music ensembles

BYU's jazz band, Synthesis, is currently on tour in Brazil, May 16—June 18. Synthesis started off the tour strong with a workshop and then a sold out performance in front of 800 people in Betim. On Sunday, members of Synthesis tasted the culture of Brazil as they split up to have meals with local members in Belo Horizonte. And the first week ended well with a fireside in Belo Horizonte. Over the next few weeks, the 18-member band will participate in jazz festivals, small performances, and jazz workshops all over the country. Synthesis also plans to hold workshops with local jazz bands and students as they visit major cities including Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. For more information regarding BYU performing groups, visit pam.byu.edu. To book a performance, contact Performing Arts Management at (801) 422-3576 or perform@byu.edu.

Vocal Point will perform at the Covey Center for the Arts Friday and Saturday, March 8-9. Tickets for the Covey Center performances are $12 for reserved seating, with a $2 discount available for students. Tickets can be purchased online at coveycenter.org.

Vocal Point's new music video was recently released and featured on the BYU homepage. The video shares a touching version of 'Danny Boy' from the male a capella group's new album. The video was released to advertise their concert this weekend at the Covey Center for the Arts this Friday and Saturday. Tiffany Solis, from BYU Records relates, 'The most beloved song of Gordon B. Hinckley, 'Danny Boy' was originally intended as a love song sung by a girl to her sweetheart, but it is now more often associated with brotherly affection between friends. When McKay Crockett collaborated with Keith McKay Evans for this arrangement, Keith viewed the lyrics in a different way: about a father struggling to share his feelings with his departing son. In the newly written final verse, the father contemplates that perhaps he will outlive his precious Danny Boy.' Watch and listen to this interpretation of 'Danny Boy' in the video below:

Vocal Point, Brigham Young University’s celebrated male a cappella group, will perform in concert at the Covey Center for the Arts on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17, at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

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.

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.

Winterfest 2012 is bringing Brigham Young University's internationally acclaimed performance groups, including Vocal Point, the Young Ambassadors and Theatre Ballet, to the Conference Center Theater in Salt Lake City over the course of several weekends.

After delighting celebrity judges and nationwide viewers weekly this fall, BYU's Vocal Point concluded its run in NBC's 'The Sing-Off.' Four other a cappella groups advanced.

BYU's male a cappella group Vocal Point was a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll Monday night on NBC's 'The Sing-Off.' With two successful performances from completely different genres, the guys advanced to compete in the top five.

BYU's male a cappella team Vocal Point earned their spot in the final six groups on NBC's 'The Sing-Off' through their performance Monday night. Judges and the studio audience loved their dynamic and hip-swinging medley of Elvis Presley hits.

BYU's male a cappella group Vocal Point returned to compete in the Top 10 of NBC's 'The Sing-Off' on Monday. After their classic rock 'n roll performance, the judges had only positive things to say, and they will be continuing onto the next round of the competition.

BYU's male a cappella group Vocal Point returned to NBC's 'The Sing-Off' in strong fashion on Monday.

This fall Vocal Point is sharing their passion for maximum a cappella with millions of viewers through participation in NBC’s The Sing-Off. BYU’s all-male a cappella sensation is one of 16 groups featured on the third season of the hit TV show hosted by Nick Lachey with judges Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles, and Shawn Stockman.

Performing before a sold-out audience at the Lincoln Center in New York City, Brigham Young University's premier contemporary a cappella ensemble Vocal Point finished first runner-up at the finals of the 2011 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. Despite coming up just short for the overall award, Vocal Point did take top honors in several individual award categories. Sophomore Jake Hunsaker was recognized as Outstanding Soloist for his rendition of 'Meglio Stasera (It Had Better Be Tonight),' a tune recently made popular by Michael Bublé. In addition, junior Tanner Nilsson received the award for Outstanding Vocal Percussion. Vocal Point entered the finals as the top group in the West Region, having placed first in its quarterfinal and semifinal qualifying rounds held in Eugene, Ore., and Los Angeles, Calif., respectively. The finals featured the top seven qualifiers from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Vocal Point was edged out by a group from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., known as Pitch Slapped. This year's competition started with a field of more than 150 groups from around the world. 'Every group on stage tonight was amazing,' said Vocal Point director James Stevens. 'We performed as well as we ever have. I'm proud of our guys for the way they represented BYU.' Vocal Point won the ICCA championship in 2006. The group qualified for the finals on two prior occasions but was unable to compete because the final round at the time was held on a Sunday. This year marked the group's second return to the championship round in New York. 'We'll be back,' said senior McKay Crockett. 'One of our goals every year is to make the finals. We're thrilled to have made it this year, and it was an honor to share a stage with these other amazing groups.' Vocal Point celebrated its 20th anniversary in March, complete with a reunion concert featuring 70-plus Vocal Point singers from 1991 to the present. The group's two founders, Bob Ahlander and Dave Boyce, were in the audience Saturday night. 'This year has been real special for Vocal Point,' said Ahlander. 'A month ago the original guys that started the group in 1991 got to sing together again, along with all the alumni through the years. Now we see the current group and how far they've come. It's a thrill.' Vocal Point is a part of the School of Music at BYU and one of 18 performing groups sponsored by the university. It is the most-requested performing group at BYU and regularly performs to sold-out crowds on and off campus. Members of Vocal Point devote 10-20 hours of time to the group each week. They do not receive scholarships or other compensation for their time. Photographs and video clips available upon request. Please contact Alex Leeman at (801) 628-3861 or alex.leeman@hotmail.com. Source: BYU News

Brigham Young University's nine-man a cappella singing group, Vocal Point, brought alumni members back together for its 20th anniversary celebration in a reunion concert in early March at the Covey Center for the Arts. The show featured all nine founding members from the 1991 group, along with about 70 of their successors. Although Vocal Point had reunion concerts to mark its 10th and 15th years, this was the first time that the founding lineup had sung together since graduating from BYU. Vocal Point was founded in 1991 by Bob Ahlander and Dave Boyce while both were students at BYU. 'We were looking for a singing outlet that was maybe a bit outside the BYU norm,' Ahlander said. 'We wanted to do something BYU had never seen before.' The group takes songs heard on the radio, retools them and delivers a new rendition with voices alone — complete with all the complex percussion and instrumentation found in the originals. Started in the tradition of Ivy League glee clubs, Vocal Point has developed a varied repertoire of rock, pop, country, jazz, spiritual and R&B styles, all produced in the group's unique style. Vocal Point was originally intended to be a double-quartet with just eight members. However, at the conclusion of the first auditions, Ahlander and Boyce found themselves unable to decide between two singers with only one more spot to fill. At that point, Vocal Point's signature nine-man sound was born. 'When we created Vocal Point, we envisioned a group that would become a tradition at BYU,' Boyce said. 'We are so happy and proud of what Vocal Point has become. We often joke that we wouldn't make it into the group if we auditioned today.' More than 100 men have sung with Vocal Point, including the nine currently in the group. To mark the 20-year anniversary of Vocal Point, BYU's Tantara Records is releasing the group's latest album, 'Back in Blue.' In addition, Tantara has remastered Vocal Point's first album, 'If Rocks Could Sing,' which was also released in conjunction with the anniversary concert. This marks the first time 'Rocks' has been available on CD. 'Back in Blue' is Vocal Point's eighth album. Song samples of all eight albums can be heard at www.byumusicstore.com. Vocal Point is part of the BYU School of Music and one of 18 performing groups sponsored by the university. It is the most-requested performing group at BYU and regularly performs in front of sold-out crowds on and off campus. Members of Vocal Point devote more than 20 hours each week to the group and do not receive scholarships or other compensation for their time. The group performs for more than 50,000 people each year, regularly selling out shows weeks in advance. Vocal Point is under the direction of Buck Mangum, the group's fifth director. For more information, contact Alex B. Leeman at (801) 628-3861 or alex.leeman@hotmail.com. To learn more about Vocal Point, visit www.byuvocalpoint.com. For photos, visit http://pam.byu.edu/group/vocal-point/. Source: BYU News

For the most up-to-date times and ticket availability about these events, visit byuarts.com/tickets. Tuesday, March 1 Vocal Concert: Popular male vocal group Chanticleer, known around the world as 'an orchestra of voices,' will be performing in a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are on sale at byuarts.com/tickets and cost $17 to $35 for the public, $14 to $32 for alumni and senior citizens or $10 to $28 for BYU students and employees. Tuesday, March 1 — Saturday, March 5 Jazz Week: The School of Music's 32nd Annual Jazz Week celebration will feature the following events: Tuesday, March 1 — Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band Concert: BYU's Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band will be performing at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Guest artist Dan Barrett will be featured on trombone. Tickets are $6 at byuarts.com/tickets. Wednesday, March 2 — Jazz Voices Concert: Jazz Voices, a student ensemble that features some of the brightest jazz singers at BYU, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The vocal group is known for its tight harmonies, rhythmic accuracy, clever improvisation and 'scatting' abilities, sung a cappella and with other instruments such as the piano, guitar, bass and drums. Tickets are available at byuarts.com/tickets for $6. Jazz Voices is directed by Allen Matthews. Friday, March 4 — Jazz Ensemble Concert: Directed by Mark Ammons, BYU's up-and-coming Jazz Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall for $6 a seat, available at byuarts.com/tickets. Saturday, March 5 - Synthesis Big Band Concert: BYU's premier jazz band Synthesis will perform in its 'American Big Band Jazz' concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost between $6 and $10 a seat and can be purchased at byuarts.com/tickets. Synthesis is directed by Ray Smith. Wednesday, March 2 Concerto Solos: Student soloists from the School of Music and the Philharmonic Orchestra will be featured in the annual 'Evening of Concertos' at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are available at byuarts.com/tickets or (801) 422-4322 for $6 to $10. Thursday through Saturday, March 3-5 Vocal Concert: BYU's premier nine-man a cappella singing group Vocal Point is bringing its alumni back together for its 20th anniversary in a 'Maximum A Cappella' reunion concert Saturday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at the Covey Center for the Arts. Three additional performances, without Vocal Point alumni, will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 3-5, at 7:30 p.m. at the same location. Tickets are available at coveycenter.org or (801) 852-7007 for $10 for the balcony or $12 for the main floor. Friday, March 4 Violin Concert: Hong-Mei Xiao, first prize-winning violist at the Geneva International Music Competition, will be the guest artist at BYU's annual William Primrose Memorial Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free for both the concert and the accompanying Primrose Memorial Master Class Thursday, March 3, at 5 p.m. in E-432 Harris Fine Arts Center. Tuesday, March 8 Modern Music Concert: BYU's avant-garde music ensemble Group for New Music will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. Guest clarinetist Kenneth Long, professor of clarinet at Georgia State University, will present the Utah premiere of 'Corrugated Refrains,' a commissioned piece by BYU faculty composer Neil Thornock. Piano Concert: The School of Music is commemorating the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt in a piano recital featuring 18 of his famous Hungarian Rhapsodies at 6 p.m. in the Museum of Art Auditorium. Admission is free. Wednesday, March 9 Folk Concert: The BYU Folk Music Ensemble will be performing in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Tickets cost $6 a seat, available at byuarts.com/tickets. Playing traditional American Cajun, bluegrass and country-western music, the Folk Music Ensemble taps the roots of BYU's pioneer heritage to present a colorful display of harmony and rapid-fire instrumental work. Thursday through Saturday, March 10-12 Dance Competition: BYU will once again host the 2011 U.S. National Amateur Dancesport Championships, one of the nation's largest amateur ballroom dance competitions, in the Marriott Center. Ticket prices vary according to seats and competition day. For a complete competition schedule and ticket pricing, go to byudancesport.com. Tickets can be purchased at the Marriott Center Ticket Office at (801) 422-BYU1 or at byutickets.com. Shakespearean Play: The Theatre and Media Arts Department at BYU will present a WWII-twist to Shakespeare's classic comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing' nightly at 7:30 p.m. in the Margetts Theatre. A matinee performance will also be Saturday, March 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for all performances, available at byuarts.com/tickets. Friday, March 11 Bass Recital: Guest artist Barry Green will perform on double bass at 7:30 p.m. at the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. Green was the principal bassist for the Cincinnati Symphony and teaches his own bass method, having published three instructional books during his career. Saturday, March 12 Experimental Music Concert: BYU's Group for Experimental Music will be joined by British saxophone luminary John Butcher in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Butcher is a virtuoso and pioneer of extended techniques on the saxophone and a master of collective and solo improvisation. Wednesday, March 16-Friday, April 1 Play: The Theatre and Media Arts Department at BYU will present an adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Persuasion' nightly at 7:30 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. Tickets cost from $10 to $15. Dress rehearsals will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 16-17, for $8 a seat, while a matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, also for $8. Purchase tickets at byuarts.com/tickets or call (801) 422-4322. There will be no performances Sundays or Mondays. Thursday through Saturday, March 17-19 Musical Performance: BYU's energetic Young Ambassadors musical performance group will appear in concert at the de Jong Concert Hall nightly at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost from $6 to $10, available at byuarts.com/tickets. The Young Ambassadors' repertoire consists of contemporary music and dance for a fast-paced showcase of American musical theater. Student Directing Project: A showing of a student-made production based on Oscar Wilde's classic novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' will be held nightly at 7:30 p.m. in the Margetts Theatre. The presentation is sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Dance Performance: The Department of Dance's annual 'dancEnsemble' will feature a contemporary dance showcase highlighting some of the best dancers in the department. The performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre (166 RB), with an additional matinée performance Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $6 a seat at byuarts.com. Saturday, March 19 Faculty Recital: Faculty artist Douglas E. Bush will present an organ recital commemorating J.S. Bach's birthday. The performance is free and will be held in the Madsen Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 Jazz Music: Everyone is welcome to attend the free Jazz Combo Night, an evening with performances by several of BYU's jazz ensembles. The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Madsen Recital Hall. Contemporary Dance Performance: The acclaimed Martha Graham Dance Company will be performing at BYU at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets for the performance cost from $8 to $30, available at byuarts.com/tickets. Wednesday, March 23 Flute Concert: BYU's Flute Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the University Parkway Center on the northeast corner of University Parkway and University Avenue. Admission is free. Wednesday through Saturday, March 23-26 Classic Greek Tragedy: The Experimental Theatre Company is presenting Sophocles' fateful 'Oedipus the King' nightly at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Margetts Theatre. On Saturday, the play will be held at noon and 2 p.m. instead. Tickets are available at byuarts.com/tickets and cost $5 for students and $7 for the public. Thursday, March 24 Cultural Dance Performance: BYU's Polynesian, Latin American and Native American dancing sensation Living Legends will be performing cultural dances, choreographed to world music, in a performance at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are on sale at byuarts.com/tickets for $6 to $10. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the ethnic dance group, which has performed in more than 45 countries since 1971. Saxophone Concert: BYU's saxophone ensemble will perform in the Saxophone Chamber Night at 7:30 p.m. at the University Parkway Center on the northeast corner of University Parkway and University Avenue. Admission is free. Friday and Saturday, March 25-26 Dance Showcase: Students from the Department of Dance present their final projects in the Senior Dance Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre (166 RB). Tickets cost $6 at byuarts.com/tickets. Vocal Performance: The largest collegiate male choral group in the United States, the BYU Men's Chorus, will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets cost $6 to $10 at byuarts.com/tickets. Friday, March 25 Woodwind Concert: A student ensemble will perform in the School of Music's Woodwind Chamber Night at 7:30 p.m. at the University Parkway Center on the northeast corner of University Parkway and University Avenue. Admission is free. Saturday, March 26 Harp Performance: BYU's Harp Ensemble will perform in a recital at 3 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. Tuesday, March 29 Trombone Concert: A student ensemble will perform in the School of Music's Trombone Choir concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission is free. Orchestra and Strings Concert: BYU's University Orchestra and University Strings will perform in a joint concert at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets cost $3 a seat at byuarts.com/tickets. Wednesday, March 30 Songwriter Showcase: Students from the School of Music will perform new works in the Songwriter Showcase at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Admission to this Nashville-style event is free. Symphonic Concert: BYU's 85-member Symphony Orchestra will perform instrumental music at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets cost $6 and are available at byuarts.com/tickets. Note that the 2010-11 BYU arts season mrochure erroneously lists an additional performance by the BYU Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday, March 29. Wednesday is the only performance that will take place. Thursday, March 31 International Dance Showcase: BYU's International Folk Dance Ensemble presents a concert program at 7:30 p.m. at the Covey Center for the Arts. Tickets cost $8 for seniors, $9 for students and $10 for the public, available at coveycenter.org. The International Dance Showcase will feature traditional dances from more than a dozen nations, including Ukraine, Russia, Korea, Poland, Mexico and the United States. Student Directing Project: A showing of the student-made production called 'To Thine Own Self Be True: Being a Girl at BYU' will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Nelke Theatre. The presentation is sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Thursday and Friday, March 31-April 1 Contemporary Dance Showcase: The Department of Dance is presenting its Contemporary Dance Showcase, which features new contemporary works performed by students in the Richards Building Studio Theatre (166 RB). Tickets cost $6 and are available at byuarts.com/tickets. All Month Free Art Exhibits at the MOA: BYU's Museum of Art has a number of free exhibits on display throughout the month: 'Wide-Open Spaces: Capturing the Grandeur of the Southwest' includes a number of artists from the Western United States and explores how they capture the beautiful landscapes and people of the Southwest in art. The exhibit closes Thursday, March 10. The exhibit, 'Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand,' will continue until May 2011. The exhibit features works by Bloch, a 19th-century Danish artist, whose paintings of Jesus Christ are often used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Admission is free, but registration for tickets for this exhibit is required at carlbloch.byu.edu. 'e.g.' is an interactive art piece by Brian Knep that allows participants to walk through the art and watch it rebuild itself. 'Dorothea Lange's Three Mormon Towns,' a new exhibition at the BYU Museum of Art, features 21 of Lange's photographs from this series acquired by the museum. The exhibition also draws from the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago and the collection of John and Lolita Dixon. The MOA is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays. For tours and additional information, visit moa.byu.edu or call (801) 422-ARTS. Source: BYU News

Brigham Young University's premier nine-man a cappella singing group, Vocal Point, is bringing alumni members back together for its 20th anniversary celebration in the 'Maximum A Cappella' reunion concert Saturday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at the Covey Center for the Arts. Three additional performances, without Vocal Point alumni, will be held Thursday through Saturday, March 3-5, at 7:30 p.m. at the same location. Tickets are available at coveycenter.org or (801) 852-7007 for $10 on the balcony or $12 on the floor. The show will feature all nine founding members from the 1991 group, along with about 70 of their successors. Although Vocal Point had reunion concerts to mark its 10th and 15th years, this will be the first time that the founding lineup has sung together since graduating from BYU. Vocal Point was founded in 1991 by Bob Ahlander and Dave Boyce while both were students at BYU. 'We were looking for a singing outlet that was maybe a bit outside the BYU norm,' Ahlander said. 'We wanted to do something BYU had never seen before.' The group takes the songs heard on the radio, retools them and delivers a new rendition with voices alone — complete with all the complex percussion and instrumentation found in the originals. Started in the tradition of Ivy League glee clubs, Vocal Point has developed a varied repertoire of rock, pop, country, jazz, spiritual and R&B styles, all produced in the group's unique style. Vocal Point was originally intended to be a double-quartet with just eight members. However, at the conclusion of the first auditions, Ahlander and Boyce found themselves unable to decide between two singers with only one more spot to fill. At that point, Vocal Point's signature nine-man sound was born. 'When we created Vocal Point, we envisioned a group that would become a tradition at BYU,' Boyce said. 'We are so happy and proud of what Vocal Point has become. We often joke that we wouldn't make it into the group if we auditioned today.' More than 100 men have sung with Vocal Point, including the nine currently in the group. To mark the 20-year anniversary of Vocal Point, BYU's Tantara Records is releasing Vocal Point's latest album, 'Back in Blue.' In addition, Tantara is in the process of remastering Vocal Point's first album, 'If Rocks Could Sing,' which is slated to be rereleased soon. This will mark the first time 'Rocks'Á¢€—has been available on CD. 'Back in Blue' is Vocal Point's eighth album. Vocal Point is part of the BYU School of Music and one of 18 performing groups sponsored by the university. It is the most-requested performing group at BYU and regularly performs in front of sold-out crowds on and off campus. Members of Vocal Point devote more than 20 hours each week to the group and do not receive scholarships or other compensation for their time. The group performs for more than 50,000 people each year, regularly selling out shows weeks in advance. Vocal Point is currently under the direction of Buck Mangum, the group's fifth director. For more information, contact Alex B. Leeman at (801) 628-3861 or alex.leeman@hotmail.com. To learn more about Vocal Point, visit www.byuvocalpoint.com. For photos, visit http://pam.byu.edu/group/vocal-point/. Source: BYU News

The Brigham Young University Jazz Ensemble will join with Vocal Point in a concert Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.