school of music

Largest U.S. Collegiate Men's Choir Supports LDS Missionaries Through Song

The BYU Philharmonic Orchestra received overwhelmingly positive reviews in Fanfare magazine for their recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Fanfare is a national, bimonthly publication that reviews contemporary recordings of classical music. The quality of music from the BYU Philharmonic was not only compared to the work of other collegiate level orchestras, but also to professional orchestras in the United States and in Europe. As the university’s flagship orchestra, the School of Music faculty and students are appreciative of and excited for these kinds of reviews. Robert Markow, a writer for Fanfare, praised the orchestra on several levels. “After learning it was the flagship orchestra at Brigham Young University’s School of Music in Provo, Utah, I was prepared to dismiss it as no more than a vanity exercise,” wrote Markow, who reviewed the BYU Philharmonic’s recording of Mahler Symphony No. 3. “That would have been a grave mistake... What a revelation!” Kory Katseanes, Director of the School of Music, conducts the BYU Philharmonic orchestra. He said he is grateful for the praise, but he feels that credit needs to be given to the members of the orchestra. “These gratifying reviews are a reflection of their hard work and their capacity,” Katseanes said. “When we get praise as glowing as this, I think of these students and how grateful I am that they rose to this level.” Reviewers also shined the spotlight on a few individual students. Spencer Park, one of the orchestra’s principal horn players, and Ali Atkinson, a trumpet player, were both singled out by reviewers. One reviewer said that Park has “a glorious sound, perfect intonation, clean articulation,” and that “he could easily step into a first-horn position in any major orchestra tomorrow.” “I’m really happy that the BYU School of Music is being recognized nationally as a top-notch music school,” Park said. “With the help of these reviews, hopefully we can get more national attention, which I think we deserve.” Atkinson said that this recording of the Mahler symphony is a testimony to the talent and hard work the members of the orchestra put into their musical efforts. “We all expect so much of each other,” Atkinson said. “We keep each other accountable to high expectations, because where we’re headed is incredible.” The orchestra’s next concert is November 19 in the de Jong Concert Hall in the Harris Fine Arts Center. Tickets are available at arts.byu.edu. To purchase the BYU Philharmonic’s recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, click here. See the BYU Philharmonic at the Salt Flats, produced by the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration:

SOLD OUT! The Women’s Chorus and Men’s Chorus tickets are sold out, but you can still see their performances streamed live at liveconcerts.byu.edu. These two groups are versatile singers who perform a diverse repertoire extending from medieval and renaissance works to masterpieces of our own time.

This annual showcase of the BYU School of Music’s premier instrumental ensembles features performances by BYU Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Symphonic Band.

BYU Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorus, and Women’s Chorus present the annual showcase of classical, contemporary, and sacred choral works September 25-26, 7:30 pm at the de Jong Concert Hall. Choirs conducted by Ronald Staheli, Rosalind Hall, and Jean Applonie. From classical to jazz to world beats, the BYU School of Music sponsors a variety of ensembles representing numerous styles and genres on the musical spectrum. Orchestras such as the BYU Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestra impress with their richly coordinated sounds. BYU Singers, Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus showcase the best of choral music at the university. Synthesis takes big-band jazz to a new level with every performance. And those with an ear for popular music won't want to miss the 9-man a capella group, Vocal Point. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETING INFORMATION

The tour of the Chamber Orchestra began in Venice, where students had the chance to explore the historical city. Some went to discover the world famous Murano glass manufacturing center; others walked to the Jewish Ghetto (which is where the word 'ghetto' was first used); and still others decided to get off the tourist beaten path and see the 'real' Venice. The concert in Venice was a benefit concert in the Dell Angelo Hospital Concert Hall, an unusual and beautiful structure featuring a several-story, wall-to-ceiling glass structure that also sported a nice acoustical environment. In addition to the guests at the concert, patients also listened through the glass walls of their rooms facing the concert hall. All were thrilled when pianist Frani Massimiliano soloed with the orchestra on a Mozart piano concerto. At the end of the well-received concert, one patient said, 'We heard this wonderful music coming from the walls.' Another patron added, 'I love that your music is without words because it speaks more to me. I can just sit and feel.' Fifteen who are investigating the Church joined those who attended a devotional by the Chamber Orchestra in Venice. After the devotional, the bishop insisted on another musical number. 'I never listened to classical music before,' said the bishop, 'but I think I'll start now. ' In Vicenza, Italy, the high-vaulted ceilings of a local cathedral seemed to especially resonate with the audience during the Respighi orchestral arrangement of the Bach prelude. With the cathedral being on the main Palladio Street, many were lured in to watch. It was the encore, a Nate Hofheins arrangement of 'A Child's Prayer,' that seemed to move the audience most. Guest conductor de Maio came back from a curtain call and exclaimed, 'I had tears streaming down my face on the encore. It's the first time in my life I cried. What was that piece? ' Kory Katseanes then told him the words in English, which de Maio translated for the Catholic priests, who nodded as if to say, 'Yes, we know that. ' At the musical devotional in Lublijana, Slovenia, many in the audience were first-generation members-modern-day pioneers. One was a sister who helped translate the Book of Mormon in Slovenian when she was 14. Also, the missionaries told of some they were teaching who talked about a feeling they had inside for the first time. Others said, 'they felt like they heard angels and God was speaking to them. ' After driving through a heavy hail storm on the way to Logatec, Slovenia-lightning flashing everywhere-the orchestra members settled into their accommodations while looking forward to the adventures of the upcoming week.

BYU Singers have had a very busy second (and last) week of their Northwest States tour. They enjoyed their three-day weekend in Seattle, and had a few hours to wander the waterfront and enjoy the Pike Place Market. But with a concert every night and clinics nearly every day, free time was scarce. This week the choir had clinics or exchanges with The Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran University, Olympic College Music Department, White Salmon High School, and Portland State University Chamber Choir and Portland Ensign Choir. The professional and university choirs are very wonderful to hear and to interact with, but the most gratifying clinics are with young singers who are eager to learn. The concerts have been splendid, with fine performances from the choir every night, and very good venues with large audiences. As the group has gone back and forth across the Oregon/Washington border several times this week, they have been enthralled with the beautiful scenery; but more than that, they have appreciated the wonderful sponsors and host families who have made this tour possible. The BYU Singers will remember the Northwest States tour with great fondness.

The BRAVO! series’ upcoming season will feature a Tony Award-nominated actress, a world-renowned English a capella group, two dancing jugglers from France, and the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. These world-class artists will sing, dance, perform and instruct students and attendees.

PROVO, Utah -- Brigham Young University’s celebrated male a cappella group, BYU Vocal Point, is following up on their best-selling album of hymns and inspirational songs, Lead Thou Me On, with an all-new contemporary album. Released today, April 8, Spectrum showcases the group’s signature take on popular songs from yesterday and today. The album is produced by BYU Records.

On what seemed like a normal day in the 1990s, Jim Barnes’ infant daughter passed away. This father experienced, as all would, terrible grief, followed by resentment and frustration. As peace began to return to his life, Barnes cathartically created what has been lovingly called “The Tragic,” a four-movement symphony that details his emotions while accepting the death of his daughter and eventually the joy of welcoming a newborn son into his family. On April 10, the BYU Wind Symphony will take its audience through this emotional venture. Under the tutelage of Donald Peterson, Director of the Wind Symphony, these students will connect with the audience in a more emotional way than many expect from band music. “It’s a pretty poignant musical journey. One thing that’s appealed to the students is that we’ve all been depressed or had dark times before,” Peterson said. “But I think most of them would say this music is a gift and provides a way to help feel emotions even stronger.” Peterson said the students are prepared for this advanced composition. “The piece was written for the Air Force Band in Washington D.C., so it’s written for professionals,” Peterson said. “But our band members are ready for it. It’s not only enriching their personal lives, but their music education as well.” The Wind Symphony rehearses twice per week, and normally prepares for music typical of concert band, like military marches and other shorter arrangements. Catelyn Gentry, a member of the Wind Symphony for four years, said that the preparation for this special piece has been invigorating. “The first thing that makes it really difficult is it’s almost 40-minutes long, and each of the four movements is so intensely focused on different emotions,” Gentry said. “So whatever you put into one movement isn’t what you’ll put into the next. It’s emotionally draining.” McKay Heaton, Wind Symphony Band President, noted that preparing to play Barnes’ “Tragic” Symphony is proving to have a long-term affect on the band. “Learning about what the composer thought for each movement and realizing how significant it was to him is amazing,” Heaton said. “And then trying to connect with the piece emotionally on that level has brought us closer together as a band.” Heaton said he and other members of the band are excited to share this beautiful work with their audience. “With each of the movements in this piece, there is quite a bit of meaning,” Heaton said. “I hope that we can help the audience feel that.” Tickets for the Wind Symphony’s upcoming concert are available at arts.byu.edu.

Tickets for all events are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981, byuarts.com/tickets. 6-8 — BYU’s Young Ambassadors will present “Heartsongs: The Melodies of Love” at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. These young performers combine contemporary music and dance for a fast-paced showcase of American musical theatre. 7-22 — “A Man for All Seasons” will be performed in the Margetts Theatre. Directed by David Morgan, the play demonstrates how conscience and corruption collide in the powerful historical portrait of Sir Thomas More – counselor to King Henry VIII and Lord Chancellor of England. More resists entreaties to condone the king’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, marriage to Anne Boleyn and separation from the Catholic Church in Rome. Though he is ultimately condemned for his silence, his unwavering dedication to principle makes him a true “man for all seasons.” 8 — The Primrose Memorial Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 11 — The BYU Philharmonic (Evening Concertos) will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 12 — The Folk Music Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. 12-15 — BYU will host the largest amateur DanceSport event in the country during the U.S. National DanceSport Championships at 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Center. Ticket options include main floor “ringside” tables, public arena chair seating and student seating. The competition will feature dancers from across the country in more than 30 different divisions. National amateur titles will be awarded in Latin, standard, smooth, rhythm, cabaret and formation in all age categories. The DanceSport Championships are sponsored by BYU’s Ballroom Dance Program. Tickets will be available online at the Marriott Center Ticket Office at byutickets.com. 13 — The “Group for New Music” will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 19 — The Diavolo Dance Theater will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Internationally renowned for the unique way in which it reinvents dance, reimagines theatre and redefines thrills, Diavolo Dance Theater takes movement, athletics and daring to the extreme, creating abstract narratives about the human experience through surreal tableaux. The company has an extensive performance history in its home city of Los Angeles, as well as throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. In more than 14 seasons of touring, Diavolo has performed for hundreds of thousands of concertgoers worldwide, as well as millions more on television. For its BYU debut, the company will present two of its most celebrated and exciting pieces, “Transit Space” and “Trajectoire.” 21-22 — 2014’s dancEnsemble will feature contemporary dance works by students at 7:30 p.m. in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. 21-22 — The BYU Men’s Chorus will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 21-April 4 — Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” will be on stage at the Pardoe Theatre. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of this favorite story of love, manners and social status in 19th-century England, BYU Theatre presents a newly commissioned stage adaptation of Austen’s seminal work. Laugh, cry and delight with the quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they search for love. After all, “a lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” The play is adapted for the stage by Melissa Leilani Larson and directed by Barta Heiner. 25 — The Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. This group is BYU’s Synthesis-in-training band, and they perform locally and regionally. They provide a tremendous training situation for up-and-coming jazz musicians. 25 — A Flute Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N., Provo. Admission is free and is open to the public. 26 — A Trombone Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 26 — A Saxophone Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N., Provo. Admission is free and is open to the public. 27 — The Jazz Combo Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 28 — A Woodwind Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N., Provo. Admission is free and is open to the public. 28 — The BYU Singers and the BYU Concert Choir will perform together at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 28-29 — Students from the Department of Dance will present their final projects at the Senior Dance Projects Showcase, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre. 29 — BYU’s non-auditioned choir, the University Chorale, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. All month at the Museum of Art: “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz” through May 10, 2014. “e.g. Sarah O’Donnell: The Light is the Source of the Land” from March, 28 through Aug. 9, 2014. “Simpler, Brighter, Stronger: Southwestern Art and Early Modernism, 1910-1960” through July 26, 2014. “e.g. Monika Bravo: Landscape of Belief” through March 15, 2014. “Shaping America: Selected Works from the Permanent Collection of American Art.” through March 2018. “Timothy O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs”through May 26, 2014. “Edward Burtynsky: The Industrial Sublime” through June 14, 2014. “michael whiting: 8-bit modern” through April 26, 2014. Admission is free to all exhibitions. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, visit moa.byu.edu. Source: BYU News

Brigham Young University’s School of Music will present its Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christian Smith, in concert Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are $6 and are available through the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4322, or online at byuarts.com/tickets. The Symphony Orchestra will present a concerto concert featuring seven winners of the BYU Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. The concert will include soloists Logan Anderson on trumpet, Hillary Dalton on violin, Trevor Giles on alto saxophone, Hannah Cope on harp, Alissa Freeman on piano and Katherine Armantrout as soprano. The Symphony Orchestra is a preparatory orchestra in the School of Music. The symphony shares the responsibilities of collaborating with the ensemble concerts presented in the school, as well as performing regularly with musical theatre productions. For more information about the performance, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348. Source: BYU News

Tickets for all events are available through the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981, byuarts.com/tickets. 4 — The BYU Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorus will perform at the Winter Choirfest at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 6-8 — China’s Golden Dragon Acrobats will visit BYU with “Cirque ZÁva,” a technically innovative show featuring a large athletic cast and spectacular scenic and lighting elements, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. With superb artistic merit, high production values and a solid commitment to cultural exchange, “Cirque ZÁva” demonstrates why the Golden Dragon Acrobats have been recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company touring the United States. Filled with contemporary music, impressive acrobatics, theatrical enhancements and Chinese traditional dance, “Cirque ZÁva” promises to thrill the young and the young at heart. 8 — BYU faculty pianist Jeffrey Shumway will perform with guest artist Del Parkinson from Boise State University as the American Piano Duoat 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. 11 —The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Voices will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Jazz Ensemble is BYU’s Synthesis-in-training band. They provide a tremendous training situation for up-and-coming jazz musicians, performing locally and regionally. 13 — Pianist Marc-André Hamelin will join the BYU Philharmonic, the BYU School of Music’s flagship orchestra, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. This will be a special concert performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 to inaugurate the school’s new Fazioli grand piano. Hamelin’s unique blend of musicianship and virtuosity brings forth interpretations remarkable for their freedom, originality and prodigious mastery of the piano’s resources. 13-15 — Dance in Concert featuring BYU’s Contemporary Dance Theatre will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. 14 — The BYU Wind Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The finest woodwind, brass and percussion players at BYU play in the Wind Symphony and have received national recognition for their performances. 14 — The Invitational Songwriter Showcase will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. 15 — The BYU Singers, under the direction of Ronald Staheli, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 19-22 — Selections from favorite operas will be presented by vocal performance students from the BYU School of Music at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. 21-22 — Polynesian, Latin American and Native American music and dance will come alive in the Living Legends performance at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 21-22 — BYU’s nationally recognized musical theatre program will present Broadway Revue (previously known as the Music/Dance/Theatre Showcase) at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. Admission is free and is open to the public. A matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m. will require a ticket. 25 — The BYU Symphonic Band will perform under the direction of Kirt Saville at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 28 — John Lithgow, world-renowned actor, will present “Stories by Heart,” featuring works by P.G. Wodehouse and Ring Lardner, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Following his triumphant appearances at New York’s Lincoln Center and London’s National Theatre, the Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor offers a touching and humorous reflection on storytelling as the tie that binds humanity. Invoking memories of his grandmother and father before him, Lithgow traces his roots as an actor and storyteller, interspersing his own story with two tales that were read aloud to him and his siblings when they were children — 'Uncle Fred Flits By' by P.G. Wodehouse and 'Haircut' by Ring Lardner. 28-March 1 - Faculty Dance Works will feature BYU’s talented faculty at 7:30 p.m. in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre. All month at the Museum of Art: “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz” through May 10, 2014. “Simpler, Brighter, Stronger: Southwestern Art and Early Modernism, 1910-1960” through July 26, 2014. “e.g. Monika Bravo: Landscape of Belief” through March 15, 2014. “Shaping America: Selected Works from the Permanent Collection of American Art.” through March 2018. “Timothy O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs”through May 26, 2014. “Edward Burtynsky: The Industrial Sublime” through June 14, 2014. “michael whiting: 8-bit modern” through April 26, 2014. Admission is free to all exhibitions. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, visit moa.byu.edu. Source: BYU News

Guest artist Johannes Moser will perform a cello recital at Brigham Young University Friday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. at the Madsen Recital Hall. Moser will also present a master class Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Madsen Recital Hall. Both events are free and the public is welcome to attend. The recital will include Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 and Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009. Praised for his rich, gorgeous tone and playing that can range from lovely and elegant, to vigorous with head-banging, rock star energy, German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser has been hailed by Gramophone Magazine as “one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists.” Moser has performed with the world’s leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Munich philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony and Israel Philharmonic. He works regularly with conductors of the highest level including Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, Pierre Boulez, Paavo Jarvi and Semyon Bychkov. For more information about this recital, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu. For more information about Johannes Moser, visit www.johannes-moser.com. Source: BYU News

Performance at 7:30 p.m. has sold out

Tickets for all events are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981, byuarts.com/tickets. 9 — The Utah Symphony returns to BYU with a program of classical masterworks featuring guest conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Inon Barnatan at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The symphony will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, and Matthias Pintscher’s “Towards Osiris.” 11 — The annual Utah Crosstalk contemporary music concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 16 — The Mexico City Woodwind Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 18 — Vocal Point, BYU’s premier nine-man a cappella ensemble, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 21-25 — The Young Artists of Voice competition, featuring top student talent from BYU’s School of Music, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. Visit byuarts.com for information on individual evening programs. 23 — “Timothy O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs” will run through May 26 at the Museum of Art. Although details of his life are scarce, the photographic legacy of Timothy H. O’Sullivan is far-reaching, and his images are regarded as some of the most compelling photographs taken in the 19th century. This exhibition showcases images captured by O’Sullivan for the King Survey, a government-sponsored expedition to gather practical and scientific information from the vast territory between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. His images of mining operations, barren landscapes, unusual geological formations and meditations on his own presence in the West represent a powerful, raw vision of this little-known territory. Visit moa.byu.edu for details and exhibit hours. 23-25 — Iran’s Leev Theater Group will present “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” at 9 p.m. in the Margetts Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 4 p.m. Household objects and children’s toys are used to play out a domestic and political history of betrayal and death as Shakespeare’s tragic hero comes to terms with his violent fate through an obsessive retelling of the moments preceding the tragedy. “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” was first presented in Iran by Leev Theater Group, featuring acclaimed Iranian actor Afshin Hashemi. It was chosen as Iran’s Best Theater Group by the Critics and Writers Association of Iran’s Theater House and was named Tehran’s Best Theater Group by the Dramatic Arts Center. 23-25 — The Theatre Ad Infinitum will perform “Translunar Paradise” at 7:20 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. “Translunar Paradise” takes audiences on a journey of life, death and enduring love. After his wife, Rose, passes away, William escapes to a paradise of fantasy and memories, a place far from the reality of his grief. Returning from beyond the grave, Rose revisits her widowed companion to perform one last act of love: helps him let go. With live accordion accompaniment, this exquisite piece of mask and movement theatre was a multi-award winning, critically acclaimed sellout at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011. Theatre Ad Infinitum is an award-winning international ensemble based in London, developing new and original theatre for a multi-cultural audience. 23-25 — Australia’s Perth Theatre Company will present “Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer” at 6 p.m. in the Nelke Theatre. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2:40 p.m. This multi-award-winning one-man micro-epic puppet show melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world. Creator and performer, Tim Watts employs a unique blend of mime, puppetry, live and recorded music, and live animation to present an exploration of the oldest and next frontier: the deep blue sea. The seas have risen, billions of people have died and those who are left live on farms on mountaintop skyscrapers. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and the giant sponges, visible from the moon, are now rotting icons of failure. Now science and humanity are turning to the oceans. A last ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place to live. These are the dire circumstances that surround the tale’s central hero, Alvin Sputnik. Having just lost his wife, Alvin accepts this perilous mission to follow her soul down to the underworld to be with her once more. 29 — The Q'd Up Jazz Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and is open to the public. 30-Feb. 1 — The BYU Theatre Ballet will present “Swan Lake” during 'Ballet in Concert' at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. 31-Feb. 8 — William Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” will be on stage at the Margetts Theatre. Lightheartedly adapted (twice) and directed by Teresa Dayley Love, Shakespeare’s adventurous romance gets the double treatment – and a happy ending – in two special adaptations: as a fairy tale suited for youngsters and as a noir mystery perfect for the young at heart. Exploring the Bard’s common themes of mistaken identity, innocence wronged and jealousy, “Cymbeline” tells the story of a princess in a pickle, her banished husband, a villainous queen and “a whole lotta mayhem” in Britain. Caution: audience participation ahead! All month at the Museum of Art: “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz.” through May 10, 2014. “Simpler, Brighter, Stronger: Southwestern Art and Early Modernism, 1910-1960.” through July 26, 2014. “e.g. Monika Bravo: Landscape of Belief.” through March 15, 2014. “Shaping America: Selected Works from the Permanent Collection of American Art.” through March 2018. Admission to all exhibits is free. Hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, visit moa.byu.edu . Source: BYU News

In conjunction with the previously released album Set Apart: Beloved Missionary Hymns, the BYU Men’s Chorus has released a new arrangement of the hymn “the Iron Rod.” This new release, arranged by Ronald Staheli, will be offered as a free MP3 download, in keeping with the album’s original intents of creating an album for missionaries and to promote missionary work. The release of the new track represents a continuance of the project’s commission to inspire missionary work. Each year a new song will be released. “The Iron Rod” was made available December 12, 2013 for download at SetApartAlbum.com along with the full Set Apart album. At the album’s original release on April 5, 2013, the album was comprised of 10 new arrangements of favorite hymns created specifically for the choir. Notable arrangers, including Matthew D. Nielsen, David Zabriskie, and Lane Johnson, generously forfeited licensing rights so the BYU Men’s Chorus could offer the hymns in this album for free.

December 2013 Arts Calendar Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981,byuarts.com/tickets. 3 — BYU’s University Orchestra and University Strings will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 3 — A String Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N. University Ave., Provo. Admission is free. 4 — The BYU Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 4 — A Flute Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N., Provo. Admission is free. 5 — The BYU Jazz Lab Bands will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free . 5 — A Brass Chamber Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 of the University Parkway Center. The center is located at 1650 N., Provo. Admission is free. 6 — The BYU Songwriter Showcase will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. 6-7 — “Christmas Around the World: See the Wonder,” BYU’s popular holiday display of folk dance and music, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Marriot Center. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 2 p.m. Using a cast of more than 200 talented dancers, singers and musicians in colorful costumes, different cultures unite to give the message of peace on earth and goodwill toward all. Tickets can be purchased at the Marriott Center Ticket Office, (801) 422-BYU1, or at byutickets.com. 6-7 — THIS EVENT IS NEARLY SOLD OUT: The BYU Combined Choirs and BYU Philharmonic present the Celebration of Christmas, an annual event featuring the sounds of the holiday season at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 3 p.m. 7 — “Tuba Christmas” will be performed at 11 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. 7 — The Harp Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. 10 — The BYU Wind Symphony and the BYU Symphonic Band will perform together at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. 11 — Conductor Kory Katseanes will lead the BYU Chamber Orchestra in a performance in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. 12 — BYU’s non-auditioned choir, the University Chorale, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. All month at the Museum of Art: “Sacred Gifts: The Religious Art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz.” Nov. 15, 2013, through May 10, 2014. “Simpler, Brighter, Stronger: Southwestern Art and Early Modernism, 1910-1960.” through May 2014. “e.g. Monika Bravo: Landscape of Belief.” through March 15, 2014. “Shaping America: Selected Works from the Permanent Collection of American Art.” through March 2018. “People in a Hard Land: Iconic Images of Life in the Southwest” through Dec. 28, 2013. “Golden Days: California Art and Artists from the Edenhurst Collection.” Dec. 13, 2013, through Aug. 14, 2014. Admission to all exhibits is free. Hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sunday. For more information, visit moa.byu.edu. Source: BYU News