UJ Performing Arts plans four spring concerts
Join us for a series of concerts featuring the musical talents of our community.
Spring Chamber Ensemble Concert
University of Jamestown Performing Arts will feature several small ensembles in a Chamber Concert starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in UJ’s Reiland Fine Arts Center. Admission is free.
The concert begins in DeNault Auditorium, where the Percussion Ensemble will perform first. The audience will then move to seating in the building’s lobby for the brass, woodwinds, and string ensembles.
“We are doing traditional classical works by Brahms, Elgar, and Haydn,” Music Program Director Dr. Richard Walentine said. “Additionally, we are doing a string arrangement of a beautiful Christmas anthem called ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ by the well-known choral composer, Morten Lauridson.”
The concert is expected to last about an hour and will feature students, staff, and faculty performers.
Spring Choir Concert
Three University of Jamestown choral groups will perform in concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Jamestown’s Trinity Lutheran Church, 523 4th Ave. SE. Admission is free.
Cantus, a tenor-bass choir that started in the spring of 2024, will perform a set with selections from their North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Conference performance and their upcoming Jamestown Choralaires performance.
Vox Angelus will perform a set about empowerment featuring UJ Director of Libraries Amanda Walch on the violin. The Concert Choir trebles will join them on two pieces. Originally called Chapel Choir, Vox Angelus was founded as a soprano/alto choral group that sang music for church services at Voorhees Chapel on UJ’s Jamestown campus.
The University of Jamestown Concert Choir is performing a single work by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Five Mystical Songs,” featuring a string quintet and Dr. Rick Walentine, Konnor Stordalen, and Ian Weis as baritone soloists.
The choirs are led by Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Anne Gassmann.
Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert
The University of Jamestown Jazz Ensemble’s Spring concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, in DeNault Auditorium. Admission is free.
The 18-piece group is under the direction of UJ Director of Bands Ken Aune. The ensemble will perform various jazz arrangements, including a tribute to Quincy Jones. Jones, who passed away last year, was a 28-time Grammy Award winner.
The concert will feature several student soloists, including an extended arrangement featuring senior trombonist Kaden Schmidt. In addition, several UJ Jazz alumni will perform with the ensemble for a selection.
Wind Ensemble Spring Concert
The University of Jamestown Wind Ensemble will present “The Suite Sounds of Summer” starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, in Denault Auditorium. Admission is free.
The concert will include a performance of Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F.” UJ Director of Bands Ken Aune said the composition is a cornerstone of wind band literature and will feature several student soloists.
The remainder of the concert will include music from renowned, award-winning composers, including Brian Balmages, Pierre LaPlante, David Holsinger, Larry Daehn, and Hans Zimmer.
Aune said the music will conjure up a wide variety of summer-themed images.
The 36-member ensemble will also recognize graduating seniors.
