The Eastman School of Music is pleased to highlight some of the concerts and events taking place at Eastman this December. Presenting a wide range of events featuring internationally accomplished faculty and guest artists in addition to world-class student ensembles, these concerts will be held in Eastman’s stunning performance spaces: Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall and Hatch Recital Hall.
Most of the concerts listed are free and open to the public. Events that are ticketed may be booked through EastmanTheatre.org or by calling 585-274-3000. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible to secure the best seats and savings.
Faculty Artist Series: Alexander Kobrin, piano
Friday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. | Hatch Recital Hall
The Complete Piano Sonatas of Beethoven Series: Over the course of eight concerts, Professor Kobrin will present all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas throughout the 2023-24 academic year. Kobrin will perform on a Shigeru Kawai piano, generously on loan to Eastman for this concert series. Tickets are $10 for the public and free to URID holders.
Eastman Wind Ensemble
Monday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Wind Ensemble gives their final concert of the semester with a program honoring the life and legacy of the late Donald Hunsberger, who served as conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble from 1965-2002. The evening includes an array of Hunsberger’s timeless arrangements and closes with Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968 – a cornerstone work championed by Hunsberger and the EWE. Mark Scatterday will share the podium with guest conductor Brayer Teague.
Eastman Jazz Ensemble with Dafnis Prieto
Monday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The Eastman Jazz Ensemble welcomes the revolutionary, GRAMMY-nominated drummer Dafnis Prieto for its final concert of the semester. The Cuban-born Prieto’s drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally.
Eastman Wind Orchestra
Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Wind Orchestra presents its final concert of the semester, conducted by Mark Scatterday and graduate students Zachary Griffin and Luca Peveroni. The program includes William Schuman’s George Washington Bridge and Roshanne Etezady’s poignant Against the Rain. Anthony Iannacone’s Sea Drift draws inspiration from the poetry of Walt Whitman. Concluding the evening is John Mackey’s The Frozen Cathedral.
Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Rochester Chorus and Eastman Chorale
Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
William Weinert leads the ESSO, ERC and Chorale in a performance of Ethel Smyth’s rarely performed Mass in D, a work spanning the bridge from the 19th to 20th centuries.
Chamber Music Extravaganza
Saturday, December 9 – Tuesday, December 12 | Various times and locations
Each year at Eastman, hundreds of students are enrolled in chamber music groups, with most performing in the school’s Chamber Music Extravaganza, a multiday chamber music festival where audience members can spend full days catching a variety of chamber groups in a range of concert spaces on campus.
Repertory Singers and Treble Chorus
Sunday, December 10 at 3:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The Eastman Repertory Singers, directed by William Weinert, is a mixed 60-voice chorus of Eastman students presenting frequent performances under the direction of graduate students in conducting, in styles ranging from Renaissance madrigals and motets to premieres of contemporary choral works. Under the direction of Philip Silvey, the Treble Chorus centers its programs on repertoire expressing a diversity of experience and perspectives.
Eastman Philharmonia
Monday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Philharmonia performs Dvořák’s beloved Cello Concerto, Prokofiev’s Suite No. 2 from Romeo and Juliet, and the world premiere of current master’s student Bo Huang ’23E’s God of Archery. Graduate conducting students from the studio of Neil Varon lead from the podium.
Eastman New Jazz Ensemble
Monday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Under the direction of Dave Rivello, the award-winning Eastman New Jazz Ensemble performs the finest contemporary jazz repertoire from around the globe, giving frequent premieres by composers such as Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, Jim McNeely, Fred Sturm, Rich Perry, Dick Oatts, Ralph Lalama, Dave Liebman, Maria Schneider and more.
Collegium Musicum
Tuesday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
Led by renowned conductors and scholars Paul O’Dette and Christel Thielmann, the Collegium Baroque Orchestra performs Durante’s Concerto for Strings No. 2 in G minor and Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6, No. 5. The Collegium Vocal Ensemble performs Carissimi’s Jephte and Usquequo Peccatores, featuring the inaugural performance with the newly acquired Collegium Chamber Organ.
Musica Nova
Wednesday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. | Kilbourn Hall
The Eastman Musica Nova gives their final concert of the semester, including a world premiere by faculty composer Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, who retires from Eastman at the end of the academic year. George Lewis’ Hexis and Hannah Kendall’s fervent shouting forever into the receiver round out the program. Brad Lubman and master’s conducting student Luke Poepell lead from the podium.
Media only: Lauren Sageer, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
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About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music — about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, NY, the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.