music ensembles

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.

BYU DANCE Evening of Dance May 6-7 | de Jong Concert Hall Young DanceMakers, the performing company of the BYU Children’s and Teen’s Creative Dance program, perform dances inspired by activities and words of discovery BYU THEATRE Charlotte's Web May 27-June 11 | Pardoe Theatre This heartfelt drama about friendship tells the story of a girl with the ability to understand the language of animals, an irresistible young pig, and an extraordinary spider who works a miracle within the magic of her fragile web. BYU SCHOOL OF MUSIC The Lost Children of Hamelin June 8-11 | de Jong Concert Hall In this new opera, a girl sets into motion a series of events that reveal the true identity of the piper and the fate of the lost children of Hamelin in Germany in the year 1295.

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

Vocal Point, Brigham Young University’s popular nine-man pop a cappella group, will perform on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Vocal Point is seeking a hard-working, qualified student to join the group as the beat boxer/vocal percussionist. If accepted, you would begin immediately. Auditions will take place on Wednesday, January 6, from 1:30-3:30 pm in HFAC C130 (de Jong Green Room). To audition, go to the link below and click 'sign up' next to your desired time. You will be asked to enter your name, email, and cell phone number (you do not need to sign up for an account).ONLINE SIGN UP SHEET: http://goo.gl/6Ja1rCOn audition day, please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out an audition form. We will audition two people every 10 minutes. Come warmed up and prepared with:1. 30-second beat box solo (show us what you've got!)2. the ability to show grooves from different styles and genres (rock,jazz, pop, etc.)3. 30-second vocal solo in any contemporary style (no musical theater)Those wishing to audition must be full-time BYU students as of January 2016. Any questions can be directed to vocalpoint@byu.edu.

Experience the wonder and splendor of music and dance as internationally acclaimed Brigham Young University performing groups take the stage in Salt Lake City with BYU Winterfest 2016. Over the course of several weekends the Contemporary Dance Theatre, Vocal Point, Noteworthy, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Living Legends, and Ballroom Dance Company will dazzle audiences with performances showcasing a variety of artistic tastes. BYU Winterfest 2016 provides entertainment for audiences of all ages. As part of Temple Square Performances, Winterfest concerts will be held in the Conference Center Theater. Read more >>>>

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.

Brigham Young University’s Vocal Point released a new song this week. “Drag Me Down+As Long As You Love Me MASHUP” was released first on their YouTube channel at https://goo.gl/R0Z53i.

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

Seduction, deceit, wild living, death. No, not the latest HBO Drama–these themes are just a few that the 11 student illustrators from BYU’s Senior Studio Design class attempted to capture for BYU’s upcoming performance of Manon, an opera about how the desire for fleeting pleasures results in one young woman’s regretful choices. Guiding the students through the process of creating the concert poster is Professor Robert Barrett. Barrett explained that his class is one of the last chances students will have before graduation to create commissioned pieces with a mentor. “It raises the level of expectation for the students. They work pretty hard on it,” said Barrett. “I think they put their best foot forward.” While not exactly a professional commission, the project gives students the experience of meeting a client’s expectations. Students consulted with opera director Lawrence Vincent and then researched the opera more themselves to best understand and portray its essence. More>>>>

Brigham Young University’s nine-man a cappella group, BYU Vocal Point, will be releasing an album dedicated to Christmas songs on Friday, Oct. 9 during the BYU homecoming festivities. Members of Vocal Point will be at the BYU Store for CD signings from 2-3 p.m. that day.

Three leading female soloists across three different fields of music – Renee Fleming, Kelli O’Hara and Nnenna Freelon – will headline the BYU Bravo! 2015-16 Performing Arts series.

Kirt Saville, BYU professor of music education and the associate director of bands at Brigham Young University, was named as the new director of the BYU School of Music. Ed Adams, incoming dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, made the announcement today in a School of Music faculty meeting. Saville begins his three-year term immediately, replacing outgoing director Kory Katseanes. “I’ve known Kirt since he’s arrived at BYU,” said Adams. “We’ve interacted on a variety of levels. Kirt has my confidence as Director of the School of Music. I appreciate his willingness to accept the position as director and wish him and his colleagues every success moving forward.” From the start of his career at BYU in 2008, Saville has involved himself deeply in the School of Music operations. He helped lead in the review and revamp of the music minor and graduate music education curriculum, as well in the curriculum redesign of other courses. Before arriving at BYU, he served 15 years as a department chair at Washburn University. “I’m thrilled to be at BYU. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life,” commented Saville after the announcement. “I know that as the director of the School of Music there is a certain balancing act that has to go on between all of the interests and all of the excitement and all of the energy that comes up from the faculty–and from the administration that comes down. Somewhere right there in the middle of that hourglass is the director.” Adams also praised Katseanes for his two terms as director of the School of Music and his dedicated efforts to further the work of the School during his tenure. “Kory has been a remarkable effective advocate for and representative of the School during a period of tremendous accomplishment and growth,” said Adams. “He has been a successful leader in so many ways including chartering an inspiring vision for the School of Music, raising money and raising the awareness of the School to the various publics. The impressive results will have a lasting impact on faculty and students for years to come.' Katseanes was invited by Adams to share a few words during the meeting. Katseanes praised his colleagues in the School of Music office and on the executive committee. “Without the associate directors and those people who are running the affairs of the School, the director couldn’t survive. It’s too big. It’s too big,' remarked Katseanes. “In many universities, this is a college, not a department. That’s the complexity of this, but it runs because there are so many good people who do such good work.” Stephen Jones, outgoing dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, presided at the meeting and praised the School of Music faculty for their part in the selection of a new director.

His first week teaching full time at BYU, opera baritone and associate music professor Darrell G. Babidge (MM ’99) worried he might feel claustrophobic. As a performer, his voice had taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and other renowned stages.

BYU’s premier a cappella group recognized for best male collegiate album and best religious song in prestigious a cappella recording awards

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.