Annual SU Spring Music Festival May 3-12

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University’s spring music festival “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues” begins Thursday, May 3, including new music composed for the festival, selections from Broadway blockbusters, a classical music parody and jazz favorites, among others.

SU hosts the musical theatre production “There’s No Business like Show Business” 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May 3-5, in the Black Box Theatre of Fulton Hall. Chronicling life on and off the stage, the show features songs from more than 30 productions including Dreamgirls, Spamalot, Gypsy, A Chorus Line and Funny Girl, among others.

Co-produced by Dr. William Folger, director of choral activities, and Dr. Darrell Mullins, chair of the Communication and Theatre Arts Department, admission is $10. Proceeds go toward music scholarships.
The spice rack is spotlighted during the Salisbury University Chorale and Chamber Choir’s annual spring concert 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6, in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Conducted by Folger, both groups combine to perform P.D.Q. Bach’s The Seasonings (S. 1 ½ tsp.), edited by Professor Peter Schickele. Other performance highlights include The River by Ruth Watson Henderson, Hold Fast to Dreams by André J. Thomas and the world premiere of I Taste of Your Water, composed for the chorale and choir by Dr. Jerry Tabor, conductor of the SU Jazz Brazz Band.

Guest trombonist Karl Wiederwohl is featured with the SU Concert Band 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Wiederwohl performs Rimsky-Korsakov’s Concerto for Trombone and Military Band. Other highlights of the concert, conducted by Lawrence Knier, include Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Holdridge’s theme from East of Eden, Sousa’s Fugue on Yankee Doodle and Washington Post March, Bagler’s National Emblem March, Denza’s Funiculi, Funicula and a medley of George Gershwin favorites.

From Latin influence to Louis Armstrong, Salisbury University’s Jazz Brazz Big Band brings a variety of styles to Holloway Hall Auditorium during its performance 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10. Conducted by Tabor, the program features vocalist Laurel Noone on Latin-style sets including A Day in the Life of a Fool (also known as Black Orpheus), Slightly Out of Tune (recognized by Stan Getz fans as Desafinado) and Antonio Carlos Jobim's Chega de Saudade (also known as No More Blues).

The band also showcases Noone’s vocals on several ballads, including Louis Armstrong’s I’ll Never Stop Loving You. The evening includes instrumental arrangements of several jazz standards such as A Night in Tunisia, Summertime and Teach Me Tonight.

The festival culminates with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra’s annual Spring Concert 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12. Featuring guest artist James Bean on trumpet, the concert includes John Adams’ Lollapalooza, Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major, Ravel’s Bolero and Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio, op. 72b. Sponsored by Mercantile Peninsula Bank and Apple Discount Drugs, admission is $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and SU faculty and staff, and $5 for non-SU students. Children 12 and under and SU student ID holders are admitted free. For advance tickets visit the SU Bookstore Web site at www.salisbury.collegestoreonline.com (click “SU Box Office”).

Sponsored by the Department of Music, admission to festival performances is free unless otherwise noted. For more information call 410-543-6385 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.