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The University of Akron’s 13th annual Arts Awareness Month will be celebrated in April featuring faculty and students in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, along with many guest artists.
Among them is Keith Lockhart, conductor of the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra. In the late 1980s, Lockhart made his home here, where he was assistant conductor of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, conductor of the Akron Youth Symphony, and a part-time faculty member in the School of Music.
On April 10, Lockhart will talk about his life and music — paired with a stirring performance of Rachmaninoff’s “Second Piano Concerto” by The University of Akron Symphony Orchestra at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, beginning at 8 p.m. Ronn Cummings will conduct and Philip Thomson will be the guest pianist.
The event is being presented by the Mary Schiller Myers Lecture Series. Tickets are $14 and available at the Thomas Hall Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.
It was in 1995, at the age of 35, that Lockhart followed the legendary Arthur Fiedler and John Williams to become the 20th conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra — 110 years after its founding. Since then, the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., native has conducted more than 500 concerts and nearly 50 television shows, including PBS’s “Evening at Pops,” the annual “Pops Goes The Fourth” and “Holiday at Pops.”
Under Lockhart’s direction, the orchestra also is well traveled, from performances at Carnegie Hall to overseas tours of Japan and Korea. In February 2002, he led the Boston Pops at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, marking the first time an orchestra was featured in a Super Bowl performance.
Also in February 2002, Lockhart led the Utah Symphony as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with symphony orchestras in such cities as Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia and Singapore.
Here are other highlights of Arts Awareness Month. All events are free, unless otherwise indicated. Call ext. 7591 for more information.
Through April 25
The Emily Davis Gallery in Folk Hall will exhibit works by James Siena. The highly acclaimed New York City artist is known for intricate abstract paintings of repetitious geometric forms that he calls “algorithms.”
Siena will talk about his work on April 3 at 6 p.m. Art historian Robert Hobbs of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, will talk about the exhibition on April 25 at 6 p.m. Both talks will be held in the Folk Hall Auditorium. Hobbs is the author of the Siena exhibition catalogue, and has curated more than 40 major exhibitions in 10 countries.
April 5
“A Begger’s Threepenny Opera” will be performed at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m. The University’s Opera Theatre Program will present opera scenes directed by Dean Southern.
April 6
UA’s Piano Artistry Series presents a concert by guest pianist Victor Rosenbaum, Guzzetta Recital Hall, 2:30 p.m.
April 8-12
The University of Akron School of Music presents its third annual American New Arts Festival (ANAF) in Guzzetta Hall — this year featuring new music from Akron, Cleveland and Ohio. Call ext 2199 for more information.
ANAF Concert #1 is planned for April 9 at 8 p.m., and will feature the work of composers Daniel McCarthy and Nikola Resanovic. Performers are George Pope, James Ryon, Christina Tan, Kristina Belisle, Renee Dee, Jeffrey Leigh, William Sallak, Jason Lippard, and The University of Akron Concert Band, conducted by Galen Karriker.
Music from the composition studio at the School of Music will be showcased at ANAF Concert #2 on April 10 at 6 p.m. Music by the Cleveland Composers Guild will be performed at ANAF Concert #3 on April 11 at 8 p.m.
“New Music from Ohio” will be the theme for ANAF Concert #4 on April 12 at 8 p.m. Scheduled as guest composers are UA alumnus Jerry Miskell as well as Jeffrey Mumford, Oberlin College Conservatory; Ellanie Lillios, Bowling Green State University; and Andrew Rindfleisch, Cleveland State University (winner of the 2002 Cleveland Arts Prize).
April 9
The School of Communication will host a demonstration by its award-winning Speech and Debate Team in the atrium of Guzzetta Hall at noon. Call ext. 7600 for more information.
April 10
Escape to the islands when UA’s popular Steel Drum Band performs at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall at 8 p.m. A big-screen “Pan Cam” will put the audience in the middle of the vibrant sights and sounds of the tropics while the musical fare spans Caribbean to classical. Liam Teague — one of Trinidad’s new generation of steel drummers — is the guest soloist. Tickets are $16 and available at the Thomas Hall Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.
April 14
UA’s wind chamber ensembles will present a concert at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
April 16
UA’s Jazz Guitar Ensemble will perform, conducted by Dean Newton, at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
April 17
UA’s Guitar Ensemble will perform, conducted by Stephen Aron at 8 p.m. Guzzetta Recital Hall.
April 17-19 and April 24-26
University Theatre will present George Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man,” directed by Margaret Ford-Taylor at Sandefur Theatre in Guzzetta Hall. All performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and $8 — call ext. 6823.
April 19
“Akron Clarinet Day” will be held in Guzzetta Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring guest artist Debra Bish in a recital and master class. Bish is an assistant professor of clarinet at Florida State University. The day includes recitals and workshops by UA music faculty Kristina Belisle and Linda Simon-Mietus, and the UA Clarinet Choir. Call ext. 8404 or 7591 for more information.
April 21
Shining at Severance! features the School of Music’s three major ensembles — the Concert Choir conducted by Samuel Gordon; the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ronn Cummings; and the Symphonic Band, conducted by Robert Jorgensen — in a showcase concert of premiere and classic works at Severance Hall in Cleveland at 8 p.m.
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| Cleveland's grand Severance Hall will be the setting for a showcase concert with UA ensembles. |
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Home to the Cleveland Orchestra, Severance Hall is hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful and acoustically perfect concert halls. It opened in 1931 and recently reopened after an extensive renovation.
Following the concert, a reception will be hosted by the School of Music, Alumni Association and Music Alumni Board. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for general seating and $25 for box seats. To order, call Severance Hall at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141. Or, purchase tickets in person at the School of Music, ext. 7591.
April 22
UA’s University Singers and Concert Choir will perform at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m., conducted by Ann Usher and Samuel Gordon.
April 23
UA’s Concert Band will perform with guest bassoonist Renee Dee, conducted by Galen Karriker at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
April 24
UA’s University Band will perform, conducted by Joseph Sterling, at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
April 25
UA’s Brass Choir will perform, conducted by Tucker Jolly at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 8 p.m.
April 26
The Summit County Schools Film Festival will be held in the Student Union with filmmaking workshops in the afternoon and screenings of student-created films, beginning at 6 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Summit County Educational Service Center, Time-Warner Cable, the Akron Beacon Journal and the School of Communication. Call ext. 5600 for more information.
April 27
UA’s Symphonic Band will perform, conducted by Robert Jorgensen at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 3 p.m.
May 2-4 and 3 at 8 p.m.
The University of Akron’s Opera Theatre and Symphony Orchestra will fondly recall “The Voice of Firestone,” the beloved Sunday evening program that brought the world’s great opera singers into homes coast-to-coast for more than 30 years.
Performances are scheduled May 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. and May 4 at 3 p.m. Tickets in advance are free for UA students; $3 for other students; $8 for seniors and University faculty and staff; and $10 for general seating. Tickets at the door will be an additional $2.
May 5
Tuesday Musical and UA’s Piano Artistry Series will present a master class by guest pianist Stephen Hough at Guzzetta Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Call ext. 6435 for more information.
On May 6, Hough will perform at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall as part of Tuesday Musical’s 2002-2003 season. Tickets are $22-$35.
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