Student Groups to Perform At Utah State University

Guitar enthusiasts have been treated to the best of jazz and classical guitar this semester at Utah State University, and now it’s time for student guitarists to step into the spotlight.

 

The Utah State University Electric and Acoustic Guitar ensembles, under the direction of Mike Christiansen, are featured in concert Monday, Nov. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door. Admission is $3 and free for Utah State students with current ID.

 

Three acoustic ensembles and two electric ensembles will perform, Christiansen said. Each ensemble is made up of five to nine guitarists and includes guitar majors and non-majors alike. This is the 28^th year that Utah State guitar ensembles have performed on campus.

 

“Many of the members of the ensembles will be graduating and pursuing careers in music,” Christiansen said. “All members of the guitar ensembles are members of a minority group — they are guitarists who can read music.”

 

Two of the ensembles will be conducted by student conductors, Bill Hepworth and Kathryn Tingey.

 

The repertoire for the concert includes a wide variety of musical styles, including “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” by G.F. Handel, “The Cay,” a reggae piece written by Christiansen, “Manha de Carnival, ” a bossa nova by Luis Bonfa and music by the Beatles, arranged by student conductor Tingey.

 

Other selections include “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod, “Cavatina” by Stanley Myers from the soundtrack to the movie “The Deerhunter,” “Berceuse” by Isaac Albeniz, “Sand Bag,” a blues piece by Dave Franckenpohl, “Perdido,” a swing jazz number by Juan Tizol and “Well You Needn’t,” a jazz standard written by Thelonious Monk that will be played with a funk twist.

 

Run time for the concert is about 80 minutes.

 

“We’ve always had a large audience, which makes this evening exciting for the performers,” Christiansen said. “The support for guitar by students and local residents is unique for an area of this size. The support is very much appreciated.”

 

Looking ahead, students in Utah State Theatre's production of Hay Fever are preparing for the production's opening.

 

Hay Fever, Noel Coward’s comedic tale of a family wrought with self-absorption and self-induced drama comes to the Morgan Theatre stage on the Utah State University campus Dec. 2-4 and 8-11. Utah State Theatre presents the tale at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Ticket information for the comedy is available at the Smith Spectrum Ticket Office, (435) 797-3036 or on the Web.