School of Music

Traveling from China to perform with the Brigham Young University Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Performing Arts Series, the Beijing Dance Academy will present an encore production of a joint performance presented in Beijing last year. The performance will be in the de Jong Concert Hall Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m.

As part of the celebration commemorating the historic, 100 year-old Karl G. Maeser Building, six of Brigham Young University’s finest performing groups will present music, dance and songs that span a century during BYU Spectacular 2012.

Looking for something fun to do this week? After the Beijing Dance Academy and BYU Philharmonic's performance this Wednesday, Oct. 3, there will be a free dance party held in the HFAC B.F. Larsen Gallery. Bring your friends to dance the night away from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and dance instruction will be provided. BYU’s own Synthesis will be providing the music.

The October 2012 Brigham Young University arts calendar features plays, recitals and concerts with talented guests as well as BYU faculty and student artists. Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or online at byuarts.com/tickets.

As part of BYU’s 2012 centennial celebration of the Karl G. Maeser building, the university will honor the venerable structure during Homecoming 2012 and Homecoming Spectacular, scheduled Oct. 11 and 12 in the Marriott Center, will build its show around the Maeser Building in a lively Homecoming Spectacular concert that features six of BYU’s premiere performing groups.

In one week, Sept. 21-27, top student performers from Brigham Young University's School of Music will showcase their skills during the annual showcase performances in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m.

A limited number of spaces are available for free piano lessons for children ages six to 10 for fall semester. The lessons will be taught by seniors and graduate students who are piano performance majors in the BYU School of Music as part of a supervised teaching pedagogy course.

The new 2012-2013 BYU Arts Season Brochure is currently being printed for the new school year. Flip through the pages of the pdf online to find out what is happening in the arts over the next year. Open publication

At the 2012 Annual University Conference, Jeremy N. Grimshaw, professor in the School of Music, was honored with the Young Scholar Award. The Young Scholar Award encourages and acknowledges outstanding promise and contributions by faculty members in the early stages of their academic careers.

According to the Princeton Review, “A good professor can shape your success in a particular class–but a truly amazing professor can change your life forever.” They partnered with RateMyProfessors.com (the #1 professor rating site) and students across the country to find the professors who have made a lasting impact in the lives of their students. Rosalind Hall, associate professor from the School of Music, was rated as one of the top 300 professors in the nation! Many know Rosalind Hall as the conductor of Men’s Chorus and Concert Choir from their dynamic performances, from the playful to the ethereal. While it’s clear she draws out a high level of musicality, from where comes that extra notch that makes her stand out. Reviewers on RateMyProfessors.com give some clues. Writes one former student, “She knows her stuff, and knows everyone she teaches by name – all 300+ students.” Another writes, “Rehearsals are so productive and spiritual. She will never settle for anything but your best. You must work hard and give your all but the work is SO rewarding.” For an inside look at rehearsals, check out the YouTube video created by members of Concert Choir. The BYU Men’s Chorus also has a gallery of rehearsal photos that let everyone in on the national-level experience. For her dedication and excellence, it becomes clear why Rosalyn Hall is one of America’s top professors. Read about the Princeton Review’s list here and be sure to click on the link to the pdf that lists the 300 top professors. Learn more about Sister Hall on the Men's Chorus website.

Edward Reichel, former music critic at Deseret News and a writer for various different music publications, recently wrote a review about the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra.

After a successful seven weeks of competing on NBC’s The Sing-Off, Vocal Point finally faced elimination from the a cappella competition and had to sing their swan song. Their catchy arrangements of popular songs, impressive vocal abilities, and outgoing personalities helped them gain a strong fan base. The group’s popularity with viewers landed them an invitation back to the television stage for the special episode “A Sing-Off Christmas,” where they sang “Let It Snow” with show host Nick Lachey.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012 PROVO, Utah Brigham Young University School of Music faculty member Neil Thornock will give an organ performance Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. The performance will feature recent works for solo organ by composers at BYU and from Utah, including Christian Asplund, Joseph Sowa, M. Ryan Taylor and Neil Thornock. Thornock began his college-level music studies as an organist and carillonneur at BYU. He received a doctorate of music degree in composition from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2006. He joined the BYU faculty in the 2007, where he teaches courses in composition and theory. He has been the recipient of a Barlow Endowment for Music Composition grant and a Oscarson Discovery Grant. For more information, contact Neil Thornock at (801) 422-1482, neilthornock@gmail.com. Source: BYU News

by Charles Beacham, Reporter for the Daily Universe

Trained to fill rooms and move audience members with their rich vocal blends, the BYU Singers are internationally recognized for their talent and professionalism. This spring they will travel to the United Kingdom to perform in the great concert halls, chapels, and cathedrals of England and Wales. This tour will be conductor Ronald Staheli’s third trip to the British Isles in the past three years, and he looks forward to the opportunity to follow up and strengthen relationships made during those visits. “The choir structure in Britain is very different from what we have in the United States,” said Staheli. “The professional choral world is much more active in Britain, and I look forward to making contacts with them and their choirs in order to create strong working relationships.” Influential composers, leading choral conductors, members of parliament, and government officials have been invited to attend the BYU Singers’ concerts throughout the tour. The choir will be touring with a special program, showcasing a variety of music that helped shape the United States of America. Beginning with pieces from the colonial era and ending with modern classical composers, the program will travel through the nation’s cultural history, highlighting the influences of Western European, folk, African-American, and gospel music. “Our goal is to bring a program with an inherent beauty to the eyes, ears, and hearts of our listeners,” said Staheli. “We want to inspire our audiences in such a way that they leave the concert and act on what they have heard, felt, and experienced.” The inspiring recital will travel throughout Southern England, providing rare opportunities for the Singers as they perform in concert halls at renowned educational institutes, including the University of Exeter, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge a choral workshop is anticipated with one of the local college choirs, providing both choirs an opportunity to interact and sing together. While in Wales the group will hold a workshop with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where five of the college’s master’s-level choral conducting students will meet and work with the group. Later that evening the BYU Singers will hold a special one-night concert in the college’s new performance hall. Along with these programs, the BYU Singers will have many opportunities to experience the culture of England as they perform in some of the oldest and most historically important cathedrals in England. “The venues we will be singing in were built for these types of choral performances,” said Rex Barrington, tour manager. “I’ve had the chance to visit each of the locations personally, and they are all marvelous.” More than just the impressive size, structure, and detail that define these great halls and cathedrals, the sites provide an unsurpassable acoustic quality that brings each song to life. Near the end of the tour the Singers will have an opportunity to perform in St. Paul’s Cathedral, where royal weddings and funerals have been held. Ten times each year this venue invites an outside choir to perform in the cathedral; the BYU Singers were privileged to be the selected performance for the month of May. With no piano accompaniment, the Singers will present 30 minutes of carefully selected and prepared sacred music. The tour finale will be in St. John’s, Smith Square in London. Located in the heart of Westminster in the area of British Parliament, this is considered the venue for choirs in all of London. 'The venues are fantastic; the cities are historic,” said Staheli. “In almost every case the community, local charities, and BYU supportive organizations are coming together to work as a team. It’s an exciting combination that proves this tour isn’t just for BYU; it’s for the communities we visit.” Source: Performing Arts Management

Looking for a few quick tips to help you better belt out Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during this year's Christmas caroling? BYU music professor Arden Hopkin has just the thing for you.

A very limited number of spaces are available for free piano lessons for children ages 7 and older for fall semester. The lessons will be taught by seniors and graduate students who are piano performance majors in the BYU School of Music. Lessons will be once a week for a half hour. Students who are accepted will be required to participate with their teachers in a Supervised Teaching course for one class period. This class meets Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Harris Fine Arts Center. If you are interested in having your child participate, email Richard Anderson at richard_anderson@byu.edu. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis. Source: BYU News

The Brigham Young University School of Music is now accepting applications for its 2011-2012 Young Musicians Academy, where two- three- and four-year-old children and their parents can learn to make music together.