Music lovers are in for a treat during Grove City College’s annual Family Weekend as students demonstrate their talents on campus stages in a trio of concerts that are free and open to the public.
The weekend’s offerings begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3 in Arnold Recital Hall of the Pew Fine Arts Center with the Grove City College Singers’ concert “Folk Songs of the World.”
The women’s choir ensemble will present a collection of international favorites, including Allister McGillvray's “Away From the Roll of the Sea,” a Malaysian children's song entitled "Ikan Kekek" by Tracy Wong and Anne-Marie Hildebrandt's arrangement of "Scarborough Fair.” The Singers are directed by Dr. Stacy Paparone, associate professor of Music, and accompanied by Caleb Hixon ’21, of Mars, Pa.
The choral show will be followed by the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, directed by Andrew Erb, associate professor of Music and director of Bands, at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center. The concert, entitled “Flight,” will feature works composed by Saucedo, Whitacre, Hazo, Morgensen and others.
Special guests the Northwest Passage Trumpet Trio will join the Wind Ensemble in performing the world premiere of a triple trumpet concerto “Trumpet Concertutti” composed by Dr. Joseph Hasper, associate professor of Music.
Hasper directs the College’s Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band, which will provide the third and final major musical performance of Family Weekend at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in Ketler Auditorium. The concert features vocalist Hannah Wilson ’22 of Bridgeville, Pa. and special guest performances by Grove City College professors Joshua Drake and Andrew Mitchell. Hasper will be assisted by student directors Megan McGinnis ’19, of Natrona Heights, Pa. and Matt Hickly ’20 of Pittsburgh, Pa.
In addition to the three concerts, the Grove City College Jazz Combo – featuring Hickly on drums, Dennis Ryan ’20 of Stoneboro, Pa. on trombone, Michael Farley ’19 of Sterling, Va. on piano and TJ Mullen ’19 of Gaithersburg, Md. on bass – will perform outside Breen Student Union from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Their song list ranges from Duke Ellington to Miles Davis and beyond.