Jan. 19-21: UND Honor Band, Choir and Strings Festival
The Department of Music will host their 33rd Annual Honor Band, Choir & Strings Festival Jan. 19-21. This festival will feature 408 high school students from throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. These musicians were selected from the more than 825 students who auditioned in the fall. While these students are on campus, they will participate in rehearsals and master classes, as well as present a concert.
As part of the festival, two concerts will be presented that are open to the public. The first concert will be held Friday, January 19 in the Chester Fritz Auditorium. This will be a Showcase Concert of many of the ensembles from the UND Department of Music. The 1:00 Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Robert Brooks, and the Steel Pan Band, directed by Professor Michael Blake, will perform in the lobby at 3:45 p.m. prior to the 4:00 concert. Featured on the program from UND will be the Varsity Bards Men’s Choir and Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Dean Jilek; the Allegro Women’s Choir and Vivo Chamber Choir, conducted by Melanie Popejoy; the Chamber Orchestra conducted by Dr. Alejandro Drago; and the Wind Ensemble, Dr. James Popejoy, conductor. In addition, the Showcase Concert will feature selected chamber ensembles, including a Cello Ensemble; Trombone Quartet; the Red River Trio; and a Piano Duo. There is no admission charge for the Friday concert.
On Sunday, Jan. 21, the UND Honor Band, Women’s Honor Choir, Mixed Honor Choir, and Honor Strings Ensemble will present their concert at 1:30 p.m. in the Chester Fritz Auditorium. The ensembles will be conducted by UND music professors Simona Barbu, Dean Jilek, James Popejoy, and Melanie Popejoy. In addition to each ensemble performing a wide variety of outstanding literature, the band, choirs, and strings will combine to present a grand finale performance of From Sea to Shining Sea.
Tickets for this event are $7 for adults, $3 for students/senior citizens, or $14 per family (two adults, two children), and are available at the door.
