Middle East Music Ensemble — Friday, September 27 | 6:30 PM
Fulton Recital Hall, 4th Floor in Goodspeed Hall 1010 East 59th Street
Regular rehearsals Thursdays, 7 – 9 PM Logan Center for the Arts Performance Penthouse, 9th Floor
Wanees Zarour, director, wbz@uchicago.edu
The Middle East Music Ensemble explores a variety of classical, neo-classical, and popular musical forms from throughout the Middle East, encompassing compositional and improvisational techniques unique to non-Western musical culture. Members perform on traditional instruments, often in company with noted guest artists, and present multiple concerts both on and off campus. Details
Early Music Ensemble — Tuesday, October 1 | 5:30 PM
Classics, Room 110 1010 East 59th Street
David Douglass & Ellen Hargis, directors
Lester Hu, student coordinator, esterzhu@gmail.com
The Early Music Ensemble is an historically-oriented performance and study group led by members of the Newberry Consort. Repertoire is drawn from 15th- to 17th-century sources, with special emphasis given to historically-informed performance practices such as reading from original notation, improvisation, and ornamentation. The Early Music Ensemble also provides a forum for undergraduate majors and graduate students in Music who wish to explore repertories particular to their scholarly research. Collaborations with professional performers take place through the year, culminating in the Early Music Ensemble’s year-end spring concert. Details
South Asian Vocal Workshop — Monday, October 7 | 4:30 PM
Logan Center for the Arts, Room 703 915 East 60th Street
Kaley Reid Mason, faculty coordinator; Mrs. Minu Pasupathi, director
Ameera Nimjee, student coordinator, ameeran@uchicago.com
The South Asian Vocal Workshop explores a variety of classical, vernacular, and popular song repertories from the Indian subcontinent, with membership open to beginners as well as to more experienced performers with a background in South Asian music. The ensemble will focus on teaching vocal techniques, stylistic features, compositional forms, improvisational practices, and performance conventions specific to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and South Asian diasporas. In addition to participating in weekly ensemble rehearsals, members will have the option of attending voice coaching sessions and/or engaging the instructor for private lessons. Membership is open to students, faculty, and staff of the University, as well as community members. Details
Vocal Studies Program — Wednesday, October 9 | 6:30 PM
Logan Center for the Arts, Room 803 915 East 60th Street
Patrice Michaels, director, patricemichaels@gmail.com
In addition to the three choral ensembles sponsored by the Department of Music, the new Vocal Studies Program provides additional opportunities for singers’ involvement and musical growth. Under the direction of Patrice Michaels, this program encompasses both individual and group coaching opportunities as well as master classes and workshops on the singers’ art. Participants have the opportunity to perform on Thursday noontime concerts, on Vocal Music Showcase concerts, and in a variety of special programs on campus and in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Special projects may focus on a particular theme, a particular composer, or a particular genre or historical period. Singers also have the chance to work with instrumentalists involved in the Chamber Music Program or Piano Program, and to collaborate with Department composers on new works. Details