Arts & Humanities

Faculty Recital Series to feature Stravinsky, Barber, Copland

The University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music will present a faculty series concert by Jacylyn Hartenberger, assistant professor of music, conductor and associate director of bands, on Nov. 13 in the Ramsey Concert Hall at 8 p.m.

Hartenberger, often known for innovative and exciting programs with the student Wind Symphony, has performed internationally as an in-demand conductor. She will present a more familiar series of pieces in a chamber ensemble setting, featuring the works of Igor Stravinsky, Samuel Barber and Aaron Copland. The concert is meant to give the faculty ensemble an opportunity to play well-known music that’s both fun for the performers and the audience.

“I wanted to have an opportunity to collaborate with our faculty with music that would not necessarily be performed by the students,” said Hartenberger. “In my mind, this is a very collaborative type of performance. We wanted to put something together that the audience would enjoy and be familiar with.”

The program will begin with Stravinsky’s Concerto in E-flat major, a piece which sounds a lot like Bach at times, she said. The second piece, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, is a famous piece of work by Barber that is sung by sopranos. The third and final piece is Appalachian Spring by Copland.

“I picked this program because often in academia we pick a lot of new innovative music that makes you think,” she said. “I wanted to pick more familiar music that the faculty would really enjoy performing and that they wouldn’t necessarily play in other settings.”

The ensemble features faculty members Milton Masciadri on bass, Monica Hargrave on harp, Damon Denton on piano, Shakhida Azimkhodzhaeva and Rachael Fisher on violin and D. Ray McClellan on clarinet, as well as several graduate students who help fill out the rest of the ensemble. The featured soprano is Amy Pretongeli from Penn State University.

Tickets are $12 each or $6 for students and children. Tickets can be purchased at pac.uga.edu or the Performing Arts Center box office. Those unable to attend can watch the concert live on the Hodgson School’s website at music.uga.edu/streaming.