Inside Rensselaer, October 25, 2007: Series Brings Free Classical Concerts to Campus

Series Brings Free Classical Concerts to Campus Elisa Gallaro Freelance Writer

What better way to de-stress than to the sounds of classical music? The Rensselaer Union is once again offering free on-campus performances as part of its Classical Concert Series. Already this semester, students, faculty, and staff have enjoyed free concerts by Capitol Chamber Artists, Rensselaer Music Association ensembles, Professor David Gibson and pianist Elizabeth Wright, and Liu Zhijing, a Netherlands pianist who is now at Rensselaer.

Most of the concerts are underwritten by three endowed funds: the Eleanore N. Fischbach Concert Series, the Sylvia and Alexander Hassan ’27 Concert Series, and the Kodosky Foundation Fund for Classical Music. Performances by on-campus organizations are sponsored by the Rensselaer Union.

“The donors who established these endowed funds had a passion for classical music and have given us a wonderful opportunity to share that passion with the Rensselaer community,” said Erika Rau, assistant coordinator of student activities, who oversees the Classical Concert Series.

The endowed funds also enable Rensselaer to provide students with free tickets to classical concerts at off-campus venues throughout the Capital Region. Ticket information for off-campus performances is available from the Rensselaer Union at 276-6505.

Upcoming on-campus concerts include:

Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. at Heffner Alumni House: Rensselaer Professors David Gibson and Michael Century perform compositions by John Cage, Morton Feldman, and J.S. Bach.
Nov. 14 at noon at Academy Hall Auditorium: Capitol Chamber Artists presents “Romantic Salon Music” by Chopin, Franchomme, Donjon, Ysaye, and Franck.
Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel + Cultural Center: Rensselaer Concert Choir presents its winter concert, an evening of multicultural holiday music including works from Renaissance to contemporary composers.
Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Heffner Alumni House: Rensselaer Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Professor David Gibson.
Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Rensselaer Union McNeil Room: Rensselaer Music Association showcases student talent, from jazz and swing to the classics.
Feb. 6 at noon at Academy Hall Auditorium: Capitol Chamber Artists presents a Baroque Banquet, featuring music by Bach, Telemann, Matteis, and De La Guerre.• Feb. 20 at noon at Academy Hall Auditorium: Haydn and Mendelssohn String Quartet, featuring Rensselaer Professor David Gibson, Kaori Washiyama, and Rensselaer students Andrew Nixon and Nico Sayavedra.
March 25 at 7 p.m. at the Chapel + Cultural Center: Rensselaer Concert Choir, under the direction of Arlen Johnson.
March 26 at noon at Academy Hall Auditorium: Capitol Chamber Artists presents “A Celtic Fantasy”
featuring music from the British Isles.
April 9 at noon at Academy Hall Auditorium: Capitol Chamber Artists showcases the “Greatest of the Romantics: Brahms and Schumann.”
April 22 at 7 p.m. at Heffner Alumni House:
Rensselaer Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Professor David Gibson.

Additional performances may be scheduled throughout the year. For the most current information, contact the Rensselaer Union Administration Office at 276-6505.

Send comments to:
Inside Rensselaer, Strategic Communications and External Relations
1000 Troy Building, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, N.Y. 12180 or to leibat@rpi.edu.

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