The NAU School of Music opens the 2018-2019 Horizons Concert Series with three “Made in America” performances on the Horizons Concert Series, presenting a kaleidoscopic view of American musical expression over the past century or more, as created by American-born musicians and as imagined by European composers.

“American Dream”

Monday, October 29, 7:30 p.m., Ardrey Memorial Auditorium

Jeffrey Swann, piano

Inspired by America’s many musical voices, this program spotlights music by Debussy, Stravinsky, Busoni, Joplin, and Barber and concludes with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

A distinctive “American” musical idiom emerged around the turn the twentieth century, one organized along classical principles but infused with the rhythmic energy and melodic contours of popular music. This program views “American” music through the lens of European classical composers as well as American popular, classical, and hybrid musicians.

“Bernstein Birthday Bash”

Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 p.m., Ardrey Memorial Auditorium

NAU Faculty Chamber Players

Celebrate the 100th birthday of America’s classical music monarch—Leonard Bernstein—in a vocal and instrumental potpourri of Lenny’s greatest hits from Candide to West Side Story.

Musical organizations across the globe celebrate the manifold contributions of Leonard Bernstein as composer, conductor, educator, and humanitarian. This commemoration combines well-known selections from Bernstein’s musicals and large-scale vocal/choral works (Candide, West Side Story, On the Town, Wonderful Town, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Peter Pan, and MASS) with instrumental compositions such as the clarinet sonata and several less well-known works, including the anniversaries for solo piano and dance suite for brass quintet.

“This World of Yes”

Thursday, November 15, 7:30 p.m., Ashurst Hall

Megan Ihnen & Alan Theisen present

The dualities of life explored through voice/saxophone music by contemporary American composers.

Mezzo-soprano Megan Ihnen and saxophonist Alan Theisen form an uncommon and highly expressive musical collaborative exploring the dualities experienced during a lifetime, that every sensation necessitates its opposite and that affirming one path means denying another. Ten of the fourteen songs on the program—all by modern and postmodern American composers from John Cage (deconstructed language) to Michelle McQuade Dewhirst (lyrics by the late Carrie Fisher) to Alan Theisen (erotic poetry by e. e. cummings)—were composed for Ihnen and Theisen.

Tickets

Individual tickets for the Horizons Concert Series are $22.50 for adults and $15.00 for seniors and NAU faculty and staff. Admission is free for children (17 yrs. & under) and NAU students with an ID. 

Parking

Free parking for Horizons Concert Series events in Ashurst Hall (Lots P3, P4, Knoles, and P8) and for Ardrey Memorial Auditorium (Lot P13) has been provided by the College of Arts and Letters.