08/31/12 ema

HAYS, Kan. -- From marching band and faculty recitals to orchestra and theatre productions, the 2012-2013 Fort Hays State University music season has a little something for everyone.

It will also be the Hays Symphony Orchestra's 99th season of concerts.

Music by Mozart, Rachmaninoff and many more composers will be featured as well as performances by visiting guest soloists. Benjamin Cline, assistant professor of music and theatre and chair of the department, will conduct.

Preparations are also underway for the centennial celebration of the orchestra in 2013-2014.

"The Hays Symphony is a cultural jewel in western Kansas," said Cline. "Community members come together with FHSU students and faculty to have fun and bring music to a community miles from another orchestra."

All HSO performances, except where otherwise noted, are at 7:30 p.m. in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus.

The first musical event of the 2012-2013 season will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, with a faculty recital featuring assistant professors Benjamin Cline on the cello and Dr. Irena Ravitskaya on piano in Palmer Recital Hall located in Malloy Hall on the FHSU campus.

The orchestra's first concert is "A Night at the Movies" at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

"Mostly Mozart," showcasing the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is Saturday, Oct. 27. Featured pieces include "Violin Concerto No. 5" and "Symphony No. 29." Denise Blehm, concertmaster of the Salina Symphony, will be the featured violinist.

The eighth annual Young Artist Piano Competition, featuring the HSO Young Artist finalists, will be Saturday, Feb. 2. First place receives the HSO Young Artists' Prize of $1,000. Second place is awarded $600, and third place $400.

All pianists age 29 and under at the time of the final round of the competition are eligible. Previous finalists are not allowed.

On Friday, March 8, FHSU Opera will present "Marriage of Figaro" at Felten-Start Theatre in Malloy Hall. Mozart's opera recounts a single day of madness in a palace near Seville, Spain. The second showing is at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10.

"Masterworks," the last concert in the orchestra's season, is Saturday, May 4. Ravitskaya will perform on the piano. The concert play list includes ""Piano Concerto No. 2" by Sergei Rachmaninoff and "Solemn Vespers" by Mozart.

Visit http://www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/calender/ or the Hays Symphony Orchestra Facebook page for the most up-to-date concert information.

For more information about the concert series or to purchase tickets, call the Hays Symphony Orchestra box office at 785-628-4226 or purchase tickets at the door 30 minutes prior to a performance.

With 150 students from every academic discipline, the Tiger Marching Band has a long tradition of service to FHSU. All members earn a stipend that increases each year.

On Monday, Oct. 29, the Tiger Marching Band will host the High Plains Marching Festival for high school marching bands to showcase the hard work they have put in all season. A wide variety of band sizes and school classifications will be featured.

For more information and to apply online visit www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre/festivals-camps/HP-marching-festival/.

Additional scheduled musical events for the academic year:

Faculty Recital: Hilary Shepard, flute, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Palmer Recital Hall, Malloy Hall.

FHSU Music Theatre: "Curtains," 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3-5, Felten-Start Theatre, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 7, Felten-Start. These events are not part of the regular concert series and require a separate ticket for admission. For information, call the Department of Music at 785-628-4533 or visit the website, www.fhsu.edu/music.

Faculty Showcase Recital: FHSU Department of Music Faculty, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Band and Choir Concert: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Beach/Schmidt.

Faculty Recital: Ivalah Allen, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Felten-Start.

FHSU Small Ensembles Concert: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Jazz Concert: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Music Theatre: "Almost Maine," 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15-17, and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Felten-Start Theatre.

Faculty Recital: Kristin Pisano, clarinet, Irena Ravitskaya, piano, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27, Palmer Recital Hall.

Madrigal Feaste: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1, Memorial Union.

FHSU Band Concert: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Cathedral Concert: 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9, St. Fidelis Cathedral, Victoria.

Faculty Recital: Brad Dawson, trumpet, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Percussion Ensemble: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Choir Concert: 7:30 p.m. March 12, Beach/Schmidt.

Faculty Recital: Matt Means, violin, Irena Ravitskaya, piano, 7:30 p.m. March 13, Palmer Recital Hall.

FHSU Band Concert: 7:30 p.m. March 14, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Jazz Concert: 7:30 p.m. April 11, Beach/Schmidt.

Faculty Recital: Lane Weaver, trombone, Irena Ravitskaya, piano, 7:30 p.m. April 12, Palmer Recital Hall.

FHSU Small Ensembles Concert: 7:30 p.m. April 15, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Music Theatre: "The Glass Menagerie," 7:30 p.m. May 2-5, Felten-Start Theatre.

Spectrum Composition Concert: 7:30 p.m. May 7, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Band Concert: 7:30 p.m. May 10, Beach/Schmidt.

FHSU Music Theatre: "Director's Showcase," 7:30 p.m. May 10-11, Felten-Start.

For information on ticket prices, visit www.fhsu.edu/music-and-theatre or call 785-628-4533.