Jazz, classical, new music in UIC concerts

The University of Illinois at Chicago invites all to evening and lunchtime concerts by professionals in jazz, classical and new music. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and do not require tickets.

The schedule is subject to change. For updates, please visit UIC Music Events.

*Concerts will be broadcast on WFMT 98.7, Chicago’s fine arts station.

The Cavatina Duo, Feb. 11. (Click on image to download larger file.)

TUESDAYS-AT-ONE

Take a lunch break with free professional  performances from 1 to 1:50 p.m. most Tuesdays in Recital Hall L060 on the lower level of the Education, Theatre, Music and Social Work Bldg., 1040 W. Harrison St.

Feb. 4:  “The Life and Love of Robert and Clara Schumann.” Peter and Kathleen Van De Graaff, bass-baritone and soprano, dramatize the life of composer Robert Schumann.

Feb. 11:  Cavatina Duo. Eugenia Moliner, flute, and Denis Azabagic, guitar.

Feb. 18:  Randy Brecker. Master class by Grammy-winning trumpeter and flugelhornist in jazz, R&B and fusion.

Feb. 25:  UIC Faculty Chamber Ensemble. Quartets for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano by Viennese romantic Walter Rabl and American composer Peter Schickele.*

March 4:  Jim Gailloreto’s Jazz String Quintet with vocalist Cheryl Wilson.*

March 11:  Baroque Band.*

March 18:  UIC Jazz Ensemble.

March 25:  No concert.

April 1:  GVSU New Music Ensemble. Grand Valley State University’s ensemble plays new music and 20th century landmarks.

April 8:  John Floeter & Friends. The principal bassist for the Chicago Sinfonietta, plays classical, jazz, folk and musical theater.*

April 15:  UIC Jazz Combos.

April 22:  Sebastian Huydts, piano. The Columbia College composer performs works by Albeniz, de Falla, Soler and Ginastera.

April 29:  Lincoln Trio. Desiree Ruhstrat, violin; David Cunliffe,  cello; and Marta Aznavoorian, piano, play music by Joaquin Turina.*

EVENING CONCERTS

Minimal Variations
The UIC Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jose Oliver Riojas, plays “Asclepius”  by Michael Daugherty, “Variations on America” by Charles Ives, “New York Counterpoint” by Steve Reich, “In C” by Terry Riley, “Overnight Mail” by Michael Tork, and more.
Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Room L285
Education, Theatre, Music, and Social Work Bldg.
1040 W. Harrison St.

Randy Brecker, guest artist at the UIC Jazz Festival, Feb. 19. (Click on image to download larger file.)

Randy Brecker at UIC High School Jazz Festival
This year’s guest artist, trumpeter Randy Brecker, has been shaping the sound of jazz, R&B, rock and fusion for four decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by artists from Art Blakey to Frank Zappa, and garnered multiple Grammy Awards.  He appears with UIC’s Jazz Ensemble, directed by Andy Baker, in the finale of the annual UIC High School Jazz Festival.
Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Illinois Room, Student Center East
750 S. Halsted St.
Admission: $10; $7, students and seniors, at the door or theatreandmusic.uic.edu, or call (312) 996-6068.

Not Human (but of Human Hands)
The University band, conducted by Nicholas Carlson, plays works by Bryant, Vaughn Williams, Copland, Reed, Markowski and Newman.
March 5, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.

Heroes
The UIC Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jose Oliver Riojas and Josh Bird, plays “Ecstatic Fanfare” by Steven Bryant, Concerto for Marimba by David Maslanka, “Mars” by Gustav Holst, “Gone” by Scott McAllister, “Tribute” by James Grant, “Fantasia” by Claude Smith, and “Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copland.
March 8, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.

Beethoven Inspires: Beethoven and Cherubini
The UIC Symphonic Choir joins the Elgin Choral Union, conducted by Andrew Lewis, to sing “Three Movements in Brick” by UIC’s Marc Mellits, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, and Cherubini’s Requiem in C minor.
March 8, 7:30 p.m. 
March 9, 2:30 p.m.
Hemmens Cultural Center
45 Symphony Way, Elgin
Ticket event. Information at elginchoralunion.org.

Dvorak’s New World 
The UIC String Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Black, plays Dvorak’s signature New World Symphony with the first movement of his Violin Concerto, performed by Youth Concerto winner Karisa Chiu.
March 14, 7:30 p.m.
Merit School of Music
38 S. Peoria St.

New Music for a New School
Steve Reich’s monumental “Music for 18 Musicians” is paired with a new commission, “Music for 5 Musicians,” by UIC’s Marc Mellits, who studied with Reich at Yale. Mellits is one of the leading American composers of his generation, enjoying hundreds of performances throughout the world every year. His music is an eclectic combination of driving rhythms, soaring lyricism and colorful orchestrations that communicate viscerally with the listener.
March 15, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.

Structures
The UIC Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jose Oliver Riojas, plays “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” by John Adams, “Cathedrals” by Catherine Salfelder, “Acrostic Song” by Del Tredici, “Builder” by John Lescycnski, “Tower Ascending” by Wayne Oquin, and “March from Symphonic Metamorphosis” by Paul Hindemith. The UIC String Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Black, plays Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.
April 18, 7:30 p.m.
Logan Center for the Arts
University of Chicago
915 E. 60th St.

Jazz at Jaks
UIC’s stellar Jazz Combos return to this friendly neighborhood hotspot.
April 22, 6:30 p.m.
Jaks Tap
901 W. Jackson Blvd.

Jazz at UIC
The UIC Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Andy Baker, plays new and classic big-band music.
April 28, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.

Choral Masterworks: Mozart & Haydn
The UIC Symphonic Choir joins the Janus Ensemble to perform Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse,” No. 14 in B flat major and Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de confessore” K. 339.
May 1, 7:30 p.m.
St Francis of Assisi Church
813 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Admission: $10; $5, seniors, students, UIC faculty and staff, at the door or theatreandmusic.uic.edu, or call (312) 996-6068.