SUU’s Symphony Orchestra presents two concerts to open the department of music’s Masterworks 2015-16 season series. The season begins Wednesday, Oct. 28, with the SUU Symphony Orchestra’s concert, “Jupiter Ascending,” and continues Friday, Oct. 30, with SUU’s Wind Symphony and choirs in a concert, “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” Each concert will be performed at Cedar City’s Heritage Center Theater at 7:30 p.m.
Under the direction of Dr. Xun Sun, the orchestra will perform a diverse program including the first and fourth movements of Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38, also known as the “Spring Symphony,” and selections from Danny Elfman’s score for the film, “Spider-Man.” The concert features Ms. Xinwen Fu as guest artist who will conduct the orchestra for one selection, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C major, known as the “Jupiter Symphony.”
Making his Southern Utah University debut as conductor, Dr. Steven Meredith conceived the concert, “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” which features SUU’s Wind Symphony and the SUU Concert, Opus, and Women’s Choirs. The performance spotlights great American music in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, including special arrangements of Civil War-era music. The concert will be emceed by SUU President Scott L. Wyatt who will provide special narration. There will be performances by guest artists the Red Rock Singers and Canyon View High School’s A Cappella Choir. The concert will include a performance inspired by a love letter by soldier Sullivan Ballou to his wife, Sarah, staged by Shauna Mendini, dean of SUU’s College of Performing and Visual Arts, and featuring acting students Samantha Allred and Trevor Messenger. Dr. Xun Sun will play the violin and Tracey Bradshaw will accompany on piano in an arrangement of Jay Ungar’s “Ashokan Farewell.”
For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts’ events, please visit suu.edu/pva/arts. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for alumni with ID, and $5 for youth. SUU faculty, staff, and students are admitted free with valid ID.
