Shea Center for the Performing Arts Thursdays at 12:30 P.M. January 15 - Jazz Concert - Saxophonist Dayna Stephens January 22 - Ann Roggen, viola An afternoon of unaccompanied works for solo viola. January 29 - Nada Brahma – Music from India "Nada Brahma" the divine sound, is at the heart of Indian music. After residing in Bhopal, India with the internationally acclaimed Gundecha Brothers, American vocalist Payton MacDonald returns to North America, presenting intimate concerts of dhrupad singing, in collaboration with Montreal tabla player Shawn Mativetsky. Rarely heard nowadays, dhrupad is the most ancient form of Indian classical music. The raga is explored gradually, deeply, transporting the listener. A profound experience. Shawn will also present a tabla solo, in the style of the Benares (Varanasi) gharana, as he learned from his Guru, the legendary Pandit Sharda Sahai. Tabla players of Benares are renowned for their dynamic, colorful solo tabla performances. An inspiring concert, not to be missed! February 5 - In conjunction African Heritage Month - WP presents Black Violin - Classical Meets Hip-Hop, Rock, and R&B Here to make their mark in popular music, this classically trained violin duo introduces a groundbreaking blend of classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B, and even bluegrass music that melds highbrow and pop culture into a single genre-busting act. Black Violin is made up of the South Florida twosome of Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste and Kevin "Kev Marcus" Sylvester. The pair has played and collaborated with the likes of P. Diddy, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, and The Eagles, to name a few. Live, they are accompanied by their potent band, featuring ace turntable whiz DJTK (Dwayne Dayal), drummer Beatdown (Jermaine McQueen), and cellist Joe Cello (Joseph Valbrun) February 12 - Albert Regni, saxophonist – Allen Farnham, pianist Saxophonist Albert Regni has been principal saxophonist with the New York Philharmonic since the late 1960s under Leonard Bernstein, also with the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet. Regni has also had a long career making music for television and film, including a Grammy for his work on the TV series Twin Peaks, over 40 motion pictures including Manchurian Candidate, Beauty and the Beast, and Home Alone, 20 Broadway cast albums, and the band for NPR's Prairie Home Companion. He is joined by pianist Allen Farnham (WP MM Arranging '04) for an innovative and exciting concert of diverse musical styles. March 5 - Hindemithon 2015 The Hindemithon celebrates its 13th anniversary with a special “in house” concert featuring performances by WPUNJ Music Dept. faculty hornist Lisa Pike, pianist Gary Kirkpatrick, violist Brett Deubner and artistic director and festival founder pianist Frank Pavese. Works presented will include Hindemith’s Sonata for Horn and Piano and Der Schwanendreher for Viola. March 12 - Composer in Residence Day Our 3rd Annual WPU Composers Concert, featuring WPU student, alumni and faculty composers. With special guest guitarist Daniel Lippel. April 2 - Joel Lipton, viola (Amsterdam) & Gary Kirkpatrick, piano Internationally acclaimed violist JOEL LIPTON has performed extensively in Mexico, Italy, England, Wales,France, the Netherlands, and numerous cities in the U.S.A., including Boston, Detroit, New York, and Washington D.C. He has soloed with the Flint Symphony, the Erie Philharmonic, the Evansville Philharmonic, the North Holland Philharmonic, the Honolulu Symphony, the Netherlands Philharmonic, and the Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra. Born in the United States, he currently resides in the Netherlands where he was the Co-Principal Violist of the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. He is joined by pianist Gary Kirkpatrick in a program of music by Schubert and Brahms. Mr. Lipton will be giving a string master class following the recital at 4:00 pm in Shea 101.
