The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University is closing the semester with a full weekend of performances showcasing the range and talent of its student musicians. From chamber music to full orchestra to a sold-out holiday celebration, audiences will have multiple opportunities to experience the school’s artistry on stage.
The weekend begins Dec. 4 with “Color & Light,” a performance by the Shepherd School Chamber Players at 7:30 p.m. in Stude Concert Hall. Mixed instrumental ensembles will present chamber works from the 20th and 21st centuries, offering an evening that blends shimmering textures with bold contemporary writing. The program includes Ravel’s “Introduction et Allegro,” Samuel Carl Adams’ “Lighthouse,” Sarah Gibson’s “I prefer living in color,” Florence Price’s Octet for Brasses and Piano and Martinů’s Nonet No. 2. The concert is free with a ticket reservation, and seats are general admission.
Then Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra will take the stage in Stude Concert Hall for Prokofiev’s “Cinderella” under the direction of conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, the Shepherd School’s distinguished resident director of orchestras. The evening opens with the Adagio from Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, one of the composer’s most expansive and recognizable movements. Selections from “Cinderella” follow, highlighting the warmth, vitality and narrative sweep of the original ballet score.
The weekend concludes Dec. 6 with Spirit of the Season at Brockman Hall for Opera. The celebration begins with cookies and hot chocolate in the Grand Foyer followed by a performance featuring voice and instrumental students in festive favorites and selections from opera and musical theater. The program includes works from “The Barber of Seville,” “Carmen,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Les Misérables,” “Die Fledermaus,” “Rusalka,” “The Sound of Music” and “Funny Girl” along with pieces by the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble and Mariachi Luna Llena. The annual holiday tradition is sold out, however the Shepherd School is offering $45 standby tickets for guests who would like the chance to attend. Standby reservations provide the opportunity to be seated if space becomes available across all seating levels, though group seating cannot be guaranteed.
Learn more about these and upcoming Shepherd School events here.