduct the musicians as they present Simple Gifts, a selection of songs by George Gershwin, A Movement for Rosa, a tribute to Rosa Parks and Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait.

All concerts are free and open to the public at the Mandell Theater or Main Auditorium. The Jazz Orchestra will perform in the AJ Drexel Picture Gallery. For more information call 215-895-ARTS.

DETAILS:

• Fall Music Festival
• Percussion, Mediterranean and Rock Ensembles, Wednesday, December 3, 8 PM, Mandell Theater
• Jazz Orchestra, Thursday, December 4, 8 PM, AJ Drexel Picture Gallery, 3rd Floor, Main Building
• Keyboard Ensemble, Friday, December 5, 7:30 PM, Mandell Theater
• Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Saturday, December 6, 3 PM, Mandell Theater
• Gospel Choir, Saturday, December 6, 7:30 PM, Mandell Theater
• University Chorus and Chamber Singers, Sunday, December 7, 3 PM, Main Building Auditorium
• Concert Band, Sunday, December 7, 7:30 PM, Mandell Theater
• FREE and open to the public
• For more information, call 215-895-ARTS