New compositions and music clinics on tap this fall

Students and faculty in the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music are using their talents in a handful of new events in addition to the community's favorites and the traditional performances during the 2019 fall semester.

As a part-time faculty member and adjunct professor of music at UNG, Dr. David Peoples will display his talents outside of the classroom this fall. He will premiere his new composition at the Dawson County Performing Arts Center in Dawsonville.

"It's a combination of a band performance with the simultaneous reading of the names of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.," said Dr. Benjamin Schoening, department head and associate professor of music. "Some names are prerecorded and some names will be spoken by students in the ensemble.

Peoples has spent eight years on the piece but was struck with inspiration last year.

"When I sat in a room full of Vietnam veterans and heard stories and praise from Georgia's governor and other dignitaries, I knew exactly what the melody and other music elements would accompany narrations of those lost," he said.

The concert featuring UNG's Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the performing arts center on the Dawson County High School Campus at 1665 Perimeter Road in Dawsonville, Georgia.

While a majority of the performances feature UNG's bands and choirs as well as visiting professionals, the Music Theater Ensemble will have its moment to shine with its annual fall performance. A new music element will appear in addition to the fan favorites of classic and modern Broadway show tunes. The theater troupe will present a one-act opera of Mozart's "The Impresario."

"We've not performed an opera since I've been here," said Schoening, who joined UNG's faculty in August 2012. "We are venturing into a new genre, and we hope to continue to give our students this type of additional vocal experience."

The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8 in the Gloria Shott Performance Hall on the second floor of the Nix Fine Arts Center.

The concert series will wrap up with the second annual Holiday Concert, featuring the UNG Singers, Le Belle Voci, the Patriot Choir, UNG Chorale and the UNG Brass Ensemble. This year, it will be one performance instead of two, giving students time to study for finals the following week.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Ave., Gainesville, Georgia.

All concerts are free and open to the public. For a complete concert list, visit UNG's Department of Music webpage and select upcoming events.

Musical faculty members will also coach area high school students in two all-state music clinics Oct. 12 (chorus) and Nov. 9 (band), in the John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Chorus participants also will experience a mock audition to prepare for the all-state competition. High school students can register online for the chorus or band clinics.

"We hope to turn it into an annual event to help local high school students get extra preparation," Schoening said. "Plus, they can meet our faculty and see what the music department has to offering at the same time."