UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

David De Lyser

PFA Piano Sale: Add Some Music To Your Life

The performing and fine arts department has announced that many fine pianos loaned to the UP music program are now available for purchase. The selection includes baby grands, music room grands, uprights, hybrids, and performance quality digital pianos. The music program has a special arrangement with Kawai America Corporation and Portland Piano Company that directly benefits our talented music students by providing quality new pianos in practice and performance spaces. These instruments are now being offered to the public at greatly reduced prices. All University of Portland loaned pianos will be first offered to faculty, staff, alumni, students, and friends at reduced prices by appointment Thursday through Saturday, October 8–10, before being sold to the general public on Sunday October 11. Please call (503) 775-2620 to reserve your preview appointment today.

These pianos have been professionally maintained and most include the original ten-year manufacturer’s warranty. Local arrangements have also been made for financing, professional delivery, and warranty coverage through Kawai America Corporation.

There are two ways to select an instrument. You are invited to take advantage of a limited number of preview appointments prior to the public sale by calling (503) 775-2620. During your preview appointment you can view, inspect, and immediately purchase your piano. This will guarantee best selection as pianos are sold first come first served. A general public sale will be held on Sunday, October 11, from noon to 5 p.m., at Portland Piano Company, 8700 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR. 97220.

The acquisition and maintenance of a quality piano fleet is one of the most crucial and expensive components of our accredited music program. Cooperative programs such as this piano loan program add significant value to the needs of our students. If you’ve ever wanted to own an exceptional piano, please consider taking advantage of this opportunity, which directly benefits our students, our music program and an important local and supportive business partner.

For more information contact David De Lyser, performing and fine arts, at delyser@up.edu.

 

University Singers, Bel Canto Concert: “Stars I Shall Find,” Sept. 29

The University of Portland Singers and Bel Canto will present a concert, “Stars I Shall Find,” featuring the choral music of Clara Schumann, Elaine Hagenberg, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Daniel Elder and others, on Sunday, September 29, at 3 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to all. Conductors will be David De Lyser and Kathryn Briggs, performing and fine arts.

For more information contact PFA at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

Mock’s Crest Productions Presents “The Yeoman of the Guard”

This 30th anniversary season of the University’s Mock’s Crest Productions will present Gilbert and Sullivan classic operetta The Yeomen of the Guard on June 8-9, 14-16, and 20-23. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sundays) in Mago Hunt Center Theater. Tickets are $34 for general admission, $29 for seniors/non-UP students, and $27 for groups of ten or more. University of Portland faculty and staff are offered $20 tickets and UP students are $15.

The Yeomen of the Guard was an attempt by Arthur Sullivan to move John Gilbert’s topsy-turvy world into more serious opera. It is a tale of a nobleman wrongfully accused of sorcery who has been locked up in the Tower of London and scheduled for execution. However, Mr. Gilbert puts his comic spin on this tale where bravery, comic disguise, and a lovelorn jailer and jester make a tragic tale end with true love overcoming all obstacles. It is one of Sullivan’s best musical scores with classic numbers like “The Merryman and his Maid.”

Mock’s Crest is a semi-professional company devoted to a yearly summer production of comic light opera, primarily the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. It combines professional singers and musicians with students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Performing and Fine Arts. The production company was originally created under the guidance of the late Roger O. Doyle in 1990 with UP theater faculty support as his production team. This year marks the last year that Larry Larsen, performing and fine arts, will serve as producer after 26 years. Next year, David De Lyser and Nicole Hanig will be stepping in to assume leadership with a production of  HMS Pinafore.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact the Mago Hunt Center box office at x7287.

Music at Midweek: Jake Runestad, April 18

The performing and fine arts department will welcome internationally-renowned composer Jake Runestad to campus for a presentation of his music and career as part of the Music at Midweek series on Wednesday, April 18, 12:30 to 1:25 p.m., in Mago Hunt Recital Hall. His free presentation is open to all.

Considered a “choral rockstar” by American Public Media, Runestad is one of the most frequently performed and commissioned composers of choral music in the world, having “a particular knack for marrying powerful music to texts that speak to some of the most pressing and moving issues of our time” (Star Tribune).  His music has been hailed as “highly imaginative” by the Baltimore Sun, and “stirring and uplifting” by the Miami Herald.  With a belief that music has the power to initiate positive change, Runestad creates musical works that are socially conscious and explore authentic human emotions and experiences.

The Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland (conducted by David De Lyser, performing and fine arts) and the Linn-Benton Community College Chamber Choir will be performing an evening of Runestad’s music under his direction on Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m., in the Agnes Flanagan Chapel at Lewis & Clark College. Full concert and ticket information is available at this link.

For more information contact performing and fine arts at x7228 or pfa@up.edu.

An Evening of Soloists with the UP Orchestra, April 19

orchestraThe University Orchestra will present an evening of soloists on Tuesday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to all.

The concert will feature UP’s violin professor, Kevin Lefohn, playing Vaughan Williams’ gorgeous “The Lark Ascending.” Student concerto competition winners Taylor Kendig (soprano) and Jonathan Liao (piano) will also be featured, singing arias by Strauss and Verdi, and playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24. The concert will also include George Lloyd’s 6th Symphony and William Walton’s “Crown Imperial March.”

For more information contact performing and fine arts at 7228 or go to this link.

UP Orchestra Concert, “American Voices,” April 21

orchestra1The University of Portland Orchestra will present “American Voices” on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to faculty, staff, students, and the public. Highlighting works of American composers and performers, the concert will feature Aaron Copland’s stirring Lincoln Portrait, with narration by All Classical’s Edmund Stone.  Also on the program will be the premiere of Prometheus, composed by University of Portland senior Dana Coppernoll-Houston, and arias by the 2014 Student Concerto/Aria contest winner, Amelia Segler.

For more information contact David De Lyser, performing and fine arts, at 7382 or delyser@up.edu.

“The General,” With Live Soundtrack, March 3

buster keatonThe University Orchestra will Buster Keaton’s classic silent film, “The General,” with live soundtrack, on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. The screening and performance are free and open to all. This will also be the premiere of a new soundtrack composed by UP senior Dana Coppernoll-Houston and music faculty member David De Lyser. The movie is presented courtesy of Kino Lorber EDU. See a promotional video at http://tinyurl.com/omlqe74.

For more information contact De Lyser at 7382 or delyser@up.edu.

Women of the Bible Concert, Feb. 28

U of PThe Garaventa Center will present “Women of the Bible,” a concert highlighting the holy, courageous, and remarkable women in the Bible, on Saturday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. The concert will feature world premieres of music by Cynthia Gerdes and David DeLyser, composed for sopranos Nicole Hanig (pictured) and Rebecca Hays. Questions may be directed to Garaventa Center co-director Karen Eifler at eifler@up.edu.

Free Concert: Bravo Rosa Parks, Nov. 15

BRAVO2All faculty, staff, students, and the public are welcome to attend a free concert by Bravo Rosa Parks, a youth orchestra based on the El Sistema model of education pioneered in Venezuela, on Saturday, November 15, at 2 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. Seats are expected to be scarce so please arrive early. Bravo Rosa Parks will be joined by world-class cellist Alban Gerhardt, artist in residence for the Oregon Symphony; rising North Portland cellist Adajion (fourth grade at Rosa Parks); and Oregon Symphony violinists Ines Voglar and Vali Phillips.

For more information contact David De Lyser, performing and fine arts, at 7228 0r delyser@up.edu.

Choral Arts Ensemble Concerts, Oct. 18-19

University of Portland, upThe Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland, formerly directed by the late Roger O. Doyle and now under the artistic direction of David De Lyser, performing and fine arts, is presenting two concerts featuring the music of internationally-renowned composer Ola Gjeilo, with the composer himself at the piano. “Luminous Night of the Soul; The Music of Ola Gjeilo,” will be presented on Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 19 at 3 p.m. at Saint Philip Neri Parish, 2408 SE 16th Ave., in Portland. De Lyser describes Gjeilo’s work as “choral music that is symphonic, cinematic and immediately accessible.” Also joining the ensemble will be local trumpeter Thomas Barber.

Tickets are available at the Choral Arts Ensemble website at http://www.caeportland.com/. For more information contact De Lyser at 7382 or delyser@up.edu.