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A Classy Brassy Holiday TV Special with UM-Flint musicians

Department of Music current students, alumni, and faculty participated in the December 4th Classy Brassy Christmas held in the Capitol Theater, and sponsored by ELGA Credit Union.  They include:  the UM-Flint Brass Ensemble (Lois Alexander, conductor), the UM-Flint Jazz Combo (Patrick Prouty, conductor), members of Roane, conductor of the New Century Chorale (Steven Holovach - a 2009 Maize and Blue Scholar), piano soloist Desmond Sheppard (a 2015 Maize and Blue Scholar), and Jim Coviak -  UM-Flint faculty member and conductor of the Mott Middle College and Boys and Girls Club Steel Drum Band.   The concert was two hours in length.  It was recorded and edited for one-hour television broadcasts.  Air dates are:

FOX66. Saturday, Dec. 21, 5:00pm
CW46, Saturday, Dec. 21, 8:00pm
NBC25, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2:00am
FOX66, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 9:00am
NBC25, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 11:00am
CW46, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 12:00pm

Please watch and enjoy the musicianship of UM-Flint music student, alumni, and faculty.

Madrigal Dinner and Sounds of the Season Concert, December 7

Hear ye!  Hear ye!
The UM-Flint Chamber Singers are delighted to present their annual Madrigal Dinner to welcome in this joyous Christmas season on December 7th, 5:30 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Flint.  Please join us for a royal banquet set in renaissance England, complete with minstrels, strolling musicians, herald trumpeters, and noble personages. A three-course meal will be served and spiced with music and rhyme. 

Following the dinner the Chamber Singers and the University Chorale with join voices together for our Sounds of the Season concert. The concert will feature choral selections by Orlando di Lasso, Steven Chapman, Stephen Paulus, Kirke Mechem, Ola Gjeilo, Stacey Gibbs, Shawn Kirchner, and others. 

Madrigal dinner seating is limited. Please make your reservations by calling (810) 766-6643.  Tickets are $35, and include the Sounds of the Season concert.  Tickets for the Sounds of the Season concert only are $5 at the door, or free with a valid UM student ID.

Jazz Concert, December 3 at UM-Flint Theatre

Join us for cool, sweet jazz on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 pm in the UM-Flint Theatre. Public admission is $5 or Free with a current student ID.

Fundraiser for the UM-Flint Student Chapter of the National Association for Music Educators

The UM-Flint Student Chapter of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) is hosting this concert fundraiser on Dec 1 at 3:00 pm in Room 164 French Hall. 

Wind Symphony Concert "Tributes" November 21

The UM-Flint Department of Music Wind Symphony invites you to their Fall "Tributes" Concert on November 21, at 7:30 pm in the UM-Flint Theatre. "Tributes" is a selection of music that celebrate and honor people and events. Music by Grainger, Nowlin, Zare and Danyew. Tickets at the door. Free with valid UMID. $5 suggested donation. Come celebrate with us!

Oct 24 - Special Faculty Performance "The Unmeasured Dectet"

The Unmeasured Dectet provides a rare evening of intermingling classical and jazz music. The program will include chamber selections from both genres, culminating in the feature piece Suite in F. Marrying Baroque French dances with jazz, this unique composition written by UM-Flint’s Assoc. Prof. Brian DiBlassio was first debuted in Limonest, France in 2018 as part of a collaborative performance of Conservatoire de Limonest, University of Michigan – Flint, and Flint Institute of Music musicians. Free performance at 7:30 pm in 164 FH. Musicians include: Jessica Cech – flute, Michele LaNoue – clarinet, Brad Phillips – violin, Alesia Johnson – violin/viola, Tracy Dunlop – violin/viola, Julie Edwards – cello, Jeff Price – saxophone, Brian DiBlassio – piano, Pat Prouty – bass, Pete Siers – drums.    

43rd Annual Chamber Choir Invitational

The 43rd Chamber Choir Invitational will take place Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7 pm at the Court Street Methodist Church in Flint. Hosted by the UM-Flint Chamber Singers, Dr. Gabriela Hristova, conductor, this event brings together regional choirs. This year's participating choirs include: Carman-Ainsworth HS Chorale, Clarenceville Choraliers,Durand HS Madrigals, Flushing HS Madrigals, Grand Blanc HS Chorale, North Farmington Madrigal Choir, and Swartz Creek HS Madrigals.  The young singers will perform under the direction of guest conductor Erich Wangeman, Director of Choirs at Traverse City West Senior HS. Admission is $5 or free with a valid UM-ID card. 

Erich Wangeman, Guest Conductor of Chamber Choir

Mr. Wangeman received the Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. Since he began teaching, choirs under Mr. Wangeman's direction have received highest honors at national and international festivals.  His choirs consistently perform in Michigan's most prestigious performance venues, representing the finest in highschool choral singing.  Choirs under his direction were selected from a nation-wide audition to receive the prestigious Weill Institute Grant from Carnegie Hall.  His choirs also have been featured at regional and national conventions of the AmericanChoral Directors Association (ACDA).  Mr. Wangeman has served on the board of directors for ACDA Michigan and as President of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. He is a nationally-recognized choral clinician and the subject of the book Swagger, Gentlemanliness, and Brotherhood:  Explorations of Lived Experiences in a High School Men's Chorus. Mr. Wangeman travels throughout the United States to lecture about developing the male voice and building men's choruses.

A Musical Extravaganza!

UM-Flint hosted the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan's "Formosa Roadside Wedding Banquet," October 6 in the UM-Flint Theatre.  Under the Ministry of Culture, the ensemble visited UM-Flint in an effort to preserve tradition and embrace contemporary Taiwanese culture. Professional artists performed traditional instruments in this orchestra, giving prominence to Taiwanese music on an international level.  
 

Congratulations Music Alumnus

UM-Flint Alumnus Steve Simmons (now teaching in Grand Blanc Community Schools) is one of three recipients of the Michigan Music Education Association's Professional Development Scholarships. Congratulations, Steve!

Congratulations 2019 Music Graduates!

Congratulations to our Music Graduates of 2019! From left: Jermaine Thompson B.A. (percussion), Peter Conigliaro B.M. clarinet performance, Kaitlyn Cook B.A. clarinet, Kaitlyn Maitland B.A. flute, and Amanda Rodman B.M. vocal performance.

Karri Spoelstra 2019 Margaret Rogers Award for Excellence Recipient

Congratulations to Karri Spoelstra, the 2019 Margaret Rogers Award of Excellence Recipient. The award was estabished in 1994 to recognize the outstanding performance of a staff member in the College of Arts and Sciences.  Recipients of the award are expected to follow Margaret Rogers' dedicated, long service record distinguishing themselves as models of the highest levels of performance and professionalism at UM-Flint. Spoelstra's name will be inscribed on a plaque in the CAS Dean's Office, alongside other previous winners and she receives a cash award and certificate. Spoelstra serves as the Financial Services staff for Music, Communications, Art, Political Science, History, Economics, Theatre and Dance departments.

The UM-Flint Chamber Singers performed for clean water in a concert with the Festival Choir of Madison, WI on March 16, 2019

The University of Michigan-Flint Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Gabriela Hristova traveled to Wisconsin for a joint concert with the Festival Choir of Madison, on March 16, 2019 presenting music that gives voice to the tragedies of the past and present, the promise of social equality and inclusion, and hope for the future of both our society and our planet. Flint, Michigan has become a symbol of how social and environmental justice (and injustice) are intertwined. The Flint water crisis brought the nation’s attention to the problem of lead in drinking water and now officials have acknowledged that Flint’s problem is Wisconsin’s, too.  Not just lead, but manure and fertilizer runoff has contaminated groundwater—the water that rural wells draw from—across the state of Wisconsin.  The musical selections of the concert connected the commonality of water to a vision of an inclusive society.  Dr. Gabriela Hristova, conductor said, “We can promote change and stand for justice, encourage environmental protection and initiate peace. With a voice of singing we can heal and transform, educate and motivate, and cultivate sensible citizens of our world. Our music teaches empathy and compassion, and creates an engaging culture of understanding and acceptance of all.”