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Musica Nova Concert Kicks Off Arts Festival

Musica Nova ensemble

Musica Nova, a group of student musicians directed by Dr. Robert Xavier Rodríguez, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Jonsson Performance Hall as part of the Spring Student Arts Festival.

UT Dallas’ student ensemble Musica Nova will present “Four Centuries of French Music” to open this spring’s student arts festival.

At 8 p.m. Saturday in the Jonsson Performance Hall, the free concert will celebrate the canon of French classical music including favorites such as Fauré’s “Pavane,” Ravel’s “Pavane for a Dead Princess” and works by Lully, Loeillet and Dukas.  

The centerpiece of the concert will be the monumental Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet by Ernest Chausson.

Students from the University’s Advanced Orchestra/Chamber Music Ensemble will perform with UT Dallas faculty pianist Michael McVay under the direction of composer-conductor Dr. Robert Xavier Rodríguez, professor of music and Chair in Art and Aesthetic Studies. 

“This will be the most ambitious program in all of Musica Nova’s 40-year history.”

Dr. Robert Xavier Rodríguez, professor of music and Chair in Art and Aesthetic Studies at UT Dallas

“This will be the most ambitious program in all of Musica Nova’s 40-year history,” Rodriguez said. “The music is sublime, and the students have worked overtime to produce something wonderful. Our Musica Nova concerts often sell out, so I urge everyone to arrive right at 7:30, when the doors open.”

UT Dallas’ Musica Nova ensemble performs music written for large and small ensembles, plus multimedia and theater works of all periods. Musica Nova guest artists have included members of the Dallas Symphony and Dallas Opera Orchestra, and singers from the New York City Opera and Metropolitan Opera.

Music from past Musica Nova concerts has ranged from medieval and Renaissance dances and motets to standard repertoire to experimental mixed-media works written for or developed by the ensemble.

Concerts have included an evening of tangos, improvisation, French cabaret and mariachi songs, chamber opera, video art and ballet.

Brass Ensemble

The Brass Ensemble will perform at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

2017 Spring Student Arts Festival

The Spring Student Arts Festival showcases the works of more than 600 students from more than 40 courses as well as art exhibitions and musical performances.Monday, April 24                  4:30 p.m. Brass Ensemble, Jonsson Performance Hall                    Tuesday, April 25        4:30 p.m. Chamber Groups, University Theatre6 p.m. Voice I & II, Jonsson Performance Hall

Wednesday, April 266 p.m. Creative Writing, Jonsson Performance Hall6 p.m. Dance Senior Honors Project, University Theatre7 p.m. Improv, University Theatre

Thursday, April 276 p.m. Guitar Courses, Jonsson Performance Hall7 p.m. One Act Plays, University Theatre

Friday, April 286:30 p.m. Art Exhibition Reception, Visual Arts Studio7:30 p.m. Opera Workshop, Jonsson Performance Hall

Saturday, April 292 p.m. Piano I – II, Jonsson Performance Hall

Sunday, April 302 p.m. Wind Ensemble, University Theatre4:30 p.m. University Orchestra & Strings Orchestra, University Theatre

Wednesday, May 37 p.m. Jazz, Jonsson Performance Hall

Thursday, May 47 p.m. University Choir, Jonsson Performance Hall

Friday, May 57 p.m. Senior Honors Recital, Jonsson Performance Hall

Saturday, May 67:30 p.m. Chamber Singers & Advanced Voice, Jonsson Performance Hall

Wednesday, May 107 p.m. Senior Honors Recital, Jonsson Performance Hall

Friday, May 127 p.m. Senior Honors Recital, Jonsson Performance Hall

Media Contact: The Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].

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