Take a break this spring for an afternoon or evening of music, featuring Valencia College’s Jazz Band, Commercial Music Ensemble, Valencia Singers, Contemporary Ensemble and Opera Theater Workshop.
Here’s the lineup of upcoming concerts:
Spring Jazz Band Concert
Date: Tuesday, April 4
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: East Campus, Performing Arts Center
The Valencia Jazz Band will groove to timeless classics by Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Louis Prima. The evening will be filled with great harmonies and solo work by students.
House Band Concert
Date: Wednesday, April 5
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: East Campus, School of Arts and Entertainment Outdoor Stage
The Commercial Music Ensemble will showcase 50 minutes of versions of hit songs by Queen and Toto, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sammy Rae, even Third Story, Jvke and more.
Spring Choral Concert
Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: East Campus, Performing Arts Center
Celebrate spring with a concert of choral masterpieces by Mozart and Haydn, modern works by Szymko, Garrett and Trenney, and arrangements of traditional African, Jewish and modern popular melodies performed by the Valencia Singers. A featured work is a world premiere of “La Rana Y El Sapo” composed by Valencia voice faculty member Juantomas Martinez, conducted and accompanied by the composer himself.
The second half of the concert will feature musical theater theatre selections from “A Very Potter Musical,” “Hamilton,” “Sister Act The Musical,” “The Addams Family Musical,” “Wicked,” “Spamalot” and more, performed by Valencia’s Contemporary Ensemble.
Can’t attend on April 11 or unable to attend in the evening? You can catch an abbreviated program on Saturday, April 8 at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church, 3600 Aloma Ave.
Symphonic Band Community Connection Concert
Date: Thursday, April 13
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: East Campus, Performing Arts Center
Kicking off the first Community Outreach Concert, the concert will feature the Valencia Symphonic Band and the renowned Orlando Concert Band. Performed by nearly 100 combined players will be works by Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein and a Southeastern premiere of “Slavic Nightmares,” a work by James Territo.
Valencia College’s Opera Theatre Workshop Presents Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party”
Dates: April 19-22
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: East Campus, Performing Arts Center
Decadence and excess are the life of the party in this jazzy 1920s whodunnit.
“The Wild Party” — book, music and lyrics written by Andrew Lippa — is based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 narrative poem of the same name. Set in Prohibition-era New York, lovers Queenie, a vaudeville dancer, and Burrs, an abusive vaudeville clown, decide to throw the party-to-end-all-parties in their Manhattan apartment. After the colorful arrival of a slew of guests living life on the edge, Queenie’s wandering eyes land on a striking man named Black. As the decadence is reaching a climax, so is Burrs’ jealousy, which erupts and sends him into a violent rage. Gun in hand and inhibitions abandoned, Burrs turns on Queenie and Black. The gun gets fired, but who’s been shot? The dark tones of the show depict sex, drugs and jazz, and climax into the wildest party ever seen. With stage direction by Carla DelVillaggio, who teaches music at Valencia, and musical direction by music accompanist Noah Baez, this show features a talented cast of Valencia students.
For more information about the concerts, please contact the Valencia College box office at 407-582-2900.