music ensembles

We look forward to this year in the new state-of-the-art BYU School of Music Building. We appreciate the hard work, cooperation and patience from everyone involved in the effort to construct and relocate to the new building.

A member of BYU’s Men's Chorus shares his experiences preparing for a dynamic performance This year’s BYU Spectacular! lived up to its name with energetic performances by campus ensembles and guest artists Ben Rector and Hilary Weeks — the product of hard work behind the scenes during an expedited rehearsal process. Brian Merrill — a member of BYU’s Men's Chorus — shared his experiences preparing for the event. “Something a lot of people don’t know about Spectacular! is how last-minute a lot of the preparations are,” Merrill said. “We started learning our songs a week before the performance and sang with Ben Rector a day or so before we performed together. It’s amazing that all of the coordination for Spectacular! can come together so fast.” Due to the collaborative efforts and diligence from each BYU performing group — Men’s Chorus, Young Ambassadors, Ballroom Dance Company, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Vocal Point, BYU Cougarettes and the Dunk Team — BYU Spectacular! showcased a refined performance that could have easily been rehearsed for months. “I love all of the collaboration between the performing groups,” said Merrill. “It’s really cool that we have this community of performers and we can come together at events like this. It makes it better than just one or the other performing.” This year’s Spectacular! performance was also an emotional time for BYU’s Men Chorus as conductor Rosalind Hall announced her final year as director of the choir. “I wasn’t going to do Men’s Chorus until I found out that it was going to be her last year, so I rearranged my whole class schedule,” Merrill said. “It was really special that we sang a Welsh folk song medley because she’s from Wales. The fact that we got to do something native to her is pretty meaningful for most of us.”

Forty years ago, a group of Brigham Young University student performers traveled to China and put on a show that made history. This summer, the University is celebrating that anniversary with a return tour that highlights the relationship BYU and China have shared since 1979. Following the aftermath of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, BYU’s initial tour made the Young Ambassadors and Living Legends among the first Western performing arts groups to enter the country. The tour was the idea of then-BYU President Dallin H. Oaks, who had met with President Spencer W. Kimball of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978. President Kimball spoke highly of China’s high standards and family values and upon returning from the meeting, President Oaks asked BYU officials to begin making plans for a performing arts group to go to China, despite no established U.S.-Chinese diplomatic relations at that time. But the diplomatic relations did happen in early 1979 and the show fell into place. Newly-launched China Central Television asked to broadcast BYU’s live performance and, even after the group had left the country, the channel continued to rebroadcast the performance. In the past 39 years, BYU performing groups have returned to China 28 more times. Read the full story at news.byu.edu.

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series presents an evening with The Branford Marsalis Quartet, in the Pardoe Theater on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by guest-vocalist Kurt Elling, also a Grammy award winner, who is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. In a singular collaboration of musical forces, the tight-knit band will feature Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Faulkner on drums.

Last September, the BYU Men’s Chorus invited YouTube sensation, Alex Boyé, to join them in a new music video of Baba Yetu, a choral, Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer. That new video has now reached more than 100,000 views in less than a week. BYU Sound Engineer Jeff Carter recorded and mixed a new version of this popular song from the Men’s Chorus repertoire to include the BYU Philharmonic conducted by Kory Katseanes and features Alex Boyé, a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who rose to fame with his 'Africanized' version of well-known pop songs. 'As this is an African version of the Lord’s Prayer, we thought of Alex Boyé and his 'Africianized' songs, so we invited him to be a soloist and he was perfect,' said Benjamin Jacob, president of the BYU Men's Chorus. 'He brought his own style to the piece–just a great combination of Men’s Chorus and Alex Boyé.' Read more and see the video >>>>>>>>>>

Brigham Young University’s School of Music will present “Jazz for Kids II,” with the Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band as part of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Family Concert Series on Saturday, Mar. 5, at 11 a.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Admission is free, thanks to a generous donation from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, but all attendees age two years and older need a ticket. Children of all ages are admitted to this performance (including babes in arms). Tickets can be reserved at familyconcerts.byu.edu. Directed by Steve Call, the BYU Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band will play the music of New Orleans, a city where elements of spiritual songs, blues, ragtime and military bands merged to give birth to Jazz, America’s unique and contribution to the world of music. The audience will learn about and hear the music of Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, who were the first great jazz musicians. The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Family Concert Series was created to introduce the joy of music to children and youth. All family members are encouraged to attend regardless of age.

The BYU School of Music presents the Philharmonic Orchestra in concert in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will include “Songs of a Wayfarer” by Gustav Mahler, with baritone soloist, Darrell Babidge, and Symphony no. 4 'Romantic' by Anton Bruckner. Comprising 95 of the university’s finest musicians, the Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly on campus and collaborates with BYU’s choral, opera and ballet programs. The Philharmonic is conducted by Kory Katseanes. Its repertoire focuses on the Romantic period but also includes 20th and 21st century music. This performance will be streamed live from the BYU School of Music’s website at liveconcerts.byu.edu. Performance Date: Friday, February 12 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10 (discounts for senior citizens, BYU students, groups and alumni) Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

Tickets to this winter’s BYU arts performances make the best Christmas gifts. And with 25 different events to choose from, you can sing, act or dance your way while you jingle all the way. Tickets for these performances are available for purchase through byuarts.com or by calling 801-422-2981.

The cows will never make it home this week, as Brigham Young’s Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band is accompanied by the infamous cow-pleasing quintet, The New Hot 5. The bands will come together to perform “A Night in New Orleans” featuring composition from legends such as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Role Morton and more. The New Hot Five was organized by band director Steve Call and is composing entirely of alumni from the dixieland band. The quintet was formed in 2009 and in order to accept an offer the dixieland band had to decline to perform at the Jazz en Vercors Festival in the French Alps. In 2011, The New Hot Five became a viral phenomenon with “Jazz for Cows.' In the countryside of the alpine village of Autrans, France, a herd of cows was scattered around a large pasture next to the band’s scheduled venue. While the band set up, Call began to play his tuba for the widespread herd. “It was totally spontaneous.” Call told Good Things Utah. “While we started playing, the cows just starting coming towards us and they just stood there in rapture.” The rest of the band joined in as the majority of the herd gathered around the noise as if to listen. Call’s son Bruce filmed the cow crowd, and posted “Jazz Cows” to YouTube. The viral video quickly gave the quintet national attention as it received 13 million views, a spoof on The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, and an opportunity for a special performance of the band on Good Things Utah. The New Hot Five will perform alongside the Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band on Thursday Nov. 5 in the de Jong Concert Hall. Download Program

Synthesis, the BYU School of Music’s big band jazz ensemble, presents Velvet Fog: The Life and Music of Mel Torme, with special guest Mark Stevens. Velvet Fog is a tribute to Mel Tormé, written and performed by Mark Stevens. Mel Tormé was a fabulous entertainer and Stevens weaves a delightful tale around him. Velvet Fog was originally a one-man show with Stevens accompanying himself on piano, but Stevens realized, “With every performance, I knew the music was missing something. Then it hit me! Where was Mel most at home? Where did he do his greatest work? With a big band, of course!” Mark Stevens now performs Velvet Fog accompanied by a 17 piece big band.

The Brigham Young University School of Music presents renowned cellist Lynn Harrell in concert with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra Tuesday, Mar. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall, and Wednesday, Mar. 18, at 8:00 p.m. in Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City. Tickets for the Mar. 17 performance are $15, with discounts available for seniors, alumni and students, and can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone 801.422.2981 or online at byuarts.com. Tickets for the Mar. 18 concert are free and will be available in the Abravanel Hall lobby the evening of the performance. Lynn Harrell is a Grammy Award-winning American classical cellist who has played as a special guest with orchestras in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Harrell received his training at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School before going on to play with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Royal Academy of Music in London and teaching at the USC Thorton School of Music. Harrell currently tours the globe as a soloist, chamber musician, conductor and teacher. Harrell and the Philharmonic Orchestra will perform “Overture to Benvenuto Cellini” from Hector Berlioz, “Don Juan” from Richard Strauss and “Cello Concerto in B Minor” from Antonin Dvorak. The Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Kory Katseanes, plays compositions from all musical periods, focusing on the romantic period but also including 20th- and 21st-century music. Nearly 100 of the university's finest musicians bring these great symphonic works to life. The performance is sponsored by BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts at BYU, the university’s concert series that plays host to many world-renowned guest artists from across the globe. For more information, contact Ken Crossley at 801.422.9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu. Tickets and Show Details Performance Dates: March 17, 2015 Times: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $15 (discounts available for students, alumni and seniors) Tickets: Available at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone 801.422.2981 or visit byuarts.com

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.

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