FSU Department of Music, Theatre and Dance Presents Vocal Studios Recital Featuring Talented Voice StudentsFrostburg, MD – October 23, 2025 – The Frostburg State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance invites the public to an enchanting evening of vocal artistry at the Vocal Studios Recital on Thursday, October 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Pealer Recital Hall at FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.This free, public event showcases the exceptional talent of voice students from the studios of Dr. Chun-Ting Chao and Michael Welch. Audiences will enjoy a diverse program featuring beautiful art songs, captivating selections from opera and oratorio, and beloved numbers from musical theatre."We are thrilled to highlight the dedication and artistry of our vocal students," said a department representative. "This recital offers a unique opportunity to experience the next generation of performers in an intimate setting."The performance will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Visit www.frostburg.edu/concerts for the live link and additional details.For more information about FSU's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance events, visit www.frostburg.edu/concerts or contact the department at (301) 687-4109.About Frostburg State University Frostburg State University is a comprehensive institution of higher learning dedicated to fostering academic excellence, artistic expression, and community engagement in the heart of Western Maryland.

Dr. Brent Weber Will Perform in Faculty Artist Series ConcertFSU’s Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents saxophonist Dr. Brent Weber, accompanied by pianist Dr. Joseph Yungen, in a Faculty Artist Series recital on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 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 ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.The recital will include important works from the history of the saxophone, including: Paul Creston's “Sonata op. 19,” Jacques Ibert's “Concertino da Camera,” Ida Gotkovsky's “Brilliance”, and Heitor Villa-Lobos' “Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone and Piano.”“Sonata for E-flat Alto Saxophone and Piano, Op. 19” by Italian American composer Paul Creston is one of the most well-known pieces composed for the saxophone. In 1939, Creston completed this three-movement work following a classical sonata form paired with modern harmonies. It is notable that Creston included English expressive markings and movement titles (i.e. "with vigor", "increasing", etc.) rather than the typical Italian counterparts in the score. The listener can pick up on a jazz influence as Creston was a fan of the new art form arising in America.Known as the first major concerto for the saxophone, “Concertino da Camera” was composed for alto saxophone accompanied by eleven instruments - wind quintet, string quartet, bass and trumpet. Weber and Yungen will present the version arranged for piano by the French composer, Jacques Ibert. The three-movement work features a post-Romantic affect and some ragtime influence. Written for saxophone pioneer and virtuoso, Sigurd Rascher, the work also contains passages incorporating the highest range, or altissimo register of the saxophone.Of Russian extraction, French-born Ida Gotkovsky is the only living composer on the program. She studied with Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatory of Music, and many elements of his compositional style can be found in “Brilliance for Alto Saxophone and Piano.” Moments of humor, lyrical beauty and sheer force make each of the four movements very special.Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos was said to discover the saxophone in the streets of Rio de Janeiro as a child. This led him to develop a love for woodwinds as he played the clarinet and saxophone through his musical journey. “Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone and Orchestra” was composed in 1948 and published in 1963 with a piano reduction for the orchestra. French saxophonist and counterpart to Sigurd Racher, Marcel Mule commissioned the work with the goal for there to be a major concerto for the soprano saxophone. “Fantasia” delivers with three masterful movements incorporating a neoclassical aesthetic paired with jazz and Brazilian rhythms.Saxophonist Brent Weber is experienced in multiple genres of music from classical to jazz, rock ’n’ roll and beyond, and advocates versatility. His work with the contemporary jazz group Jake Mowrer Quartet featured him performing and recording throughout Northern Georgia. As a concert saxophonist, Weber is active with the North American Saxophone Alliance. He presented the European premiere of Todd Barton’s “Diastems II” at the World Saxophone Congress XIV in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and, as winner of the UGA Concerto Competition, he performed Ingolf Dahl’s “Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble.” He was part of the 2012 Naxos release, “Street Song.” Formerly an assistant professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China, Weber is department chair and assistant professor of saxophone in FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance where, in addition to maintaining the saxophone and bassoon studios, he also coordinates the Jazz Studies program.Pianist Joseph Yungen is a musician who happens to play the piano. He has established an international reputation for his consistent excellence as soloist and collaborator in a wide variety of music, including chamber music, art song, opera, new music, as well as choral and orchestral music. Known for his insatiable curiosity, Joseph is constantly expanding his musical knowledge, most recently by playing harpsichord and organ, studying piano technology, and exploring unconventional tunings and unequal temperaments. He has served as faculty at Music Academy of the West, the New Jersey Young Artist Piano Competition, and Frostburg State University. Joseph studied with Jonathan Feldman at The Juilliard School, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He received Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance & Literature and in Accompanying & Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Jean Barr and Douglas Humpherys, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance at Southern Oregon University under the instruction of Alexander Tutunov.

New Orleans Jazz, Blues and Ragtime“Musically, Tuba Skinny mine a rich seam of traditional jazz and blues from the '20s and '30s. And, while it's evident the band treasures the sense of history evoked by these vintage tunes, the players' natural exuberance makes the music feel irresistibly alive.” (Sydney Morning Herald)Tuba Skinny brings a joyful, rambunctious performance of music that encompasses the influences of Depression-era blues, jug band, spirituals, string band music, ragtime and New Orleans R&B. For over a decade, Tuba Skinny has toured the world and amassed a devoted and diverse following of music lovers.Featuring Shaye Cohn on cornet, Barnabus Jones on trombone, Todd Burdick on tuba, Craig Flory on clarinet, Gregory Sherman on guitar/vocals, Max Bien-Kahn on banjo, Robin Rapuzzi on washboard and Erika Lewis on vocals/bass drum, the band interprets traditional jazz and creatively incorporates many musical influences. The result is a true reflection of Americana, encompassing the full genealogy of popular American music from an early 20th century perspective.Following the show, Chuck Dicken, WFWM-FM station director, will lead a lively and interactive conversation between audience members and Tuba Skinny, who will discuss how their distinct style reflects the spirit of Americana.The engagement of Tuba Skinny is made possible through the Jazz Touring Network program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present its Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont, on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Percussion Ensemble members include Gavin Baker, Jacob Deaver, Daniel Hicks, Jacob Hunt, Jacob Hutzell, Bella McConnell, Bernard Pitts, Joe Rubens and Covy Wohlmuth with a guest performance by Reiss Mikula.The concert will include the unique piece “Bookoctet” by Alan Sentman. Eight players are given 50 or more books, some of specific size or construction, to create all the sounds of the work, including ripping, scraping, dropping, shaking, and even being read from. The piece is in three sections. The first is traditionally notated and is the most rhythmically specific. It begins with a unison figure from the entire ensemble. As the piece progresses, select players grab different books and play counter- rhythms that thicken the texture and create a sense of controlled chaos, like notated Cage music. These gestures are comprised mostly of triplets, sextuplets, and occasional grace-note figures, all of which are independent of one another. What follows is a significantly slower section that includes several sound experiments. Each player is instructed to create sounds with the books in unique ways, such as scraping a hard cover with fingernails, shaking an open book, blowing between two pages to make them whistle or buzz, and even destroying a book by “any means necessary.” The final portion requires the performers to read aloud from whatever books are near them, slamming them shut, then repeating the process in quicker succession. The piece ends with only two players reading single syllable words in low voices. (Note by Kyle Cherwinski).The ensemble will also be performing “Dance of Black-Haired Mountain Storm” by Alan Hovhaness, a movement from Eric Ewazen’s “The Palace of Nine Perfections,” and “Gainsborough” by Thomas Gauger. Writer Michael Dooley’s description of “Gainsborough” states “[it] is a highly melodic, very popular percussion quintet written in three movements. The piece has been performed all over the world and remains a favorite because of its playful textures, demanding parts (especially for the time), and appealing tonality. The first movement is a sprightly dance in 9/8 that mostly features quick lines between two marimbas, with interruptions from the timpani and battery percussionists. The slow, hesitant second movement has a more modal and metallic sound, highlighting the bells and vibraphone. A jazzy recitative appears in the middle of this movement. The final movement is quick and rhythmically active with a healthy amount of call and response between different sections. It moves through several different styles, finishing with a flourish.”Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Price for credit/debit card purchase are $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children. Cash purchase prices are $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at 301-687-4109.

FSU’s Department of Music Celebrates Adolphe Sax Birthday With ConcertThe 11-member FSU Saxophone Orchestra, featuring FSU and community saxophonists, are presenting a recital celebrating the birthday of Adolphe Sax (born November 6, 1814) who was the Belgian-French inventor of the saxophone. The recital is Sunday, November 9, at 3:00 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. This FSU Department of Music, Theatre and Dance concert is free and open to the public; it will also be livestreamed, follow the link at www.frostburg.edu/concerts.The program includes: “Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael, most widely-known from Ray Charles’ 1960 recording of the song, which was later designated the State Song for the State of Georgia; “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin, the 1902 classic piano rag (which was also sold in the 1910s on piano rolls for player pianos) that returned to prominence in the 1970s when it was used as theme music for Oscar-winning film “The Sting”; “Breathe” by Katahj Copley, written to highlight the reactions and emotions around the summer 2020 death of George Floyd; “Jarba, Mare Jarba” by Stacy Garrop, a popular traditional Hungarian-Romani folk song about longing to return to one’s homeland; and “Selections from Carmen Suite No. 1” by Georges Bizet, which was drawn from the music of his 1875 opera “Carmen”.

The FSU Jazz Combo, directed by Tom Harrison, will perform a vibrant concert featuring timeless classics from jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Freddie Hubbard, and more. The event, presented by the FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall at FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public. It will also be livestreamed, click the red 'Join Stream' button on this page to join the livestream.The Jazz Combo includes Doug Holtz (trombone), Daniel Coughenour (horn), Taylor Bryan (piano), Ray Gibson (guitar), Joe Rubens III (drums), and Tom Harrison (bass), with vocalist Mackenzie Taylor featured on select pieces.The performance will showcase a diverse set of jazz standards and modern classics, including: “Blue Train” by John Coltrane, the iconic 1958 blues from his Blue Note album; “Have You Met Miss Jones?”, a 1937 jazz standard by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart; “In a Mellotone” by Duke Ellington, a 1940 classic with lyrics by Milt Gabler; and the following works featuring vocalist Mackenzie Taylor: “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter, a 1966 jazz waltz recorded with Miles Davis; “All of Me”, a 1931 chart-topping standard by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons; “Don’t Know Why” by Jesse Harris, popularized by Norah Jones and a 2003 Grammy winner; “One Note Samba” by Antônio Carlos Jobim, a Bossa Nova gem with English lyrics by Jon Hendricks; “Little Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard, a modal piece from his 1967 album Backlash; “The Look of Love” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, popularized by Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick, and Diana Krall; and “Happy People” by Kenny Garrett, a funky jazz piece from his 2002 album.“This concert celebrates the rich legacy of jazz through the works of its most influential artists, brought to life by our talented student musicians and vocalist Mackenzie Taylor,” said Tom Harrison, Jazz Combo director. “We invite the community to join us for an evening of dynamic performances, either in person or via livestream.”For more information, contact the FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at 301-687-4109, or music@frostburg.edu.

The Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents the FSU Guitar Ensemble and Studio Recital on Thursday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. If you cannot attend in-person, the recital will also be livestreamed; click the ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.

Family may be found in the strangest places. A group of young assault survivors leans on each other in their healing journeys. Little do they know, their beloved therapist, who founded and leads the group, has motives that shroud his dark past. This play was written by Sarah Slack of Frostburg State University where students and staff portray the roles of these vibrant characters, telling stories of this group’s journey. Watch for ticket information on the University Tickets webpage https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/Show times are 7pm for November 14 and November 15, with an afternoon performance on Saturday, November 15 at 2pm

The Frostburg State University Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Troubadours Tenor/Bass Choir, and Altissia Treble Choir present “Sounding Beauty.” The concert features works by Lauridsen, Stanford, Bloch, Mendelssohn, and more, all of which are linked by their exquisite beauty. Is beauty in the ear of the beholder? Join us and find out!This Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance event takes place on Saturday, November 15, at 7:30pm in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2241, or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Price for credit/debit card purchase: $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students & children. Cash purchase: $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students & children.

The Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents the Piano Studio Recital on Sunday, November 16, at 3:00 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. If you cannot attend in-person, the recital will also be livestreamed; click the ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.Students of Dr. Jay DeWire’s studio, Samuel Wade, Taylor Bryan, and Hao ‘SimBa’ Xiong, will perform solo and four-hand works including music from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier and his French Suite in B minor; music from Moszkowski’s 5 Spanish Dances, Op. 12; and Ravel’s beloved Ma mere l’oye (Mother Goose Suite); and more.

FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance proudly presents “An Evening of Jazz: Celebrating 50 Years of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.” The FSU Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Brent Weber and featuring trumpeter Dr. Donny Albrecht, will perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis in 1965. This concert, showcasing music written and inspired by Thad Jones, takes place on Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall at FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.In 1965, Jones and Lewis founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in New York City, launching a legendary ensemble that redefined the big band genre. Beginning with three Monday night performances at the Village Vanguard in February 1966, the band’s innovative sound, driven by Jones’ harmonically rich compositions and Lewis’ dynamic leadership, captivated audiences and secured an indefinite engagement that continues today as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra—the longest-running steady gig in jazz history. Over its thirteen-year initial run, the orchestra produced fifteen albums, toured globally, including a historic 1972 Soviet Union tour, and introduced timeless works like Jones’ “A Child Is Born,” “Fingers,” “Little Pixie,” and “Tiptoe.” Featuring top-tier soloists and a “small group within the big band” approach, the ensemble blended virtuosic improvisation with sophisticated arrangements, setting a new standard for jazz orchestras.The FSU Jazz Orchestra will perform Thad Jones’ classics, including “This Bass Is Made for Walkin’,” “Quietude,” “A Child Is Born,” and “Us,” alongside other notable works such as Michael Brecker’s “Spherical,” Hank Levy’s “Decoupage,” Joey Calderazzo’s “Midnight Voyage,” and Gerry Mulligan’s “Mullenium.”Tickets are available at tickets.frostburg.edu, through the University Box Office in Lane University Center 203 (Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137, or at the door on the evening of the performance. Ticket prices are $11.73 for adults, $6.53 for seniors, military, and FSU employees (credit/debit card), and free for students and children. Cash prices are $11 for adults, $6 for seniors, military, and FSU employees, with free admission for students and children.Media Contact: FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, 301-687-4109, music@frostburg.edu

The Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents percussionist Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont in a Faculty Artist Series recital on Monday, November 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. If you cannot attend in-person, the recital will also be livestreamed; click the ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.The program will feature the numbers 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.LaMont is an active composer, performer (percussion), music educator and music industry/audio recording specialist. His recent compositions have been focused on the environment as well as political and philosophical issues, with the sound world inhabiting a space somewhere between minimalism and post-progressive rock (with dashes of polystylism here and there). LaMont has a DMA in music composition with a cognate in percussion from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where he studied composition with Michael Fiday, Joel Hoffman and Douglas Knehans, and percussion with James Culley and Allen Otte. He holds prior degrees in composition, percussion performance and music technology/recording, and previously studied composition and percussion at the University of Indianapolis with John Berners and Paul Berns, respectively. He is an assistant professor at FSU, where he teaches percussion lessons and ensemble, composition lessons and courses, and various courses within the music industry track.

Frostburg State University Presents Faculty Artist Series: Dr. Mark Gallagher, Dr. Brent Weber, and Dr. Jay DeWire in ConcertThe FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance proudly presents an evening of chamber music as part of its Faculty Artist Series, featuring Dr. Mark Gallagher on clarinet, Dr. Brent Weber on bassoon, and Dr. Jay DeWire on piano. The performance will take place on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public; it will also be llivestreamed, click the red 'Join Stream' button on this page to view the live performance.This captivating program showcases three works that blend classical elegance with early romantic fervor, highlighting the virtuosity and interpretive depth of the performers. Opening the program is “Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano in E-flat Major” by Archduke Rudolf. A student and patron of Beethoven, Rudolf crafted this trio with a style reminiscent of early Beethoven, infused with echoes of Mozart’s grace. Composed for clarinetist Count Ferdinand von Troyer, the work’s three completed movements—Allegro moderato, Scherzo, and Larghetto with Variations—offer a balanced interplay among the instruments, showcasing the clarinet while giving the bassoon and piano substantial roles.Next up is “Märchenbilder, Op. 113, and Five Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127” by Robert Schumann, arranged for clarinet and piano by Dr. Mark Gallagher. Schumann’s “Märchenbilder” (Fairy Tale Pictures) comprises four evocative character studies, with Dr. Gallagher’s arrangement combining the moody, nostalgic first movement and the tender, reflective fourth movement with the expressive “Five Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127.” This unique arrangement highlights Schumann’s emotional depth, with the clarinet and piano weaving a rich tapestry of shifting moods, from melancholy to serene reverie, reflecting the poetic and fantastic essence of Schumann’s music.The program will conclude with “Grand Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano, Op. 36” by Anton Eberl. A contemporary of Mozart, Eberl was a prolific composer whose works were often mistaken for Mozart’s due to their melodic beauty and classical refinement. This late work, composed in 1806, blends classical structure with early romantic stirrings. Its four movements—Allegro con spirito, Adagio non troppo, Scherzo, and Allegretto—feature graceful melodies and innovative writing, particularly for the bassoon, showcasing Eberl’s skill and the trio’s dynamic interplay.This concert promises an evening of musical discovery, bringing together rarely performed gems by composers whose connections to Beethoven and Mozart enrich their works with historical and artistic significance. Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Weber, and Dr. DeWire, esteemed faculty members of Frostburg State University, bring their expertise and passion to this thoughtfully curated program.For more information, contact the FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at (301) 687-4109, music@frostburg.edu, or visit http://www.frostburg.edu/concerts. Join us in person or online for an unforgettable evening of chamber music.Dr. Mark Gallagher (clarinet) website: http://www.markgallagher.net/Dr. Jay DeWire (piano) bio: https://www.frostburg.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/music/faculty.php#DeWireDr. Brent Weber (bassoon) bio: https://www.frostburg.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/music/faculty.php#Weber

The Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents the FSU Chamber Orchestra in recital on Wednesday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. If you cannot attend in-person, the recital will also be livestreamed; click the ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.

The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance present the FSU Wind Ensemble in concert on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2243, or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM - 4 PM), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Price for credit/debit card purchase: $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children. Cash purchase: $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children.

The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents their annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2244, or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon-Fri 10am- 4pm), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Price for credit/debit card purchase: $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students & children. Cash purchase: $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students & children.

A Yuletide Celebration of Celtic Music and DanceKilts and tartan abound in a joyous musical celebration of ancient Gaelic carols, lively Irish tunes and heartwarming seasonal melodies. Join U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely and an ensemble of acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical holiday journey through Scotland and Ireland. Delight in the stirring sounds of the fiddle, Highland pipes, harp, percussion, bouzouki, bass, guitar piano, harmonium and a fleet-footed percussive dancer.Heely is an award-winning Irish fiddler, singer and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Irish fiddle legend and National Heritage Fellow Liz Carroll declared him to be “one powerhouse of a fiddler.” This high-energy group has performed in venues including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, Hylton Performing Arts Center and at events such as the Garrett County Celtic Festival, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the Virginia Scottish Games and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland.Presented by Rhythm of the Arts.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Masterworks of Dvořák, Haydn, Ballard and PerkinsonCelebrate the Valentine’s Day holiday with a stirring musical performance that explores the profound connections between history, culture and the human experience.The lyrical beauty of Antonin Dvořák’s “Wind Serenade” captures the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit and calls to mind traditions of the Bohemian/Czech people. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Sinfonietta No. 1,” with its bold, expressive themes, blends classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Lewis W. Ballard’s “Incident at Wounded Knee” offers a moving reflection on Native American culture and explores themes of resistance, justice and resilience. The concert concludes with Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that exemplifies music’s power to inspire hope and unity.Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s influence and reputation have reached far beyond Western Maryland. Under the baton of Elizabeth Schulze, MSO has become a first-class orchestra of exceptional artistic quality.Prior to the show, at 6:30 p.m., MSO Music Director Schulze will discuss the selections that will be performed and reveal insight on how each composer’s work connects to and expresses their heritage.The presentation of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and by the FSU Foundation, Inc. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

A Colorful Spectacle of West African Dance, Music and Acrobatics“…The members of this troupe are fabulous performers. They’ve been handpicked to represent their country from a culture that genuinely prizes music and dance.” (The Chicago Reader)Formed in Paris in 1952 by distinguished Guinean choreographer Keita Fodéba, Les Ballets Africains has since toured to world-wide acclaim. As the national dance company of the Republic of Guinea, the 35-member troupe embodies the authenticity of African dance, incorporating traditional instruments, intense polyrhythms and colorful costumes. Their performances transcend boundaries, promoting a legacy of cultural pride that bridges the gap between nations through the universal language of dance.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.