MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or at jkm229@northwestern.edu

October 13, 2003

November 2003 Music Calendar

Upcoming programs include a performance by the Grammy Award-winning bluegrass trio Nickel Creek (Nov. 5) and a Northwestern University Voices concert, featuring all five choral ensembles (Nov. 8). The Chicago Greater Harvest Youth choir will present a musical celebration for children during a Kids Fare concert (Nov. 15) geared for children aged 3 to 8. The Northwestern Marching Band will perform during Band-O-Rama (Nov. 16). Other highlights include a concert by the nationally recognized Chicago String Quartet with pianist James Giles (Nov. 22).

Events listed below will be held on Northwestern’s Evanston campus at either Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive; Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place; Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street; or Regenstein Recital Hall, 60 Arts Circle Drive, as noted below.

For more information, call the Pick-Staiger Concert Office at (847) 491-5441, or go to the Pick-Staiger Web site at www.northwestern.edu/pick-staiger. To order tickets by phone, call the Pick-Staiger Concert Office at (847) 467-4000.

NOVEMBER 2003

Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, “Orchestral Lineages,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. This program, conducted by Robert G. Hasty, will explore the music of Beethoven, Haydn and Bach. It will focus on the influence each artist had on the other’s later masterpieces. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Nickel Creek, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Originally formed in Southern California more than a decade ago, the Grammy Award-winning band Nickel Creek has received high praise for its inventive sound that fuses traditional bluegrass with classical, rock, pop and folk music. Trio members -- fiddler Sara Watkins, guitarist Sean Watkins and mandolinist Chris Thile -- all in their early to mid-20s, have individually performed or recorded with The Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Glen Phillips and others. Single tickets are $25 for the general public; senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $15 for full-time students.

“Crosstalk,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. This concert features the contemporary music phenomenon of art and pop composers who listen to and quote each other’s work. Coordinated by Amy Williams, the performance combines electronic and acoustic media in new works by Virgil Moorefield, Jeffrey Weeter and Paul Failla. (A laptop improvisation session follows this concert. It is open to anyone who has a machine and is willing to participate.) Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Northwestern University Voices, “A Choral Showcase, Op. 18,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. All of the Northwestern choral ensembles come together to perform in this 18th annual choral spectacular. Music faculty members Robert A. Harris, Stephen Alltop, Judith Willoughby and Julia Davids will conduct the groups. Single tickets are $12 for the general public; $8.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $5.50 for full-time students.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble, “American Variations,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Mallory Thompson, will perform music by several American composers. Pieces include Charles Ives’ “Variations on America,” Arthur Bird’s “Serenade for 10 Winds,” Joan Tower’s “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 2,” Samuel Barber’s “Commando March” and Verne Reynolds’ “Scenes.” Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

“Footloose,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Cahn Auditorium. This stage version of the popular movie musical makes its Chicago-area premiere at Northwestern’s Cahn Auditorium. Directed and choreographed by Lara Teeter, “Footloose” tells the story of a spirited teen who seeks to lift his town’s ban on dancing. Tickets are available only through the Theatre and Interpretation Center Box Office. To order, call (847) 491-7282. Single tickets are $24 for the general public; $20 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $11 for full-time students.

“Savitri” and “The Wandering Scholar,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14; and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, Lutkin Hall. Northwestern University’s 2003-04 opera season opens with two pieces by Gustav Holst. “Savitri” portrays a heroic woman who uses her wit and intellect to save her husband’s life. “The Wandering Scholar” is about a poor scholar in 13th century France who stops a romance between a cunning priest and an unfaithful housewife. The productions are in English and will be directed by Noel Koran and Rachel Gates and conducted by Frederick Ockwell. Single tickets are $12 for the general public; $8.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $5.50 for full-time students.

Kids Fare, “Do Re Mi Oh My!,” 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. A diverse array of vocal ensembles will introduce youngsters to a rainbow of sounds. Hosted by the School of Music’s Judith Willoughby, this program will feature a special appearance by Chicago’s Greater Harvest Youth Choir. Single tickets are $5 for the general public; $4 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3 for full-time students and children.

“Band-O-Rama,” Northwestern Marching Band in Concert, 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Daniel J. Farris will conduct Northwestern’s Wildcat Marching Band in this traditional concert of band standards. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

“Hymnfest, Praise the Lord,” 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, Alice Millar Chapel. The Alice Millar Chapel Choir, Miller Brass Ensemble and Musica Forte present festive hymn arrangements for choir, congregation, organ and brass. The concert will feature conductor and organist Stephen Alltop and organists Joy Garbutt and Nathan LeMahieu. A freewill offering will be accepted.

“Combofest,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, Regenstein Recital Hall. Music faculty members Don Owens, Daniel J. Farris and Joel Spencer will conduct a program of jazz works. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Percussion Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Michael Burritt will conduct the Northwestern Percussion Ensemble’s concert, featuring Steve Reich’s innovative “Drumming Part 1.” The program also serves as the U.S. premiere of “FACES” by Swedish composer Tobias Brostrom, spotlighting marimba and vibraphone soloist Peter Martin. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Evening of Brass, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, Alice Millar Chapel. Music faculty member Gail Williams will conduct an all-brass choir with organ as they perform fanfares by Gabrieli and others. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Student Composer Showcase, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, Regenstein Recital Hall.This concert will feature works by undergraduate and graduate student composers, performed by Northwestern’s Contemporary Music Ensemble. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

University Singers and Women’s Choir, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Conductors Judith Willoughby and Julia Davids will help ring in the holiday with William Billings’ “An Anthem for Thanksgiving,” Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” for women’s chorus and harp, J.S. Bach’s motet “Lobet den Hern, alle Heiden,” and Richard Wargo’s cantata “Voices in the Mist” for mixed chorus, winds, harp and percussion. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Jazz Night II, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Music faculty members Don Owens, Daniel J. Farris and Joel Spencer will conduct a program of jazz works. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Chicago String Quartet with James Giles, piano, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, Lutkin Hall. The nationally recognized Chicago String Quartet is Northwestern’s newest ensemble-in-residence. Its members serve on the faculty of the DePaul University School of Music. The ensemble is also the resident string quartet of both the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Taos School of Music in New Mexico. The performance will feature violinists Joseph Genualdi and Jasmine Lin, violist Rami Solomonow, and cellist Marina Hoover. Single tickets are $14 for the general public; $10 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $6 for full-time students.

Newberry Consort, “The Birth of Song,” 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Lutkin Hall. This performance features music from the baroque era. World-renowned lutenist, Paul O’Dette accompanies soprano Ellen Hargis in a recital of selections by Claudio Monteverdi, Jacopo Peri, and other composers of the early 17th century. Single tickets are $20 for the general public; $18 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $10 for full-time students.

Philharmonia, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Robert G. Hasty conducts a timeless musical tale of a storyteller evading execution, Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Sheherazade.” Also on the program are Rossini’s “Semiramide” and Sibelius’ “Valse triste.” Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.

Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, “Russian Inspirations,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The concert features works inspired by literature, art and current events. Victor Yampolsky conducts the orchestra in this performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Hamlet,” Rachmaninoff’s “Isle of the Dead,” and Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. Single tickets are $8.50 for the general public; $7 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $4 for full-time students.

Combofest, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, Regenstein Recital Hall. Don Owens, Daniel J. Farris and Joel Spencer will conduct a program of jazz works. Single tickets are $6.50 for the general public; $4.50 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $3.50 for full-time students.