Student Musicians, Composers Bloom in April
April offers a diverse variety of concerts both on and off campus, all free and open to the public, except the Orchestra Concerto Concerts. For more information, please contact the music department at (805) 565-6040.
The Composer’s Concert on Friday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in Deane Chapel highlights new works by Westmont student composers performed by both fellow students and the composers themselves. Robert Chu, Alexander Dill, and Jay Real will present their new compositions, including works for oboe quintet and quartet and speaker.
The Chamber Orchestra Concert is on Sunday, April 17, at 3 p.m. in Deane Chapel.
The Vocal Chamber Concert features three chamber ensembles drawn from the Choral Union of Westmont on April 17 at 7 p.m. in First United Methodist Church. The concert features a variety of selections, accompanied and a cappella, sacred and secular, from art music to folk songs to spirituals. Music faculty Nichole Dechaine, Steven Hodson and Grey Brothers will direct. Also appearing will be the Westmont Chamber Singers, an upper division select ensemble directed by Brothers. The Choral Union, an introductory 40-member ensemble geared toward Westmont students in their first year, provides a variety of choral singing experiences such as large ensemble, single gender and mixed-voice chamber ensembles. Brothers directs the Choral Union with accompanist Paula Hatley.
The Jazz Concert, under the direction of John Douglas, is Wednesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. in Deane Chapel.
The Spring Choral Concert features the Westmont Chamber Singers, a select ensemble drawn from the College Choir under the direction of Brothers, on Friday, April 22, at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. The Chamber Singers will perform three folk song arrangements by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The College Choir will be joined by the Choral Union in a rousing finale of Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
The String Chamber Concert features Westmont’s top string student musicians performing works by Dvorak, Smetana, Kodaly, Schubert, and Arensky on Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. in Deane Chapel.
The Orchestra Concerto Concert is on Thursday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in the Page Multipurpose Room and Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The concert is free for students and $10 for general admission.