Canceled: Dr. Scott Rieker, Composition Recital

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music will present its choral concert, titled “Something Old, Something New,” on Friday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The FSU Chamber Singers and University Chorale, conducted by Dr. Scott Rieker, director of Choral Activities and Music Education, will present an evening featuring works by Bloch, Pfautsch, FSU alumnus Grant Stryckning and more. Performed without intermission, this concise concert will showcase FSU’s choral ensembles and whet your appetite for the May performance of Orff’s masterwork, Carmina Burana.Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, military, and FSU faculty and staff, and free for students and children. Tickets are available at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (hours M-F 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or by calling 301-687-3137. Tickets may also be purchased online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/ or at the door the evening of the concert. This event will not be livestreamed.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music at 301-687-4109.Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland. For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu or facebook.com/frostburgstateuniversity. Follow FSU on X @frostburgstate.

A Heartfelt Journey of Friendship from Bengal to BroadwayPack your trunk for a jumbo journey with Jenny the elephant! Watch in wonder as this puppet pachyderm grows from tot to teen to towering adult in an unforgettable tale of enduring friendship.Inspired by true events, this moving story of love, belonging and what it means to be “home” comes to life through large-scale “Warhorse”-style puppetry – including a baby elephant, a young adult elephant, a fully grown adult elephant and a tiger – original music, authentic dance and magical illusion. During its fall 2023 presentation by New York’s legendary New Victory Theater, The New York Times named it a Critic’s Pick, stating, “This alluring spectacle ... which aims to dazzle audiences age 8 and older, makes powerful statements about the rights of both animals and human beings.”Founded in 2001 and based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Cahoots NI creates theatrical magic with a distinctive, innovative style that combines magic and illusion, large-scale puppetry, physical theatre and original music and choreography. Their bold, original productions are designed to inspire a sense of wonder, unlock imaginations and nurture a love of the arts in children.Immediately after the performance, Chuck Dicken, station director of FSU’s National Public Radio affiliate station WFWM-FM joins the artists for a lively conversation with audience members. Meet the artists of Northern Ireland’s Cahoots NI and hear behind-the-scenes tales about the creation of The Vanishing Elephant.The Vanishing Elephant is supported by Culture Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and presented in partnership with Belfast International Arts Festival with support from British Council NI.CES is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music will present its Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont, in its spring performance on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.Percussion Ensemble students include Gavin Baker, Bryce Campbell, Jacob Deaver, Daniel Hicks, Jacob Hunt, Jacob Hutzell, Bella McConnell, Bernard Pitts and Joe Rubens III. They will be joined by guest performers Reiss Mikula, Covy Wohlmuth, Tom Harrison, Peter B. Lewis, Dr. Brent Weber and Dr. Joseph Yungen.The concert will feature six pieces that include the drum set – some in a more traditional manner and some adapted for a particular piece. The “traditional” drum set pieces include “Sinister Minister” by Bela Fleck, “Frankenstein” by Edgar Winter and “Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest” by Stanley Whitaker. The less traditional uses will include “Sacrificial Rite” by David R. Gillingham, “Breakdown” by Bradley Slayter and the “Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble” by Ney Rosauro featuring Bryce Campbell on marimba.Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors, members of the military and FSU faculty and staff; and free for students and children. Tickets are available at the University box office in the Lane Center Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by phone at 301-687-3137 or online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2043. Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening of the concert.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music at 301-687-4109 or online at www.frostburg.edu/concerts.

PETER B. LEWIS TO PRESENT FACULTY ARTIST SERIES RECITALFSU Department of Music Faculty Artist Series presents Peter B. Lewis, string bass, in recital on Sunday, April 6, at 3:00 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public; it will also be livestreamed, click the red “Join Stream” button on this page to view the live performance.PETER B. LEWIS is the Director of Bands at Frostburg State University and conducts the Marching Bobcats, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble, as well as teaches coursework in conducting and music education. Previously, he served as the Assistant Director of Bands at the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. He holds dual bachelor's degrees in performance (percussion) and music education from Kent State University where he studied conducting with Wayne Gorder, and dual Masters of Music degrees in research in music education and wind conducting from UMass Amherst where he studied with Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr. He has additional study in conducting with Shanti Simon, Mark Davis Scatterday, Courtney Snyder, Craig Kirkhhoff, Michael Haithcock, Emily Thrienen, Col. Jason Fettig, and H. Robert Reynolds.He is the founder of the chamber wind ensemble, Bay State Winds, and served as their artistic director and conductor from 2016 until 2022. As a champion of new music for winds and percussion he commissioned several new works for chamber winds including compositions by composers Robert Spittal (Winsome Variations - 2020) which premiered in Boston, and Jake Gunnar-Walsh (Tower of the Winds - 2018).During his tenure as a public high school music educator, his ensembles performed at Boston Symphony Hall (2014), Chicago Symphony Center (2014, 2018), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (2015). His ensembles also had the privilege to work with composers/conductors John Mackey, Frank Ticheli, Brian Balmages, Robert Spittal, Anthony Maiello, Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., and Lt. Col. Arnold Gabriel.Peter has had the distinct privilege to share the stage with performers such as jazz piano legend Hank Jones, Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan, and Nexus Percussion Ensemble founding member Bob Becker. Many of his students have enjoyed successful careers in music including Sean Rosati, guitarist for pop music stars Ava Max and Doja Cat.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music at 301-687-4109.