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Symphony Orchestra

Solo Artist Spotlight

Symphony Orchestra will present a compelling and wide-ranging program at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, in Annett Recital Hall in the Lowe Center for the Arts. Under the direction of Dr. Martin I. Gaines, the ensemble will explore themes of power, lyric beauty, and orchestral color — anchored by featured performances from three outstanding UWL student soloists. This event is free and open to the public.

The evening opens with bold contemporary energy in Jess Langston Turner’s Fanfare and Riffs for Tiny Despots, a work that juxtaposes ceremonial grandeur with biting rhythmic drive. Its sharp contrasts and vivid orchestration set the stage for a program that moves fluidly between wit, intimacy, and sweeping Romantic expression.

Lyricism takes center stage in Georges Hüe’s Fantaisie pour flûte et orchestre, featuring flutist Brookelyn Hohl. This luminous showpiece highlights the flute’s agility and singing tone, unfolding in long, expressive lines that shimmer above a richly textured orchestral backdrop.

Operatic drama follows with music from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. After the sparkling overture, soprano Danica Lee will be featured in “Dah vieni, non tardar,” one of Mozart’s most tender and intimate arias. The selection captures the elegance and emotional nuance of Mozart’s operatic writing, offering a moment of poised lyricism amid the evening’s larger orchestral forces.

The program also turns northward in spirit with the second movement of Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 1, “Nordic.” Warmly Romantic and expansive, the movement reflects Hanson’s characteristic blend of American lyricism and Scandinavian influence, unfolding in broad, singing phrases that emphasize emotional depth and orchestral warmth.

Another student spotlight belongs to cellist Keaton Purney, who will perform the finale of Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor. A cornerstone of the cello repertoire, the concerto’s closing movement combines rhythmic vitality with soaring melodic lines, demanding both technical brilliance and expressive range from the soloist. The dialogue between cello and orchestra captures Dvořák’s gift for blending symphonic power with deeply personal expression.

The evening concludes with Karel Butz’s Wondrous, a vibrant contemporary work that pulses with rhythmic momentum and cinematic color. Its title aptly reflects the concert’s overarching arc — a celebration of orchestral possibility across centuries of musical thought.

Taken together, the program moves from ceremonial brilliance to intimate song, from Romantic breadth to modern vitality — highlighting not only the richness of the orchestral tradition but also the remarkable artistry of UWL’s student performers.

The public is warmly invited to attend this inspiring evening of music-making. For more information, visit uwlax.edu/vpa.

When

Past occurrences (1)

  • 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Where

Annett Recital Hall, 152 Lowe Center for the Arts

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Lowe Center for the Arts

If you go

  • Free, no registration needed

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact David Bashaw at 608.785.8409 or dbashaw@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

Additional parking info
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