KINGSTON, R.I. – Feb. 21, 2025 – The University of Rhode Island Wind Ensemble and Concert Band open the Music Department’s spring semester concerts this weekend. Here is a look of the late winter and early spring lineup of the department’s main music ensembles.
The Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, both under the direction of URI professor Brian Cardany, will perform Sunday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall.
The Concert Band portion of the show will include a large percussion section of 10 players on John Mackey’s composition “Foundry.” The Concert Band will also perform “Choreography” by Robert Sheldon, “Night Dances” by Bruce Yurko, and “Novo Lenio” by Sam Hazo.
The Wind Ensemble concert will feature three pieces that are inspired by sacred texts or psalms, said Cardany. The song choices to match the theme include “Psalm for Band” by Vincent Persichetti, “Sketches on a Tudor Psalm” by Fisher Tull, “Os Justi” by Anton Bruckner, and March from “Symphonic Metamorphosis” by Paul Hindemith.
The URI Jazz Big Band, directed by URI professor Emmett Goods, will kick off the annual Voices in Jazz Festival on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. The festival aims to lift up women in jazz and will feature guest composer Gina Benalcázar-López, an Ecuadorian-Honduran-American composer and low brass specialist.
Along with standards, the band will play two works composed by Benalcázar-López – “La Segunda” and “Pa Na” – and several that she has arranged. “Thursday’s set will have a heavy Latin influence, which speaks to our guest’s love of writing Latin jazz and salsa,” Goods said.
“A gifted trombonist and rising force in the jazz world, Gina brings a powerful voice to this year’s program,” added Goods, who began the annual concerts featuring the work of women in jazz in 2022. “Her artistry, leadership, and perspective has enriched our students’ experience, offering them a direct connection to the evolving landscape of jazz.”
Voices in Jazz will continue Sunday, March 2, at 3 p.m. in the Concert Hall, with three community ensembles made up of female jazz musicians. The three bands will be She-Bop Swing Orchestra, She-Bop Junior Swing Orchestra and the JazzHers. These groups will bring nearly 40 girls in grades six through 12 to campus to perform and interact with Benalcázar-López.
On Wednesday, March 19, the Symphony Orchestra will feature the work of composer Eliane Aberdam, a professor of music at URI. The concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall, will also include the winners of the Concerto Competition and the Orchestral Composition Competition – Daniel Villela, Nancy Olivares, and Justin Laukat.
The orchestra, under the direction of Luis Viquez, will perform Franz Joseph Hadyn’s Symphony No. 22 and scores from the films “Lord of the Rings” and “Batman.”
Tickets for these concerts can be purchased in advance through Eventbrite or in-person at the box office an hour prior to the performance. All of these events will be held at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston. Tickets for are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors, and for students, faculty and staff. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
The spring lineup will also present numerous smaller concerts, including student recitals and combo and ensemble performances. Check out the full events listings for upcoming concerts.
Ethan Weiner, a junior sports media major and public relations minor at the University of Rhode Island and an intern in the Department of Communications and Marketing, wrote this press release.