Musical performances set for this fall

This fall will be filled with music at the University of North Georgia (UNG) as the Music Department has planned several events featuring performances from students, faculty and guest artists.

Dr. Benjamin Schoening, Music Department head, is hoping this semester's lineup has a major impact on the next generation.

"One of the wonderful things about our ensembles is that they cater to both majors and non-majors, which provides students with a unique opportunity to meet and get to know others throughout the UNG community," Schoening said. "Through their experiences with us, I hope our students develop a sense of community, family and belonging, as well as what it means to come together and work together to achieve a goal as a cohesive group through music performance. More importantly, that they develop a life-long passion for music, and they continue to stay active playing their instrument or singing well beyond their time at UNG."

One of the performances will take place on Oct. 24, as UNG Bands will present their fall concert Organized by Dr. Ashley Jarrell, director of Bands, at 7:30 p.m. at Dawson Country Performing Arts Center in Dawsonville, Georgia. The performance will feature UNG piano professor Dr. Joanna Kim, who also serves as associate department head, in a performance of George Gershwin's timeless masterpiece "Rhapsody in Blue."

The annual All-American Piano Celebration, organized by Dr. Joe Chapman, professor of music, will feature pianists from across the region who gather to celebrate and perform the music of American Composers at 4 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Shott Performance Hall at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

The combined choirs of the UNG music program will help to ring in the holiday season with the annual Holiday Choral Festival at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2. The event will be held at 

Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville and is organized by Dr. Schoening; Dr. John Broman, professor of music and director of choral activities; and Dr. Lauren Ringwall, part-time faculty of music and director of the UNG Chorale.

"One of the wonderful things about our ensembles is that they cater to both majors and non-majors, which provides students with a unique opportunity to meet and get to know others," Schoening said.

UNG will also host guest artists on campus, including the Middle Tennessee State University Chinese Music ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Gloria Shott Performance Hall at the Dahlonega Campus. Saxophonist Kenny Baik and pianist Hyun Hwa Jang will be performing two recitals as part of the A Little Night(hawk) Music Concert series at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Performing Arts Lobby at the Gainesville Campus and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Gloria Shott Performance Hall at the Dahlonega Campus.

These events provide opportunities to support students, as well as a way for students to get hands-on experience both with the day-to-day operation of a music ensemble as well as organizing performances as assistants to the ensemble directors.

"Several of the ensembles in the Music Department have developed a student leadership structure," Schoening said. "This type of experience is invaluable both to our music education students who are working toward full-time roles as music educators, and our musical arts and performance majors who may be freelancing or working for professional ensembles and need these invaluable skillsets."

See the full schedule on the UNG Music Department website.