Elizabeth Britton, ‘Doah Staff Writer
January 21, 2015

Shenandoah University hits it off this season with concerts galore! There has already been a Collage Concert and The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” The Annual Collage Concert took place at Ohrstrom-Bryant Theater on Friday, Jan. 16, featuring faculty, staff and students performing dance numbers, theatre clips and music. If you missed out on either of these wonderful performances, worry not for there is more to come.

January is jam-packed with exciting concerts to attend. Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25, the senior dancers are putting on a concert called, “Ignite,” at the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. Saxophonist Timothy Roberts, pianist John O’Conor and violinist Akemi Takayama are showing off their talents at a free faculty saxophone recital on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. at Goodson Recital Hall.

January also starts up the series concert “The World of the Piano” where guest pianists come from all over to play for S.U. Nikolay Khozyainov, Alexander Kobrin and Soo-Jung Ann will participate in “The World of the Piano” series concerts on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m., and Sunday, Mar. 1, at 3 p.m. in Armstrong Concert Hall. According to conservatoryperforms.org, Nikolay Khozyainov, a rising pianist, is known for his masterful artistry and has been the recipient of many piano competition prizes. Alexander Kobrin has performed with many major symphony orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and Moscow Philharmonic. Soo-Jung Ann is a specialist in Beethoven’s piano music and will be performing a few of his pieces when she arrives at S.U.

As a separate part of “The World of the Piano” series, Yunjie Chen will perform Scriabin Piano Sonatas I in Armstrong Concert Hall at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and the Scriabin Piano Sonatas II Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. 7p.m. Yunjie Chen has won multiple international piano competitions in China, South Korea and the United States, according to conservatoryperforms.org. Silvan Negruţiu, an alumnus of Shenandoah University, will perform in his own recital on Sunday, Apr. 19, at 3 p.m.

On Valentine’s Day, the Shenandoah Conservatory Jazz Ensemble will present “A Celebration of Mardi Gras for Valentine’s Day” in Armstrong Concert Hall at 8 p.m. There will be a free percussion showcase of “Ragtime Rampage II” also in Armstrong Concert Hall Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. Feb. 21, the Shenandoah University Wind Ensemble performs “Poetry and Dreams” at Armstrong Concert Hall. A Concert Band free performance will occur Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. Wrapping up the February performances on Saturday, Feb. 28, the Symphony Orchestra puts on a Bach/Berio, Oliverio and Schumann concert in Armstrong Concert Hall at 8 p.m. “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” will be performed Friday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 22, at Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre.

The Shenandoah Theatre Lab has two main productions coming up. Friday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 8, the Shenandoah Theatre lab is performing “The Elephant Man,” by Bernard Pomerance.

They will perform “The Roads to Home” Friday, Mar. 27 through Sunday, Mar. 29 in Glaize Studio Theatre. They will also be performing “Marat/Sade” Friday, Apr. 17, through Sunday, Apr. 19, in the Glaize Studio Theatre.

Rebecca Lazier and Mellissa Hughes present Newspeak on Feb. 19, 20, 26 and 27. 

According to newspeak.org, the band Newspeak has been featured in several music festivals, including Tune-In Festival, the Ecstatic Music Festival and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Their unique sound has made them stand out from others in a good way. This is a concert you don’t want to miss.

In March, there are more concerts to check out. Tony Nalker and Robert Larson will put on a duo jazz piano concert called “Two Guys, Two Pianos” Wednesday, Mar. 4. at 7 p.m. Saxophonist Dr. Clifford Leamon and percussionist Dr. Scott Herring will put on a free guest artist recital on Thursday, Mar. 5 at 7 p.m. at Goodson Recital Hall. Bringing back the alumni, the conservatory is putting on a “Conservatory Alumni Reunion” Mar. 20 – 21. Friday, Mar. 20, at 8 p.m. in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre will be a dance concert. The Conservatory Jazz Ensemble will perform Friday, Mar. 20, at 8 p.m. in the Armstrong Concert Hall with “The Art of Jazz Saxophone.”

The a cappella group Shenandoah Singers will perform “Contemporary A Cappella” in Armstrong Concert Hall Saturday, Mar. 21 at 8 p.m. TRANSIT performs Daniel Wohl’s Coprs Exquis Thursday, Mar. 26 at 8 p.m. in the Bright Box Theater. Joining together to perform “Te Deum,” the Symphony Orchestra and Shenandoah Conservatory Choir will have a one night performance on Saturday, Mar. 28, at 8 p.m. in the Armstrong Concert Hall.

Wrapping up the concert season with April, we experience what most performers have been working on all through the spring term. Shenandoah Chorus and Cantus Singers perform music by women composers Friday, Apr. 10, at 8 p.m. in Goodson Recital Hall. The Jazz Ensemble performs “Afro Bop Alliance” Friday, Apr. 10 at 8 p.m. in the Bright Box Theater. Putting on their spring concert, the dancers will perform from Friday, Apr. 10 to Sunday, Apr. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. The Wind Ensemble puts on a last performance for the spring term Saturday, Apr. 11 at 8 p.m. in the Armstrong Concert Hall, entitled “Aeolian Hall Today.”

There is a free performance of the Bass Ensemble on Wednesday, Apr. 15 at 7 p.m., and another free performance Thursday, Apr. 16 at 7 p.m. for a Chamber Music Recital in the Goodson Recital Hall. There is an “Honors Chamber Music Recital” Saturday, Apr. 18 at 8 p.m. in the Goodson Recital Hall.

On Saturday, Apr. 25 at 8 p.m., there will be a (SU)PERcussion Ensemble Spring Concert that is free for everyone to attend. Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus (the Bat)” will be performed in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre from Friday, Apr. 24 until Sunday, Apr. 26. Concluding the season, bassoonist Dr. Ryan Romine puts on a free faculty recital Wednesday, Apr. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Goodson Recital Hall.

For more information, visit http://www.conservatoryperforms.org, or call (540) 665-4569.

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