Exciting & Inexpensive Live Performances This Week

This is it. You’re packing up your dorm room, storing your notes for further study (or shredding them, depending on how your academic semester went), and saying goodbye to friends for the summer. Maybe you’re graduating, excited to take it easy for the summer or to do just the opposite – jet set.

Before you take off, we recommend you attend any of these awesome live performances in and around DC. From the Millenium Stage to the 9:30 Club to the Bach Sinfonia – there’s something for everyone!

Nuevo Mundo Barocco! (New Baroque), presented by the Bach Sinfonia

Sunday May 5 at 3pm

Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center at Silver Spring

7995 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910 (Directions here)

* Metro accessible via Red Line to Silver Spring! *

“Latin flair meets Baroque majesty on Cinco de Mayo! Over the past three decades researches have uncovered a treasure trove of music in the Cathedral cities and missions of Mexico and South America. Both Jesuit missionaries from the old world Europe as well as native composers produced radiant music for liturgical services and civic occasions. A chance to hear some great 17th and 18th century music of the ‘Other Americas’.”

Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano

Richard Savino, baroque guitar

Daniel Abraham, artistic director

Tickets only $15 for students and can be ordered online or can be purchased at the venue

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Millenium Stage Performances at the Kennedy Center

FREE Performances every day, no ticket required!

All performances are at 6pm

Upcoming Performances include The Old Bay Ceili Band (Tuesday May 7) and a showcase from the Levine School of Music (Wednesday May 8)

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Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns

Monday May 6,  8:00-11:00pm

2001 11th St. NW

* A necessary DC experience! * $10 cover

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Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio

Friday May 10 at 8:00 pm

The Music Center at Strathmore

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda MD 20852

Tickets $28 and Up

From Strathmore: “Béla Fleck has been nominated in more Grammy categories than anyone in history, and has taken home 14 of the statuettes, wandering gleefully across genres and bringing together eclectic and utterly amazing groups of musicians. This season, Strathmore favorite Fleck brings a brilliant collaboration with one of today’s most lauded jazz ensembles, with Marcus Roberts on piano, Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass. “There was an improvisational, what’s going-to-happen-next feeling to the entire show. After a stunning rendition of ‘Lullaby of Birdland,’ Fleck picked up a microphone: ‘I’ve never been terrified in such a friendly way before.’” (Savannah Unplugged).”

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The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2013

Saturday May 11 – Sunday May 12, 10am-6pm

* Located at Woodmont Triangle, less than 6 blocks from Bethesda Metro Station *

It’s not necessarily a musical performance but outdoor craft markets are wonderful!

End of Semester Spring Fever!!!

Hello gentle-library folk!

The end of the semester is wrapping up, and with it, there are some exciting happenings going on.

Friday, 10am – 2pm:  outside of the Bender Arena we have the an LP bag sale. 10 – 12pm, it’s $3 a bag, 12 – 1, it’s $2 a bag, and 1-2 it’s FREE! There’s no excuse not to enjoy the weather and find some rad records to spice up your collection.

Friday, 8pm: in the recital hall the AU Symphonic Band will be performing.

Sunday, 6pm: in the recital hall, Ellen Rice’s senior cello recital, Continuum will be taking place.

Don’t miss any of these super musical events in your single-minded finals week prep.

 

Upcoming Performances!

It’s Spring! More recitals are popping up, the musical is running over at Greenberg theater, and ensembles are starting to perform their semester’s work. Take a break from the final projects and last month of school stress to unwind with some fabulous student-performed music.

April 4 – 6: Cabaret @ Greenberg Theater. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm.

April 5: Metamorphosis @ Recital Hall. Workshop Ensemble performance, Friday at 8pm.

April 6: Follow Your Heart @ Kay Spiritual Life Center. Ian Uriola’s Junior Recital, Saturday at 4pm.

April 8: The Flying Jays @ The Davenport Coffee Lounge. Monday at 7pm.

First day of spring means … recital season!

It’s spring at the music library. The flowers are blooming, it’s senior and junior recital season, and the last of the midterms are finishing up.

Now would be the perfect time to head over and learn some music to sing while you spring clean … Or, if you’re looking for something to do, you could attend any one of the exciting student and staff performances coming up soon!

• Friday 3/22 – Logan Sutherlands Senior Recital, 8pm @ Kay Spiritual Life Center
• Friday 3/22 – Carly DeFranco’s Senior Recital, 8pm @ Abramson Family Recital Hall
• Saturday 3/23 – The Gorenman Piano Project: Chopin Edition, Yulia Gorenman in Concert, 8pm @ Abramson Family Recital Hall
• Sunday 3/24 – Alex Witt’s Senior Recital, 2pm @ Abramson Family Recital Hall
• Sunday 3/24 – Allie Martin’s Junior Recital, 7pm @ Abramson Family Recital Hall

Happy first day of spring!

Final Perk Presto is TONIGHT from 7-8:30, Mud Box

This is it, folks. We’ve pulled all-nighters, turned in that dang paper that has been weighing on us for months, or practiced our tushes off in an effort to pull of a great performance in our juries. Some of you are done and to you I say, go home! Some of you are in the thick of things and some can see the light at the end of the tunnel but it seems just out of reach (that one’s me).

The Final Perk, deemed “Presto” this year, is an annual event for all students to RELAX in the midst of the exam period. It will take place in the Mud Box cafe from 7-8:30pm TONIGHT (Wednesday, December 12).

This year’s Final Perk will feature wizard-themed trivia A.K.A. a rare opportunity to show off your extensive knowledge on all things Potter. Keeping with the wizard-theme, there will be a photo-booth and costumes to boot. If you’re feeling especially creative feel free to dress up as your favorite wizard, witch, Housemaster, ghost, goblin, wand-maker or whomever else: this event features a costume contest and the rewards could be bountiful.

The Final Perk is most known for its desserts which, I daresay, are among the most delicious I’ve had at AU. Tonight’s event will feature FREE gluten-free and vegan dessert options as well as other FREE tasty favorites. Complimentary coffee, tea and other drinks will be served as well.

This is the eighth year that the library has presented the Final Perk and they are joined in sponsorship by the Mud Box cafe, Friends of AU Library, Student Government, Graduate Leadership Council, Student Activities, the Resident Hall Association and the AU Alumni Association.

Oh, and there’s a chance that Dumblesheep will make a casual appearance…

Upcoming Live Performance Events!

As we dive deeper into the Holiday season live music events continue to ramp up throughout the city. Here are some awesome events in the coming days (free & very cheap) that you shouldn’t miss!

American University Chorus: Sing a New Song

with Laura M. Petravage, conductor

Dana Scott, piano

Friday November 30th and Saturday December, 8 pm

Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center, American University

$10 for AU Community, seniors; $15 general admission

The AU Chorus will give you a guided tour of American choral literature with their eclectic and nostalgic Fall program. It includes arrangements of folk-favorites “Bile them cabbage down” and “Cindy”, spirituals, classic Copland settings and more.

The highlight of the program is Samuel Barber’s Reincarnations for a capella chorus.The Reincarnations are rarely performed in their entirety as they are both complex and demanding. In their rendition the AU Chorus proves their remarkable musicianship and attention to detail under Laura Petravage’s brave leadership. Their enthusiasm is a rare treat and this weekend’s performances will not disappoint!

Jake Shimabukoro, ukulele virtuoso

Screening of “Life on Four Strings” and personal appearance by Mr. Shimabukoro

Monday December 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm * FREE

Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian

4th Street and Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 20024

This FREE event is presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and promises to be a great time. “Life on four strings” is a documentary about Jake Shimabukoro, a ukulele-virtuoso who was recently declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone. Shimabukoro is truly an amazing musician.

Check out his website and watch his YouTube videos for more info!

Performances on campus this weekend!

If you find yourself in search of some musical entertainment this weekend, why not check out some of our talented student ensembles!

AU Arts | Jazz Workshop: On Time

Noah Getz, conductor
Sunday, November 18, at 3 p.m.
Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center
Tickets: $10 regular admission, $5 AU community and seniors; www.american.tix.com

“One of the most important and compelling aspects of music is how it moves through time. Elements of rhythm inform all popular music styles including jazz, rock, and fusion. This semester the Workshop will explore how rhythm and time are represented in a variety of musical styles.”

AU Arts | AUSO in Concert: ENCOUNTERS

Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Friday, November 16, & Saturday, November 17, at 8 p.m.
Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center
Tickets: $15 regular admission, $10 AU community and seniors; www.american.tix.com

“With a new face leading the AU Symphony Orchestra this year, this program brings together music from different countries, styles, and times. The first half of this concert includes music from the two Americas. It opens with the intoxicating rhythms and sounds of Latin America in Arturo Márquez’s Danzón no. 2. It is followed by the touching and virtuosic violin concerto of the Pennsylvania born Samuel Barber. Robert Schumann’s third Symphony, which is nicknamed after the Rhine river in Germany, will conclude the concert. It is a stirring piece divided between secular and religious colors.”

UDC’s JAZZforum is on bagpiper, Rufus Harley 10/24

UDC continues their monthly JAZZforum series tomorrow with a discussion on Rufus Harley, who, as the only jazz bagpiper, occupies a unique place in jazz history. The event is FREE and open to the public, and just a short walk or bike ride from AU.

From the website:

JAZZforum: A Family Celebrates the Life and Music of Rufus Harley “the world’s first jazz bagpiper”

Wednesday, October 24, 2012
7:00 PM

Multi-instrumentalist, Rufus Harley (1936-2006) started studying the bagpipes after watching the Black Watch at John F. Kennedy’s funeral procession in 1963. In addition to several recordings as a leader, he recorded with Herbie Mann, Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins—and in later years, the Roots and Laurie Anderson. In 2007 Pipes Of Peace, a documentary by George Manney, was released. Several of his children—sons and trumpeters, Messiah and America Patton Harley, who frequently performed with their father, as well as daughters, Noah Harmony and Egypt will join us for this special evening. Recital Hall (Performing Arts Bldg. 46-West).

 

 

The Gorenman Piano Project: Schubert Edition

Looking for something classy and cultured to do on a crisp autumn evening? October 27th, 2012 (Saturday) at 8pm, come see a performance of “The Gorenman Piano Project: Schubert edition”. Yuliya Gorenman will be performing what promises to be a stunning concert. The program will include Four Impromptus op. 90, Wanderer Fantasy, Sonata in C minor, Schubert-Liszt , Auf dem Wasser zu Singen, and Ständchen.

Don’t miss it!

The concert will be held in the Abramson Family Recital Hall.

American University Katzen Performing Arts Center

Abramson Family Recital Hall

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20016-8053

Box Office: 202-885-3634, kac@american.edu

Open 11:00 to 5:00, Mon–Sat (and 1 hr before any event)

STPPFest This Weekend, October 5-7!

S(weet)T(ea)P(umpkin)P(ie) Fest

Hello fellow music lovers!

This weekend, a part of the S(weet)T(ea)P(umpkin)P(ie)Fest will be happening in the Kay Spiritual Center.

What is STTP? STTP is an attempt to give a little rhythm and animation to the awkwardly large mass of music available today, STPP seasons its dishes to taste. A group devoted to the review of bands big and small, from the hidden gem, fine dining acts you’ve never heard of to the tried and true, comfort food groups that you grew up on, STPP brings you buxom falls, anemic springs, and a few things in between. STPP is based in Washington, DC, but writers for the site reside all over the US and cover all things tasty.
Friday October 5th in the Kay Basement, STTPFest will be presenting the Capital Punishment Showcase.  Doors open at 7:45 pm.  Come see Shark Week, a Lo-Fi band; Teen Suicide, an indie band; and AU’s own Teen Lit.  (also, an AU Audio Tech student, Aaron Long will be working the sound)

For more information visit: STTPFest Capital Punishment Showcase