UND to host Honor Band, Choir & Strings Festival Jan. 19-21
The University of North Dakota Department of Music will host their 39th Annual Honor Band, Choir & Strings Festival Jan. 19-21. This festival will feature more than 380 high school students from North Dakota and Minnesota. The musicians were selected among more than 850 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, Jan. 19, in the Chester Fritz Auditorium. This will be a showcase of many of the ensembles from the UND Department of Music.
The One O’clock Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Robert Brooks, and the Steel Pan Band, directed by Jason Kihle, will perform in the lobby at 3:35 p.m. prior to the 4 p.m. concert. Featured on the concert from UND will be the Concert Choir and Varsity Bards Choir, conducted by Isaac Lovdahl; the Allegro Choir and Vivo Chamber Choir, conducted by Melanie Popejoy; the Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alejandro Drago; and the Wind Ensemble conducted by James Popejoy. The Showcase Concert will also feature selected chamber ensembles, including a Trumpet Ensemble; Saxophone Octet; Red River Trio; and a Piano Ensemble. There is no admission charge for the Friday concert.
On Sunday, Jan. 21, the UND Honor Band, Treble 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, Isaac Lovdahl, 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 “Dry Your Tears, Afrika” by noted film composer John Williams. Tickets for this event are $7 for adults, $3 for students/senior citizens, or $14 per family (2 adults, 2 children) and are available at the door.
For more information concerning these performances, please contact the UND Music Department at 701.777.2644.
