This school year the Division of Fine Arts Spring Concert is more of a concert series—with three different performances featuring a wide variety of music from many campus groups. So check out these events in the coming week—there is something for everyone.

Spring Concert

On Sunday, April 17, at 3:00 p.m., the Union College atrium will be filled with a wonderful variety of music featuring the Union College Chamber Orchestra, Handbell Ensemble, Concert Winds, Unionaires and Union College Singers.

“I feel honored to have been invited to re-establish the Union College Handbell Ensemble this year,” said Charlene Hawkins, who directs the group. She was first introduced to ringing handbells at Union College in 1997 when Kim Patterson was director. The handbell program was discontinued due to a shortage of student ringers. “I am excited to report that we have had a complete 13-member choir this entire school year, involving a total of 24 Union College students,” explained Hawkins. This year the Handbell Ensemble has performed at Piedmont Park church, Orchard Park Retirement Community, Campion Academy, Mile High Academy, and College View church.

For Sunday’s program, they will perform “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson; “Grazioso” by Arnold B Sherman; and “Pirates of the Caribbean” arranged by Kevin McChesney. They will also accompany the Unionaires on one song.

The Union College Singers, a new choral group featuring 20 singers from the Unionaires, will perform four of the Brahm’s Liebeslieder Waltzes for choir and piano duet in the original language. The Unionaires will add “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” by Rinyon with the handbells and “Africa” by Paich and Porcaro.

In the past, the spring concert was usually held in the College View church or the college gymnasium. “We chose the atrium this year as some of the music is secular; it also has great acoustics for choir,” Kurt Miyashiro, associate professor of music, explained. Come out at 3:00 and enjoy the wide variety of music.

This concert will be webcast live and achieved for later view on UCLive.

The Recreare Ensemble Concert

Oscar Quezada plans to continue his education after graduation and ultimately become a conductor. As he looked for more ways to practice with the director’s baton at rehearsals and performances, Quezada decided to start his own group—Recreare Ensemble. This ensemble of Union College and community musicians has provided him with orchestral conducting experience, first through a performance of “Mozart’s Symphony No. 40” last year. No other Union ensemble has performed a complete symphony before, and this year they plan to repeat that experience with “Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1”.

The Recreate Ensemble will perform Wednesday, April 20, in the Engel Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. This student-led ensemble will perform alongside soprano Marissa Carlson and baritone Cesar Pestana.

Fine Arts Vespers

The Friday night vespers service on April 22 will feature Enrique Sandoval, a Chilean Classical guitarist, playing all original arrangements. He will be joined by Daniel Martinez, flamenco classical guitarist; Brent Shaw,organist; Samuel Dinzey, guitarist; the Unionaires and a string quartet comprised of Jim McClelland II, Laurel McClelland, Kian Mapp and Jorrdan Bissell. Some of the music includes “Pastorale from Guitar Quintet in D” by Luigi Boccherinii, “Fantasy” by Vladimir Karlash, “God of Wonders” by Chris Tomlin, “Master of the Tempest is Raging“ by H.R. Palmer, and more.

The concert is on Friday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. in the College View Church Sanctuary and will be webcast live and achieved for later view on UCLive.

All performances are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there.

By Megan Wehling