Music

News

Announcement

Rohde Awarded Commission from the Koussevitsky Foundation in the Library of Congress

Professor Kurt Rohde—a musician who plays viola, teaches, and composes—received a 2024 commission from the Serge Koussevitzky Foundation in memory of Andrew W. Imbrie (1921–2007) to write a new work for Brightwork New Music.

Announcement

Professor Mika Pelo Composition Premieres in Sweden

In 2023 Professor Mika Pelo was selected for a composer residency by the Peterson-Berger Foundation at Sommarhagen, the home of the late Swedish composer Wilhelm Peterson-Berger. As part of the residency, Pelo composed a new work, Akvareller (“Watercolors”). 

Announcement

Alum Featured in PBS Documentary “DANTE: Inferno To Paradise”

This past spring Catherine Adoyo (B.A. music and Italian, ’98) was featured in the PBS documentary DANTE: Inferno to Paradise. ​The film contained interviews with the world’s foremost scholars on Dante including Adoyo. 

Announcement

UC Davis Choral Director Publishes Guide for New Directors

Nicolás Alberto Dosman holding his book.

UC Davis Choral Director Nicolás Alberto Dosman is the author of Growing Your Choral Program: A Practical Guide for New Directors, which was recently published.

Upcoming Events

Event

Comunidad Anqari
Indigenous Music of the Andean High Plateau

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

Comunidad Anqari performs music of the Kollao Altiplano, a culturally rich region in the heart of the Andean High Plateau (which touches modern day Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Ecuador). A group of musicians dedicated to the performance of traditional music and dances, Comunidad Anqari is named after the Aymara, deity of the wind. The name is reflective on the repertoire which is played upon indigenous wind instruments and corresponds to the seasons and festivals during which they perform.

Program

Selections to be announced from the stage.

Free

This Shinkoskey Noon Concert is made possible with support from the Joy S. Shinkoskey Series of Noon Concert Endowment and the Al McNeil Fund for Non-Western Music.

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

Nick May, solo saxophone
Works by Graduate Students

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

Nick May, solo saxophone and artist in residence

Program

All new works by graduate students in music:

Guang Yang: Untitled

Jacob Lane

Dean Kervin Boursiquot

Alejandro Arreola: …for the time being: two meditations for alto saxophone

Joseph Martin

James R. Larkins: Better Than One

Free​

a Shinkoskey Noon Concert

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

Valente Lecture: Hannes Dufek, composer

Sound Lab, Art Annex

Visiting Austrian composer Hannes Dufek will have his work a black heart, the death of a friend and the end of a place: some lessons in falling apart, premiered by the Empyrean Ensemble on October 13. Ahead of this concert, Hannes will speak about his music. 

Free, limited seating available

This talk is made possible with support from the Austrian Consul General of Los Angeles.​

Art Annex, Davis, CA
Event

Empyrean Ensemble
Season 37

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

Empyrean Ensemble
Sam Nichols, director • Matilda Hofman, resident conductor

Musicians Playing
Stacey Pelinka, flute
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe
Peter Josheff, clarinet*
Jennifer Ellis, harp
Ben Prima, percussion
Terrie Baune, violin
Ellen Ruth Rose, viola*
Leighton Fong, cello*

*core member

Program

Hannes Dufek: a black heart, the death of a friend and the end of a place: some lessons in falling apart WORLD PREMIERE

Addie Camsuzou: WORLD PREMIERE
(Ph.D. music ‘23)

Hendel Almétus: WORLD PREMIERE
(Ph.D. music ‘14)

Martha Horst: Dickinson Fragments
(Ph.D., music ‘96)

Free, no tickets required

This concert is made possible with support from the Austrian Consul General of Los Angeles.​

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

“Ahead of Their Time: Adelaide Ristori and Clara Schumann”

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

featuring Italian actress Giulia Cailotto
with UC Davis lecturers in music:
   Dagenais Smiley, violin
   Susan Lamb Cook, cello
   I-Hui Chen, piano

“Ahead of their Time” is an inspirational story about Adelaide Ristori, 19th century actress and entrepreneur, as told by Italian actress Giulia Cailotto, intertwined with the music and story of 19th-century pianist and composer Clara Schumann. The stories of Adelaide Ristori and Clara Schumann were an inspiration for women of their time and continues to be an inspiration for women of all ages today.

Program

Robert Schumann: Quasi Variazioni Andantino de Clara Wieck

Clara Schumann: Trio in G Minor, op. 17

and The story of Adelaide Ristori as told by Giulia Cailotto

Free

This Shinkoskey Noon Concert is made possible with support from the Joy S. Shinkoskey Series of Noon Concert Endowment.

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

Faythe Vollrath, music for harpsichord and virginal

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

The harpsichord and virginal were both popular keyboard instruments of the 17th century, promoting the development of soloistic keyboard works across Europe. Today, as the popularity of the harpsichord enjoys a revival, it is still rare to experience hearing the virginal in a concert setting. This performance will explore the unique sounds of both instruments and compare and contrast their distinctive roles in history.  

Program

To be announced.

a Shinkoskey Noon Concert

Free

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

“Exhibition”: Solo Piano Works Inspired by Visual Art
featuring paintings by Peter London

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

Sakurako Kanemitsu, piano
featuring paintings by Peter London
and music by Ryan Suleiman (Ph.D. music ‘20)

Program

Modest Mussorgsky: Selections from Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)

Claude Debussy: L’isle Joyeuse (1904)

Franz Liszt: “Sposalizio” from Second Year of Pilgrimage: Italy (1858)

Ryan Suleiman: Three London Etudes (2024) WORLD PREMIERE
   Radiant
   Floating Triptych
   Electric Clouds

**commissioned by and in collaboration with artist Peter London for Sakurako Kanemitsu, piano

Free
a Shinkoskey Noon Concert

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA
Event

Music for String Quartet

Recital Hall, Ann E. Pitzer Center

Aisslinn Nosky and Maureen Murchie, violins
Kimberlee Uwate, viola (B.A. music ‘08)
TBA, cello

Program

To be announced.

Free

This Shinkoskey Noon Concert is made possible with support from the Joy S. Shinkoskey Series of Noon Concert Endowment.

Ann E. Pitzer Center, Davis, CA

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