Hartt Alumnus - Marcos Carreras and the Wyvern Invitational A Cappella Festival

Hartt alumnus, Marcos Carreras, created the Wyvern Invitational A Cappella Festival six years ago.  WIAF is the largest high school a cappella competition in America.  This year's festival will take place this Saturday at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford.

Marcos reports that last year's competition sold out in ten days, so they have made arrangements for streaming this year's competition live across the country at 6:30pm at http://whctv.org/  

Congratulations, Marcos!

Spring 2014 Performance - Highlights

Below are some highlights from the Spring 2014 Hartt performance calendar.  There are multiple performances at Hartt nearly every night of the semester, so this is just a sampling of the performance from the Music Division and the Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series. 

Hope to see you at some of these performances.

January 30 – February 2 – Alfred C. Fuller Music Center/Millard Auditorium

Hartt Opera Theatre presents Kurt Weill's Street Scene, with music direction by Doris Lang Kosloff and stage direction by Lawrence Edelson.

February 6 – Alfred C. Fuller Music Center/Millard Auditorium

The Richard P. Garmany Chamber Music Series – Sybarite5.  One the fastest-rising chamber music ensembles in the United States, the string quintet (quartet plus bass) Sybarite5 has been earning rave reviews and cheering audiences from coast to coast. After winning the prestigious Concert Artists Guild Competition last year (the same competition previously won by Imani Winds, eighth blackbird, and many other now-celebrated artists) the group enjoyed a raucous, sold-out debut performance at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. Its latest album, Everything in its Right Place, is a collection of Radiohead songs arranged expressly for them.

February 14 & 15 – Lincoln Theater

Hartt Collage - An Evening of Continuous Music, Dance, and Theatre.  Hartt’s gift to the community, Hartt’s annual Collage Concert features continuous music, dance, and theatre. This concert is FREE, but tickets are required. Early reservations are recommended.

March 1 – Trinity Episcopal Church, 120 Sigourney St., Hartford

Music for a Large Space (a public gathering) by David Macbride.  The premiere performance of Music for a Large Space (a public gathering) for winds, brass, percussion, vocalists, and audience by Hartt faculty composer David Macbride, with the Hartt Symphony Band (James Jackson, Director) and the Hartt Independent Singers (Matt Cramer, vocalist leader).

March 7 - Cathedral of St. Joseph, 140 Farmington Avenue, Hartford

Mozart Requiem – The 140 voices of The Hartt School choruses and the Soli Deo Gloria Orchestra, the cathedral's resident chamber orchestra, will present an inspirational program featuring Mozart's Requiem under the direction of Edward Bolkovac, The featured soloists will include Louise Fauteux, soprano, Hartt alumni Judy Bowers, mezzo soprano, and Craig Hart, bass, as well as current Hartt doctoral student Jerron Jorgensen, tenor. The concert will also include additional incidental music by Mozart and Albinoni.

Alumni Event in NYC on January 13, 2014

REMINDER The University of Hartford Alumni Association and The Hartt School invite you to join us for an Alumni Reception with Dean Aaron Flagg during the Association of Performing Arts Presenters' NYC conference Monday, January 13 6–8 p.m. Etcetera Etcetera 352 West 44th Street New York, New York Register online by January 9 Meet up with old friends, network with other alumni, and hear news about the University of Hartford and The Hartt School from Dean Flagg. A cash bar with one free drink ticket and one hour of complimentary hors d’ouevres will be provided.  For further information, contact the Alumni Office at 860.768.2400 or alumni@hartford.edu.

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Hartt’s Honorary Degrees Given in the 1990s

In past posts, I have highlighted the honorary degrees awarded by Hartt during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

In the 1990s, Hartt awarded two honorary degrees.  The first was to pianist Grant Johannesen in 1993.

More information about Mr. Johannesen can be found here.

   
The other was awarded to Hartt alumnus (‘51) and composer Jack Elliott in 1997.

This photo was taken of Mr. Elliott during a masterclass at Hartt.  If you are not familiar with Mr. Elliott’s name, you certainly have heard his music.  I encourage you to check out his Wikipedia page here. 

Also, Mrs. Bobbi Elliott donated a significant amount of Mr. Elliott’s materials to Hartt, which now holds The Jack Elliot Collection.  More information about the The Jack Elliott Collection and The Jack Elliott Legacy Project to follow in a later post.

Upcoming Alumni Gathering

Do you live near Dallas? 
Are you attending the Jazz Education Network's Conference in January?


If the answer is "yes" to either of those questions, you are invited to Dinner and Conversation with faculty members Nat Reeves and Shawnn Monteiro-Huelbig on Thursday, January 9, 6-7:30 p.m. at Pyramid Restaurant.

If you would like to attend, or for further information, contact Philip Grover at 860.768.4468 or pgrover@hartford.edu.

________________________________

So many alumni report fond memories of their years at the
University of Hartford. Some things have changed since you
studied here, we're sure. What haven't changed are our
values and the integrity of relationships formed here. We
hope to continue aligning our history with our future in a
way that generates excitement amongst our alumni.

**************************

More information about the upcoming gathering in NYC on January 13, 2014 coming soon.

Hartt's Guitar Department is 50! SAVE THE DATE

SAVE THE DATE!

Fiftieth Anniversary Concert celebrating the founding of the Guitar Department
                               

Saturday, April 12: 8:00 PM, Millard Auditorium

 Did you know?

The Guitar Department at The Hartt School University of Hartford is the oldest performance-based guitar program in the country. Graduating its first member in 1968, 

Hartt Community Division to Perform The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

• Buy tickets now!
• Nutcracker events around town
• Support the Nutcracker

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The Hartt School Community Division will open its traditional production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 PM. As a special treat this season, the Hartt Dance Department will also offer a Nutty Nutcracker. If you’re a Nutcracker “regular,” you are in for a comical evening with this off-the-wall version of the original Nutcracker. The Nutty Nutcracker, will premiere on Sunday, December 15 at 7:30 PM. Hartt’s Nutcracker production includes two casts from its Pre-Professional and Children’s Ballet programs, former dancers from the Hartford Ballet, and surprise cameo appearances by several local celebrities and dignitaries. In total, the cast numbers more than 100 performers.
Set to Peter IIyitch Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, Hartt’s The Nutcracker features choreography by Community Division Dance Department’s Artistic Director Samantha Dunster, lighting by Production Designer Dewey Strang, brilliant costumes, a Christmas tree that grows to tremendous heights, snow falling and the ultimate battle between Clara’s beloved Nutcracker and his nemesis, The Rat King. Ms. Dunster’s choreography maintains the highest traditional quality of this holiday classic and lends itself to an enchanting evening for the whole family. “I look forward every year to our production of this time-honored tradition,” says Ms. Dunster, “The combination of Tchaikovsky’s enchanting music, the radiant costumes, stunning sets and lighting all paired with our immensely talented students makes for a magical holiday experience for young and old alike.”

Traditional Nutcracker Performances:

• Friday, December 13 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, December 14 at 2:00 PM
• Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 PM
• Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 PM