Techno beats, jazz sessions, medieval lutes and classical operas — this is just a sampling from the School of Music’s spring schedule. To the new student or to those who have never ventured down to Libby Gardner Hall to listen to a concert, picking which event to attend can be mildly overwhelming.
Luckily, students don’t have to be too picky, as Miguel Chuaqui, director of the School of Music, said student tickets for most of the performances are free, technically. The student ArtsPass tickets are paid for by mandatory student fee of $12, which can change depending on how few or many credit hours a student is taking.
Still, students should keep an eye out for performances they’re interested in, especially for some of the bigger performances by guests artists, such as Julian Gargiulo, an internationally renowned pianist.
To make this selection a little easier for students, here are some of the biggest genres to be on the lookout for this semester as well as some general times to be aware of.
Early Music
You might think the recorder was an instrument invented as a divine punishment to parents of grade school children across America, but it actually predates the Middle Ages. In the hands of a master musician, those stereotypical squeaking notes become smooth and beautiful, particularly combined with other early music produced by instruments like the harpsichord and lute.
For your chance to see everything from medieval to early Baroque-era melodies on instruments rarely performed live, you can visit Libby Gardner Hall on Jan. 19 and April 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Classical Music
When most think of sitting down for an evening of music in the warm, beautiful Libby Gardner Concert Hall, they think of the classics: Mozart, Bach and Chopin. Of course, there is plenty of this genre throughout the semester as well. Experiencing a live orchestra brings out all of the intensity of the genre that recordings, try as they might, just can’t match.
Some of the biggest of these performances will be by the University Campus Symphony on Feb. 3 and the grand Lyric Opera Ensemble at Kingsbury Hall on April 22 and 23.
Modern Music
Look, I get it. Some of us would rather sit through a math exam than Mozart’s 5th Symphony. The classical genre isn’t for everyone, and the School of Music acknowledges this. For those more inclined towards the modern world, there are jazz sessions throughout the semester (the soonest is on Feb. 16) and a whole night dedicated to the New Music Ensemble on April 25.
Or, if you’d like to hear words to your music, you can stop by Gardner Hall to listen to all of the U’s Choral groups, which include the internationally award-winning Chamber Choir. All these events throughout the semester are at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for all these events are available at the door the night of the show. For complete show times and dates, as well as complete details for each performance, visit music.utah.edu.
Chuaqui said when students finish watching a concert sponsored by Gardner Hall, they can go to the School of Music’s Facebook page and leave feedback for the musicians or for the department itself.
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