HSU is 100 years old and so is the music department, so its large ensembles will celebrate with a program that includes the Humboldt Bay Brass band performing “Centennial Flourish, “Sempre Pro Veritas” (Always for Truth),” a new piece by its director Gilbert Cline, as well as the Humboldt Symphony, University Singers and Humboldt Chorale combining for Randall Thompson’s “The Testament of Freedom.”
The Jazz Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble and Guitar Ensemble will also perform. The program ends with the HSU Alma Mater, newly arranged by HSU music composition professor Brian Post. It is performed by the Symphonic Band and the two vocal ensembles, and conducted by music professor Kenneth Ayoob, currently Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The large ensemble music continues on Sunday at 3 p.m. with a holiday theme as Paul Cummings conducts the Humboldt Symphony in Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, as well as Brahm’s Academic Festival Overture and Copland’s Appalachian Spring.
Then at 8 p.m. the University Singers (directed by Harley Muilenburg) perform Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and the Humboldt Chorale (directed by Carol Ryder) sings a Magnificat by Latvian composer Imant Raminsh which features solos by Fiona Ryder and James Gadd.
The Centennial Concert by HSU large ensembles is performed Friday December 13 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre. Humboldt Symphony performs at 3 p.m. on Sunday December 15 in Fulkerson Recital Hall. University Singers and Humboldt Chorale perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, also in Fulkerson Recital Hall. Tickets for each of these HSU Music Department concerts are $8, $5 seniors and children, and free to HSU students with ID, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. For more information visit HSUState.blogspot.com.