UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The School of Music in the College of Arts and Architecture will celebrate Family Weekend, Oct. 17-19, with three days of performances featuring student ensembles from across the school. The weekend offers families and visitors a chance to experience Penn State’s musical community through a diverse lineup of concerts showcasing choral, opera, orchestral, wind and jazz music.
The festivities begin on Friday, Oct. 17, with a joint performance by the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, led by guest conductor Elizabeth Peterson, will perform works by Leonard Bernstein, Frigyes Hidas, Arnold Schoenberg and Lindsay Bronnenkant. The Chamber Orchestra, conducted by graduate assistants Dor Amran and Javier Gorelik, joins forces with Penn State Opera Theatre, directed by Dawn Pierce with vocal coach Parker Konkle, to present "Nuit d’amour." This captivating program explores love, jealousy and secrets through the drama of French opera ensembles by Viardot, Gail, Bologne and Bizet. Tickets for Oct. 17 are available through Ticketmaster.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, the day begins with Dimensions in Jazz at 1:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, featuring Centre Dimensions, Inner Dimensions and Vocal Dimensions. This Family Weekend favorite showcases more than 40 of Penn State’s student jazz performers in an electrifying big band and vocal jazz concert. The program is directed by Joshua Davis, director of jazz studies. Tickets for Oct. 18. are available here.
That evening, the School of Music’s choral ensembles take center stage in the annual Choral Collage at 7:30 p.m. in the Worship Hall of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. More than 220 student singers from the Concert Choir, Essence of Joy, Glee Club, Oriana Singers, University Choir and Vocal Dimensions will perform a mix of choral music spanning centuries and styles. The evening concludes with the singers and audience joining together in the Penn State Alma Mater. Admission is free.
The weekend of music concludes at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, in Eisenhower Auditorium, with performances by the Campus Band and Symphonic Band. Under the direction of Professor Robert Hickey, the Symphonic Band's program will feature "Shortcut Home" by Dana Wilson, "Sanctuary" by Frank Ticheli, "A Hokusai Triptych" by Benjamin R. Barker, and Wagner’s "Elsa’s Processional to the Cathedral" (trans. Lucien Cailliet). The Campus Band, conducted by graduate students Maria Flowers and Mary Capilitan-Pulanco, will perform "Miniature Overture" by Jack Stamp, "Mountain Thyme" by Samuel Hazo, "Cajun Folk Songs (Part One)" by Frank Ticheli, and "Mock Morris" by Percy Grainger. Tickets for Oct. 19 are available here.
All events will be available via livestream for those unable to attend in person.