Auditions for rock musical "Rent" set for Feb. 3-5

"Rent" cast performs "Seasons of Love" on Broadway on Broadway in 2005

Auditions for the rock musical "Rent" will be held on Sunday, February 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Monday, February 4, 4:30-6:30 p.m., and Tuesday, February 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call-backs will be Wednesday, February 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. All auditions held at the Historic Atlas Theater in downtown Cheyenne

Here's more info from the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players web site:

To audition, we ask that you sing a song from the show "Rent" or another contemporary musical. You may bring your own accompanist or an accompanist will be provided. There will be no cold readings of dialog. We may ask you to sing a song from the show after your initial audition. You will also be learning and performing a short dance. For call-backs, we will be assigning songs from the show "Rent," including duets.  

IMPORTANT!! The Director, Brenda Lyttle, is looking for singing actors who are confident and fearless. "Rent" is an adult show with adult roles, language and situations. The characters must be believable and real. The singing must be strong and confident. This show is set in the Lower East Side of New York City. Racial diversity is crucial. We  strongly encourage singing actors of African-American and Hispanic descent to audition.  

Go to this link for more details: Rent Auditions

BYU Chamber Orchestra in concert Jan. 11 at SLTEC in Kemmerer

At the South Lincoln Training and Event Center in Kemmerer. Go here for tickets.

Lone Wyoming audition for Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps this weekend in Cheyenne

From the Casper Star-Tribune:

The only Wyoming audition for the 2013 Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps — brass, percussion and color guard — will be held Friday evening through Sunday at Cheyenne’s Storey Gym.

“Anyone interested still has time to register on our website,” corps director Fred Morris said. Other camps are being held this month in Texas, Las Vegas and Daytona Beach, Fla.

The elite 150 people chosen will represent Wyoming’s 55-year tradition of participation in the world class drum and bugle corps activity.

Selection at audition camps is based on musical ability, positive attitude, time commitment and the ability to meet financial requirements.

Even if summer participation is uncertain at this point, students who are interested are encouraged to attend a camp. Each member receives an evaluation at the end of the weekend with suggestions for improvement and an assessment of placement within the corps.

The nonrefundable fee to audition is $75, and the camp fee is $50 for meals, facilities and miscellaneous expenses. Tuition for the 2013 season is $2,550, payable on a monthly schedule January through August.

For information, visit troopersdrumcorps.org.

Casper College music lecture to explore George Harrison's India involvement

A guest music lecturer will examine musician George Harrison’s life-long ties with Indian classical music and culture on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Casper College.

Kathyrn Cox’s lecture, “Not Quite ‘The Quiet One,’” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Durham Hall, located in the Aley Fine Arts Center. It is free and open to the public.

Cox notes that during his career with the Beatles, George Harrison became known as “The Quiet One” when compared to the vociferous John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and this nickname stuck with him throughout his solo career.

“For someone who acted as a musical and cultural ambassador for Western counterculture, however, this appellation seems hardly appropriate, especially considering his life-long dialogue with Indian classical music, and indeed, India itself,” she says. “This talk examines Harrison’s fascination with India and the myriad of issues that arose from it—including ethnic representation and exoticism, globalization, and political involvement—showing how Harrison’s musical gestures and musical activism spoke louder than words.”

Cox is currently a doctoral candidate in historical musicology at the University of Michigan after receiving her B.A. in music from the University of Chicago in 2007. Her research and teaching interests focus primarily on popular music; late-19th/early 20th-century Austro-Hungarian music; music and globalization; and music, text, and language.

Wyoming Piatigorsky Foundation tour update

Rodrigo Garciarroyo

The Piatigorsky Foundation tour of Wyoming starts tomorrow. The tour is sponsored by the Muriel & Seymour Thickman Family Charitable Foundation. Note that there will not be an Oct. 14 performance in Green River. There is an Oct. 16 stop in Rock Springs. More about that later in the week. 

Here are the first five stops for tenor Rodrigo Garciarroyo and pianist Mario Alberto Hernández:

Wednesday, Oct. 10, Greybull: 7 p.m., Greybull High School Auditorium, 600 North 6th Street, Greybull. Contact: Darla Haller, dhaller@bgh3.k12.wy.us

Thursday, Oct. 11, Worland: 7 p.m., Worland Community Center, 1200 Culbertson Avenue Worland. Contact: Sheryl Ley, sherylwccc@yahoo.com, 307-347-8616, Fax 307-347-3445

Friday, Oct. 12, Dubois: 6 p.m., Headwaters Arts & Conference Center, 20 Stalnaker Street,, Dubois. Contact: Tammy Lucas, headwaters@wyoming.com, 307-455-2687

And details have been announced for the Rawlins and Evanston events:

Saturday, Oct. 13, Rawlins: 7 p.m., Rawlins Music Academy, 307-321-4681

Monday, Oct. 15, Evanston: 2 p.m., Wyoming State Hospital, 307-789-3464, Ext. 361

The concerts are free and open to the public. FMI: Contact the Wyoming Arts Council at 307-777-7742.

Call for entries: Verismo Trio/WY Music Teacher's Association commissioning project

Verismo Trio announces a commissioning project sponsored by Wyoming Music Teacher's Association.

Award
· $2000 composer’s fee
· Premiere performance at Wyoming Music Teacher Association’s Annual Conference in June 2013
 · Recording of a live performance

Guidelines
Composers of all ages and nationalities may apply.
Required instrumentation:
· Flute (may double on piccolo)
· Saxophone: either soprano, alto , or tenor (soprano or alto preferred) or multiples in any combination
· Piano Length: 10-15 minutes
Score: Each composer must submit a legible score of professional quality with individual parts for flute and saxophone. No marks identifying the composer should appear anywhere on the score. A supporting recording (CD only) is helpful but not required. MIDI realizations are acceptable.
Number of entries: Composers may submit as many entries as they like following these guidelines for each composition.
Returning materials: If you would like your score and recording returned, please enclose a self-addressed envelope with correct US postage.

Judging
All compositions will be judged by a committee comprised of Verismo Trio, the president of Wyoming Music Teacher’s Association, and one outside musician in a reading session with Verismo Trio.

Registration fee
Thanks to this generous donation from Wyoming Music Teacher’s Association, there is no registration fee.

Restrictions
You may not submit a work that has already been professionally recorded for commercial release.

Deadline for receipt of entries: postmarked by February 1, 2013. Please do not send materials registered or certified mail, or any mail service that requires a signature. They will not be returned to you.

Mail your entries to:
Verismo Trio Commissioning Project
c/o Nicole Riner
Dept. 3037
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071

For further information or questions, contact Nicole at nicole.riner@gmail.com.

You can bring the Verismo Trio to your community through the WAC Artists Across Wyoming grant category. Find the trio on the artist roster by going here. Visit the group's Facebook page here.

"Chattanooga Choo Choo" pulls into Pinedale

Tickets for the Oct. 5 Glenn Miller Orchestra performance in Pinedale are now on sale at: Rock Rabbit, The Cowboy Shop, Isabel Jewelry, Office Outlets, the Big Piney Library and at the door on the night of the event. If you live outside of Pinedale and would like a ticket, please call 307.367.7322. Sponsored by the Pinedale Fine Arts Council.

Piatigorsky Foundation performers launch Wyoming fall tour Oct. 10 in Greybull

Rodrigo Garciarroyo

The Piatigorsky Foundation and the Wyoming Arts Council announce the fall 2012 Wyoming tour. It will feature tenor Rodrigo Garciarroyo and pianist Mario Alberto Hernández .

At press time, some of the schedule details are incomplete. Please see tour updates on the WAC blog at http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com or on the web site at www.wyomingartscouncil.org

Wednesday, Oct. 10, Greybull: 7 p.m., Greybull High School Auditorium, 600 North 6th Street, Greybull. Contact: Darla Haller, dhaller@bgh3.k12.wy.us

Thursday, Oct. 11, Worland: 7 p.m., Worland Community Center, 1200 Culbertson Avenue Worland. Contact: Sheryl Ley, sherylwccc@yahoo.com, 307-347-8616, Fax 307-347-3445

Friday, Oct. 12, Dubois: 6 p.m., Headwaters Arts & Conference Center, 20 Stalnaker Street,, Dubois. Contact: Tammy Lucas, headwaters@wyoming.com, 307-455-2687

Mario Alberto Hernandez

Saturday, Oct. 13, Rawlins (details TBA)

Sunday, Oct. 14, Green River (details TBA)

Tuesday, Oct. 16, Rock Springs: 7 p.m., Western Wyoming Community College Theater. Contact: Debora Soule, dsoule@sweetwaterlibraries.com, 307-362-6212

Wednesday, Oct. 17, Kemmerer: 7 p.m., South Lincoln County Events & Training Center. Contact: Jennifer Lasik at 307-828-4083.

Thursday, Oct. 18, Lander: 7 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church. Contact: Marvin Brown, marvjobrown@wyoming.com

Casper College Osher Lifelong Learning Center offers "From Mozart to Merle Haggard" class

From a Casper College press release:

Registrations are now being taken for a fun and interesting music appreciation class through the Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI) at Casper College.

“From Mozart to Merle Haggard: Music Appreciation for Fun” (OLLI 2016) is for those who “are in a rut and listen to the same genre of music all the time, but would like to explore and learn to appreciate other music genres,” said Vicki Pollock, lifelong learning specialist at Casper College.

Those taking the class will “listen to and discuss the appeal of a variety of music genres from classical to country. Students may also bring a sample of their favorite music to share and discuss with their classmates in a fun and friendly environment,” noted Pollock.

The class will be taught by Sandra Davies and will be held on Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. Sept. 19 through Oct. 24. For more information, or to register, contact Pollock at 268-2097 or Karen Arnold, lifelong learning specialist at 268-2099.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in story and song at the Paramount Cafe

"The Story of St. Patrick: Celtic harp with narration and friendly conversation" by Michael Riversong at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave. Cheyenne, on Saturday, March 17, 5:30-8 p.m.

This is an informal family friendly performance by Michael Riversong. Children are especially welcomed.

FMI: Michael Riversong, Biblical Bards, http://home.earthlink.net/~mriversong

Actor Alec Baldwin and musician Ben Folds will help make the case for creativity on Arts Advocacy Day in D.C.

Ben Folds

This announcement comes from Americans for the Arts:

Just Confirmed: Musician Ben Folds to Join Arts Advocacy Day!

Noted singer-songwriter, frontman of Ben Folds Five, and judge on the NBC a cappella singing contest The Sing-Off Ben Folds will be joining arts advocates in Washington, DC for the 25th Annual National Arts Advocacy Day and performing at the Nancy Hanks Lecture. Hear from other acclaimed artists and congressional leaders at the Congressional Arts Kick Off on Capitol Hill. Add your voice of support and register now!

Strategize with experienced advocates during an interactive role play session on how to make the case for the arts and arts education to your members of Congress.

Network with your fellow arts advocates from across the country.

Arrive on April 15 to participate in the leadership training Executive Director and Board Member Symposium.

Receive two free tickets to the 25th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy featuring Emmy Award®-winning TV, film, and stage actor and arts advocate Alec Baldwin with your Arts Advocacy Day registration or reserve your tickets online today.

Advance Registration Deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012

Verismo Trio in Casper March 11

Verismo Trio, a chamber group from Laramie, will be playing in Casper at the Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4600 S. Poplar, on Sunday, March 11beginning at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 seniors, $2 students, and 12 and under are free.

The program will highlight contemporary works (written since the early part of the 20th Century) in all styles: French neo-Romantic, American tonal, and Latin jazz will all make appearances. The trio will also be performing pieces by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon, who served as guest artist-in-residence at UW in the 2010-2011 academic year, as well as a monumental work by colleague and friend of the trio Russell Peterson, saxphonist and professor of music at nearby Concordia College in Minnesota.

The Verismo Trio has performed for audiences from remote regions of the Rocky Mountains to the inner city with their dynamic performances. Celebrated for their brilliant virtuoisty and colorful musicianship, the trio members perform everything from Debussy to jazz for a wide array audiences. They are active in promoting emergent and established composers' works alike and have collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists. In demand as clinicians and performers, the Verismo Trio is dedicated to training young chamber musicians.

"Noon Music at the Library" presents the Sonoma Trio Jan. 9

Monday, January 9, Noon-1 p.m., Laramie County Public Library, Cheyenne

Noon Music at the Library: Sonoma Trio

The Sonoma Trio is a classical chamber music trio with flute, cello, and piano. You’ll hear a mix of styles from Claude Bolling and his Suite for Jazz Piano and Flute to Clara Schumann’s romantic trio for flute, cello, and piano. Bring your lunch and eat while you listen. Indoors in the Cottonwood Room. (Adults & Families, Cottonwood Room, 1^st floor).

Cheyenne All-City Children's Chorus presents "Soundscapes I: Winterskol" Dec. 10

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheyenne-All-City-Childrens-Chorus/32933019537

Fiercest and baddest of rabbits perform Sept. 24 in Casper

Fierce Bad Rabbit performs on Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m., at the American Legion Hall in Casper.

When Fierce Bad Rabbit formed in 2009, regional media called them a “supergroup.” The standout talent of each member of the band was already well established in Northern Colorado. But supergroups are engineered by record labels. The members of Fierce Bad Rabbit were magnetically drawn together to create indie pop music with a hook and a heart.

Featuring Chris Anderson (vocals/guitar/piano), Alana Rolfe (viola/vocals), Dayton Hicks (bass), and Adam Pitner (drums/percussion), Fierce Bad Rabbit found regional success nearly immediately after coming together. Songwriting came natural, and the band soon released a self-titled EP that had airplay before it hit the streets. They were voted “Best Indie Rock” by peers in the Fort Collins Musicians Association, and Westword nominated the band for “Best Indie Pop.” They performed at the 2010 South by Southwest in Austin, received featured airplay on stations throughout the region, and were selected for the inaugural class of SpokesBUZZ Fort Collins, a non-profit that raises awareness of Fort Collins as a music hub.

With the October 2010 release of their first studio LP, Spools of Thread, the band is poised to gain broad attention. The songs on the album are an emotionally powerful, infectious brand of indie pop. Songs like “Everything’s Alright” and “All I Have Is You,” are radio-ready sing-a-longs without the triteness and disposability too often found in pop music. Instead, Anderson pens songs with an honesty and depth that captures and connects listeners.

Get tix at http://www.artcorewy.com/tickets.php

Wyoming Flute Day Sept. 17 in Lander

Nicole Riner sends this:

I am the flute professor at University of Wyoming, and I'd like to tell you about a very exciting music event we are having at Lander Valley High School this weekend!  The first ever annual Wyoming Flute Day will take place Saturday, September 17 from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., including master classes, a professionals' recital featuring flutists from around the state, and a mass flute choir (so far, 30 participants and counting!). A free lunch will be provided by Mammoth Music of Riverton. You can read more details here: http://www.uwyo.edu/music/flute_day/flute_day.html. Thank you for helping us get word out to support this free event!  

Made in Wyoming chamber music series presents The Equinox Trio Sept. 9

The Equinox Trio from Casper will present a concert as part of the Made in Wyoming chamber music series on Sep. 9, 2011 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne.  The doors open at 2:30 p.m., with the concert starting at 3  p.m. 

Violinist Jennifer Cowell, violist Gary DePaolo, and cellist Christine Dunbar have been playing together as a trio for the past seven years. Exploring the evolution of classical strings music, they feature selections from Mozart to contemporary composers.  Instructors and teachers in college and secondary schools, they are also principal players with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra.

The trio will present selections from the C Minor trio sonata by Beethoven, and from the modern string trio by Vaclav Nelhybel. 

The concert is part of the Made in Wyoming chamber music series, which features Wyoming musicians and composers.  Funded by the Wyoming Arts Council and donations from area businesses, with the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra serving as fiscal agent.  The series will not only showcase Wyoming musicians, but also provide a serious venue for chamber music, which is under-served in the state.

Tickets cost $12 for adults, and $6 for seniors, students and children.  Tickets may be purchased at the Cheyenne Symphony office at 1904 Thomes Ave., or at the door.

FMI: Dave Shaul at 307-214-2359 or WyomingChamberMusic@yahoo.com.

Wyoming Public Radio offers highlights of Grand Teton Music Festival's 50th season

Wyoming Public Radio announces that highlights from the 50th Anniversary season of the Grand Teton Music Festival will air Thursday nights at 8 p.m. on WPR and Classical Wyoming through September 10. Programs repeat Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. on Classical Wyoming. Click here for a Grand Teton Music Festival broadcast schedule. 

Renovation and expansion of UW Fine Arts Building tops UW construction agenda

Renovation and expansion of a facility for performing arts academic programs tops the list of capital construction budget requests approved Friday by the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees for the 2013-14 biennium.

The renovated Fine Arts Building will house the Music and Theatre and Dance departments. The project continues long range planning efforts to achieve areas of cultural distinction outlined in University Plan 3, UW's strategic plan. The first phase, a visual arts facility to house the Department of Art, is being constructed now and scheduled to be completed in December.

After the Art Department relocates to that facility, construction can begin on the performing arts facility that would include 120,000-square-feet of renovated space and a 51,900-square-foot addition. The facility design is expected to meet or exceed a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) silver level. It houses offices, teaching laboratory/studios such as music, music rehearsal, acting and dance; and performance spaces such as concert halls and theatres.

The project is critical to maintaining requirements necessary for student success and recruiting and retention of both faculty and students, according to a report presented to the trustees. The facility will support the University Cultural Programs series that brings nationally- and internationally-recognized artists to campus and serve as a base to provide educational opportunities in which visiting artists share their expertise, not only with UW students but with state and regional residents.

This request is for $32.4 million in General Fund appropriations to complete construction documents as well as construction costs for the project. Construction completion is scheduled for November 2013.

Ensembles and soloists take the stage May 5 at Casper College

A concert consisting of small ensembles and soloists will take place on Thursday, May 5 beginning at 7 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall at Casper College in Casper.

The concert will feature the Casper College Brass Ensemble under the direction of Douglas Bull, brass instructor, and the Casper College Flute Ensemble under the direction of Delores Thornton, adjunct flute instructor.

In addition to the ensembles, the concert will feature brass duets, flute duets, a flute solo, a scene from an opera, and others to be announced at the concert.

Durham Recital Hall is located in the Aley Fine Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

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