January 2008

JAZZ
Sunday, January 20
Gary Smulyan, jazz saxophone
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
As part of the USM Youth Ensembles Jazz Improvisation Weekend for High School Musicians, the public is welcome to a master class and a performance featuring guest artist, Gary Smulyan.  The master class is at 2 p.m.  $6 to observe. At 7 p.m., there will be a finale performance by the student combos including the faculty concert with guest artist Smulyan. USM faculty include Chris Humphrey, Les Harris Jr., Gary Wittner, Trent Austin, Bill Street and Michelle Snow. Admission is $6 / $3. Limited seating available.
Sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank

Saturday, January 26, 5:00 p.m. Free
Marshunda Smith, Graduate Conducting Recital. Student of Robert Lehmann

Saturday, January 26, 8:00 p.m. Free
Sr. Recital - Stephen Lemieux, Euphonium (Please note this is ½ recital with no partner)

Sunday, January 27, 2:00 p.m. Free
Sr. Recital - Timothy Webber, Jazz Percussion student of Les Harris, Jr & Nancy Smith.

Sunday, January 27, 5:00 p.m. Free
Sr. Recital - John Coons, Vocal Student of Malcolm Smith

February 2008

MASTER CLASS
Monday, Feb. 4
Marie-France Lefebvre, pianist, vocal coach
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
French-Canandian pianist Marie-France Lefebvre has served as a diction coach, rehearsal pianist and prompter at The Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and the Aspen Music Festival. She will present three masterclasses for singers and pianists: "The Art of Vocal Accompanying," 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (free admission); "French and Italian Diction and Repertoire," 3 - 5 p.m. ($6 to observe); "La Bohème and Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Workshop," 7 - 9 p.m. ($6 to observe).

CLASSICAL / OPERA
Saturday, February 9, 8 p.m.
Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra
Gorham Middle School Auditorium
An Opera Gala featuring nine faculty members of the SOM in arias and duets as well as highlights from Mozart's “Marriage of Figaro” “Most Happy Fella,” and the final scene from Puccini's “La Boheme” performed by Opera Workshop students. Robert Lehmann conducts the SMSO in this concert of operatic favorites. Performers include Christina Astrachan, John Boden, Ellen Chickering, David Goulet, Bruce Fithian, Judith James, Malcolm Smith, Robert Lehmann, and Margaret Yauger. $6 / $3. (Snow date Feb. 13)

MASTER CLASS
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Lisa Saffer master class
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Soprano Lisa Saffer has won accolades on both sides of the Atlantic for her amazing vocal power and range.  Nominated for London’s prestigious Olivier Award for outstanding achievement in opera, she is well known for her performances of Baroque opera. $6 to observe.

 

March 2008

CLASSICAL
Saturday, March 1, 8 p.m.
Graduate Showcase Recital
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
A recital by selected graduate performance majors of the USM School of Music.  Free.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Friday March 7, 2-5 p.m.
Ronald F. Cole Annual Alumni Series
“Entrepreneurship in the Arts” residency
Corthell Concert Hall
Gary Beckman, ’99, visiting professor at the University of South Carolina's School of Music, will present two days of lectures, meetings and workshops in the School on the multi-faceted “business” of the arts. The public is welcome to attend two panel discussions on arts management of interest to those who work in the arts and/or are an artist themselves. Free.

CLASSICAL
Friday, March 7, 8 p.m.
Spotlight Concert Series
The Universal Pistons
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
This horn quartet performs popular music … of the 1800’s! The Universal Pistons – Joperform what was salon music of the time on natural and early valved horns. This concert will include works by Richter, Wunderer, Tcherepine and others. $15/ $10/ $5. Sponsored by Dahlia Lynn & Arthur Handman

THEATER
Friday, March 14 – Sunday, March 23
Musical Theater
“City of Angels”
Russell Hall, USM Gorham campus
Co-production with the USM Department of Theatre
Winner of six Tony Awards! Set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the ‘40’s, the world of film studios and flimsy negligees, the show chronicles the misadventures of a young novelist attempting to adapt one of his books for the silver screen. In doing so, we encounter both the real world and the “reel” world, as the writer’s life begins to unravel and his screenplay unfolds on stage. Book by Larry Gelbart, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel. Directed by Wil Kilroy, musical director, Edward Reichert. Tickets: $15/ $10/ $5 Call the Theatre Box Office at 780-5151
March 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.
March 16, 19 and 23 at 5 p.m.
Sponsored by USM Music Patrons

MASTER CLASS
Friday March 21
A Day with the Borromeo Quartet
This outstanding quartet, presented by PCA Great Performances, will give a brief performance during the SoM’s weekly Recital Class as well as coach USM music majors and Youth Ensemble student musicians in the afternoon. $6.

CLASSICAL
Sunday March 30, 2 p.m.
USM Concert Band
McCormack Performing Arts Center, Gorham High School
Directed by Peter Martin, the band performs works the best of band literature. $6/ $3

April 2008

CLASSICAL
Friday, April 4, 8 p.m.
Spotlight Concert Series
Keith Crook, classical guitar
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Our acoustically fine concert hall is the perfect place for this recital on solo classical guitar. Crook will perform 19th and early 20th century works by Dionisio Aguado, one of the best yet unknown sonatas for guitar by Simon Franz Molitor, four flamenco-flavored pieces by Angel Barrios – plus three of his own compositions, including “Retroactive Felicity.” $15/ $10/ $5

CLASSICAL
Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m.
USM Chamber Music Awards
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
The finest student chamber music ensembles, selected by audition. Free

MASTER CLASS
Sunday, April 6,
Flute Master Class and Concert with Roberta Michel
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Master class with Maine native and graduate of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, part of the USM Youth Ensembles. 5 p.m. $6 Before her Carnegie Hall debut with Artist International this spring, she will also perform a concert at USM at 8 p.m. $10 / $5.

CLASSICAL / OPERA
Friday, April 11, 8 p.m.
USM Opera Workshop
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Directed by Ellen Chickering, the members of the workshop will perform “Positively Puccini” -- staged scenes from his well-known operas. $6 / $3

MUSIC - GENERAL
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m.
31st Annual Honors Recital
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Each year eight to ten of the School’s best solo performers are selected by audition for this prestigious concert. Free

CLASSICAL / YOUTH
Thursday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
USM Youth Ensembles
Merrill Auditorium, Portland City Hall
Come experience the excitement and artistic accomplishments of 200 young musicians in concert, and hear why 1000 people stand and cheer this premiere program for pre-college musicians at every performance. Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, Robert Lehmann conductor, will perform scenes from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Also: the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, Peter Martin conductor; Portland Youth Junior Orchestra, Dan Keller conductor; and Portland Young People’s String Consort, Deborah Dabcyznski conductor. $6/$3 suggested donation at the door.
With the support of the Sam L. Cohen Foundation

CLASSICAL
Friday, April 18, 8 p.m.
Spotlight Concert Series
Meliora Quartet
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Meliora is the motto of the Eastman School of Music signifying the pursuit of a friend, for Haydn's "Emperor" Quartet, Shostakovich's monumental “Quartet No. 8” (dedicated to the memory of victims of fascism and war), and Dvorak's rarely heard masterpiece, the “C Major Quartet, Op. 61.”
Performers include Robert Lehmann, violin, Yasmin Craig-Vitalius,
violin, Kimberly Lehmann, viola, and Jim Kennedy, cello. $15 / $10 / $5.
Sponsored by WBRC Architects & Engineers

CLASSICAL / VOCAL
Saturday, April 19, 5 p.m.
USM Chamber Singers
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
The School’s premiere vocal ensemble, the USM Chamber Singers, will present some of the repertoire they will perform on tour in Europe this summer. $6 / $3

CLASSICAL
Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m.
Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra
Gorham Middle School Auditorium
This concert, conducted by Robert Lehmann, features the winners of the biennial Concerto / Aria Competition. $6 / $3

CLASSICAL / VOCAL
Sunday, April 20, 2 p.m.
USM Chorale
Immanuel Baptist Church, High Street, Portland
Conducted by Robert Russell, the Chorale will perform choral selections including parts of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. $10 / $5

JAZZ / VOCAL
Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.
USM Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Michelle Snow conducts these singers in a lively program of jazz favorites. $6 / $3

JAZZ
Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m.
Evenings At Abromson
“Swing Into Spring” with the USM Jazz Ensembles
Hannaford Hall, Abromson Center, Portland campus
To celebrate their new CD, the USM Jazz Ensemble, directed by Douglas Owens, and the Lab Jazz Ensemble, directed by USM alumnus Larry Williams, will present an evening of standard big band music from the library of the Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton Orchestras as well as contemporary literature by Maria Schneider, Tom Kubis and Pat Metheny, among others. $15 / $10. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the door.
Visit www.usm.maine.edu/cce or call (207) 780-5900

CLASSICAL
Friday, April 25, 8 p.m.
USM Composers Showcase
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Performances of brand new compositions by undergraduate and graduate students directed by Dan Sonenberg, Free

MASTER CLASS
Saturday, April 26, 1:30 p.m.
Aleksandra Vrebalov, composer
320 Corthell Hall
Composer Aleksandra Vrebalov works with composers in a master class. $6

CLASSICAL
Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m.
USM Wind Ensemble
Corthell Concert Hall, USM Gorham
Peter Martin conducts this first rate ensemble in a program of works for winds. $6/$3

CLASSICAL / VOCAL / YOUTH
Saturday, May 10, 3 p.m.
Southern Maine Children’s Chorus
Freeport Performing Arts Center. 
Conducted by Lise Dunn, Part of the USM Youth Ensembles.  Details on tickets at: www.freeportpac.org

Highlights of past seasons