Central College announces spring music performances
Central College
PELLA — The Central College music department will host 12 vocal and instrumental music events through the remainder of the spring semester.
Central’s Red Vocal and Instrumental Combo, a seven-member vocal group backed by a four-piece band, will perform March 28 at 8 p.m. in the Cox-Snow Recital Hall. The two Central Combos groups perform popular songs from pop, rock and jazz genres and are directed by Gabriel Espinosa, associate professor of music. Admission is free, but tickets must be picked up in advance.
ROCK-A-PELLA, the A Cappella Choir’s annual tour fundraiser, will be March 30 at 7 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. Choir members will present a variety show, performing acts of their choosing, and audience-members will vote for their favorites by placing donations in respective boxes. Proceeds help fund the ensemble’s May tour of the Midwest. The evening concludes with a preview of the tour repertoire.
In January, students competed in Central’s Concerto Aria Competition, a vocal and instrumental solo competition. The winners—Emily Miner, clarinet, and Amanda Jacobs, flute—will join the Central College-Community Choir for an April 1 performance at 4 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. The College-Community Orchestra is a 16-member string ensemble under the direction of Ty Myers, assistant professor of music.
Central grad Rae Fehring of Rae and the HoneyBees performs in the final concert of this semester’s Acoustic Underground series April 4 at 8 p.m. in Maytag Student Center. Acoustic Underground is in its inaugural year. The concert series is designed to give singer-songwriters from the Central community a chance to share their music.
Babcock will direct a joint performance of the College-Community Choir and College-Community Orchestra as part of Central’s Sunday Concert Series April 15 in Douwstra Auditorium. Showtime is 4 p.m. The Sunday Concert Series features performances from various Central ensembles throughout the year.
Argento Fuoco, a seven-member flute ensemble under the direction of Claudia Anderson, adjunct instructor of music, will perform at 7 p.m. in Cox-Snow Recital Hall on April 17.
April 18, the Blue Vocal and Instrumental Combo will hold a stand-alone performance at 8 p.m. in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. Like the Red Combo, this group is made up of seven vocalists backed by a four-piece band and is directed by Espinosa. Performers will sing songs of their choosing. Admission is free, but tickets must be picked up in advance.
The Central College Jazz Band will hold its annual spring concert April 20 at 8 p.m. in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. Under the direction of Espinosa, the celebrated 14-person ensemble regularly performs selections spanning various jazz influences.
The final Sunday Concert Series of the semester, April 22 at 4 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium, will feature the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and College Community Band. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is an auditioned 35-member instrumental ensemble. Both groups are directed by Mitchell Lutch, assistant professor of music.
In advance of its Midwest Tour, the A Cappella Choir will host a pre-tour concert April 29 at 4 p.m. at Second Reformed Church in Pella. Babcock will lead the choir through its full tour repertoire in preparation for upcoming concerts in Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. The choir will perform nine times during its weeklong tour, with stops including Chicago and Grand Rapids, Mich. The group departs May 15 following commencement weekend and wraps up May 21.
May 1, the annual Percussion Extravaganza will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. The eight members of the percussion ensemble will perform, as well as the Flying Pans Steel Drum Band, a 24-member ensemble that plays steelpans. Both groups are directed by Stan Dahl, assistant professor of music.
Central’s final music engagement in Pella for the 2011-12 academic year will be a May 5 performance by the Flying Pans at Pella’s Tulip Time Festival. The ensemble will bring its unique sound and repertoire to the Pella Opera House for two performances, the first at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. The steel band regularly performs at Tulip Time.
All events are open to the public and, unless noted, are free of charge. Advance tickets, when required, can be picked up 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Cox-Snow Music Center. Tickets will be available two weeks before the show.
Live streaming of certain events is available at www.central.edu/finearts.
For more information, contact Debbie Abel at 641-628-5236 or abeld@central.edu.
