You could feel the legacy of James Benner in the Metropolitan Theatre on April 5.
That night, the West Virginia University School of Music put together a memorial concert for Benner, who died in November 2017 at the age of 92.
The WVU Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Creative Arts Center on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm.
The orchestra will perform “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” by Johannes Brahms. “Like so many great orchestral works, the D Major symphony by Brahms, embraces so much of what makes us human, from our joys to grief, from sunny joyfulness to melancholy and despair,” said WVUSO conductor, Dr. Mitchell Arnold, WVU’s Director of Orchestral Activities. Through our work in rehearsals our talented musicians learn how to express the most touching aspects of this great work, in order that our audience can share in this experience.”
On Monday, Apr. 23 at 7:30 pm, the WVU Wind Symphony will take the stage at the Creative Arts Center with the George Washington High School Concert Band.
The George Washington High School Concert Band will perform four selections: “Caccia and Chorale” by J. Clifton Williams, “Fantasia in C” by J.S. Bach and arranged by Jordan Sterk, “Chanson de l’adeau” by Frederic Chopin and arranged by Matthew Jackfert, and “American Civil War Fantasy” by Jerry Bilik.
The West Virginia University Choirs will take the stage at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center Sunday, Apr. 22 at 2 pm.
The program will feature performances by all four WVU Choirs including Chamber Singers, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir and the West Virginia Community Choir. The concert will also include a performance by the University High School Chamber Choir directed by Barry Kolar.
The West Virginia University School of Music will host a jazz ensembles concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12 at the Creative Arts Center.
The concert will feature music by female composers including Carla Bley, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ayn Inserto, Lil Hardin Armstrong and Mary Lou Williams. Ensembles performing at the concert will be the big band, three vocalists and two jazz combos.
On Tuesday, Apr. 10 at 7:30 pm, the WVU Concert Band will take the stage at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre to perform “Illumination”.
The program includes “Illumination” by David Maslanka, “With Each Sunset Comes the Promise of a New Day” by Richard Saucedo, “Lightning Field” by John Mackey, “Canitque de Jean Racine” by Fauré and arranged by Eiji Suzuki, “Into the Raging River” by Steven Reineke, “Blue Moon” arranged by Warren Barker, and “Hello Sunshine! March” by Yoshio Matsuo.