The MSU College of Music will stream a rich assortment of live and recorded classical performances by tightly-knit ensembles over a two-week period beginning in late April. Band, orchestral, choral, and chamber music groups constitute the extraordinary line-up capped by a rebroadcast of a sweeping musical event during the College’s Ensemble Week, April 20 through May 2.  

Music aficionados can enjoy a range of traditional to contemporary classical music performances by MSU artists and student musicians. From the MSU Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players to the MSU Wind Symphony Chamber Players, and from a chamber music recital featuring Suren Bagratuni, cello, and Margarita Shevchenko, piano, to Graduate and Undergraduate Chamber Choirs, there is something for everyone.

The week culminates in a special rebroadcast of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, recorded in 2018 on the Cobb Great Hall stage of Wharton Center. This broadcast will include new commentary from Conductor David Rayl and soloist Mark Rucker, baritone, and features MSU Choirs, Choral Union, University Chorale, State Singers, and MSU vocal artists with the MSU Symphony Orchestra. All events will premiere on College of Music Livestream or YouTube Channels, and are available to watch for free.

Schedule for MSU College of Music Ensemble Week
 

MSU Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players
Tuesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. LIVE on the MSU College of Music Livestream Channel
Conductor Octavio Más-Arocas leads performances of contemporary and traditional orchestral repertoire with intimately-scaled instrumentation. Program includes works by Caroline Shaw, Carlos Simon, Antonio Vivaldi, Leoš Janáček. Featured soloists include Dmitri Berlinsky, violin, and Suren Bagratuni, cello.

MSU Wind Symphony Chamber Players
Wednesday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music Livestream channel
Conductor Kevin Sedatole leads performances of contemporary and traditional wind repertoire with uniquely arranged instrumentation. Program includes works by Viet Cuong, John Mackey/Jacob Wallace, David Biedenbender/Tyler Austin, Valerie Coleman, and Leonard Bernstein. Featured soloists include Nicholas Schumacher, clarinet, and Derek Polischuk, piano. Concert is generously sponsored by Merritt Lutz.

Chamber Music Recital: Bach Gamba Sonatas
Saturday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music Livestream channel
Faculty artist's Suren Bagratuni, cello, and Margarita Shevchenko, piano, perform three Bach sonatas originally written for viola da gamba and harpsichord. Likely composed during his service to Prince Leopold in Cöthen, these sonatas shine a light on J.S. Bach's often clouded history and show a glimpse of how this important time in his career affected his artistry.

Against All Odds II, Choral Singing in a Pandemic
7 p.m. EST each evening, Sunday, April 25; Monday, April 26
This second collection of performances recorded for the 2020–2021 season showcases over two consecutive evenings a select range of choral repertoire performed by members of MSU Chorale. The performances present graduate and undergraduate student singers captured in Fairchild Theatre with appropriate social distancing, masks, and protective eyewear.

• Chorale: Graduate Chamber Choir
  Sunday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music YouTube channel
  Program includes works by Bach, Haydn, Brahms, Bloch, Palestrina, Sydney Guillaume, and Andrea Ramsey.
• Chorale: Undergraduate Chamber Choir
  Monday, April 26, 7:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music YouTube channel
  Program includes works by Mendelssohn, “Padre” Martini, Ernesto Aguiar, and Arvo Pärt.

MSU Concert Bands Chamber Players
Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music YouTube Channel
Conductor Arris Golden leads performances of contemporary and traditional wind repertoire with unique arrangement instrumentation. Program includes works by Jennifer Jolley, Tyler S. Grant, Yo Goto, James David, Hayato Hirose, Pete Meechan, Takamasa Sakai, Roger Zare, Shelley Hanson, Guillermo Lago, and Joe Moore.

MSU Symphony Band Chamber Players
Wednesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music YouTube Channel
Conductor David Thornton leads performances of contemporary and traditional wind repertoire with uniquely arranged instrumentation. Program includes works by Karel Husa, Gordon Jacob, Alfred Reed, Shuhei Tamura, and Eugene Novotney.

Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Sunday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. EST on the MSU College of Music Livestream Channel
This special rebroadcast of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, the most revered oratorio of the 19th century, was  recorded in 2018 and features Choral Union, University Chorale, and State Singers with the MSU Symphony Orchestra on the Cobb Great Hall Stage of Wharton Center. Performances by MSU artists include soloists Mark Rucker, baritone, Melanie Helton, soprano, Jane Bunnell, mezzo-soprano, and Richard Fracker, tenor. Conductor and Director of MSU Choral Programs David Rayl will preview the program and interview Mark Rucker who will offer some insight about singing the role of Elijah.