This month, All Faiths Chapel has been rocking with beats ranging from pianist Joanna Trzeciak to a cello recital by Adriana La Rosa Ransom to performances by K-State Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble and Clarinet Ensemble. The K-State Music Department is offering a free concert series during the month of March.
“The professors like to supplement guest performances into student’s education to help expose the students to other artists and styles,” said Kristin Mortenson, outreach coordinator for the Department of Music.
This evening, the department will host a recital featuring the band Duo Montagnard, which consists of guitarist Matthew Slotkin and saxophonist Joseph Murphy. Duo Montagnard has performed more than 140 concerts around the world in countries ranging from New Zealand to Greece to the United Kingdom. The pair has also played in 30 different states in the U.S. The show features compositions from Robert Beaser, Chick Corea and several others.
“This performance will give our jazz guitarists a good opportunity to see the classical side of their instrument,” Mortenson said.
The department is also offering a K-State Wind Ensemble and Concert Band concert on March 13 at 3 p.m., which will feature selections by Gordon Jacob, Rob Smith, Ira Hearshen and Michael Daugherty.
On March 14 a cello recital and a K-State Jazz bands performance will be taking over the campus. The cello recital is at 7:30 p.m. in All Faiths Chapel, and will feature artist Adriana La Rosa Ransom who will play works by Francoeur, Faure, Messiaen and Poulenc. The Concert Jazz Ensemble and the Lab A Jazz Band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. in Forum Hall. The K-State bands will perform along with guest artist Graham Breedlove and the Army Blues jazz ensemble.
The K-State University Band and Choir joint concert will be March 15 at 7:30 p.m. at McCain Auditorium.
On March 16 and 17, Peter Boonshaft, best-selling author of the books “Teaching Music with Passion,” “Teaching Music with Purpose” and “Teaching with Promise,” will be offering lectures to music education classes.
Two student performances will take the stage at All Faiths Chapel and McCain Auditorium on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, guest pianist Joanna Trzeciak will be performing works from Beethoven, Chopin, Szymanowski and Hummel at All Faiths Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Trzeciak has recorded for Polish Radio and Television.
The K-State Concert Choir and the Liberty Christian High School Concert Choir on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in All Faiths Chapel. On March 30 at 7:30 p.m., the K-State Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble and Clarinet Ensemble will perform at All Faiths Chapel.
March will end with a performance by pianist Neal Larrabee. Larrabee has toured in the U.S. and Europe, performing extensively in Poland.
The free concert series helps enhance the education of students in the department of music, Mortenson said.
“We are teaching our students to be better performers and teachers,” Mortenson said. “The concert series helps our students learn to be listeners. We spend all of our lives learning to play instruments. It is important for students to be part of the audience so they can lead by example and learn to be advocators of music.”