There may be fewer students on campus in July, but the school ofmusic is experiencing “Hot Summer Nights” with High Voltage, aguest recital, and “Cool Jazz.”
Events for July include a Dawn K. Williams guest artist recital,a “High Voltage” concert, and two “Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz”performances.
The Dawn K. Williams guest recital will be July 1. It featuresWilliams, a local composer and singer, along with two pianoaccompanists, Robert Peck and Lucian Vidaru.
Williams will perform three of her own avant garde vocal piecesas well as two standard opera pieces, Williams said.
The two opera pieces are from the operas “Carmen” by Bizet and”Orphee” by Gluck, she said.
Williams said the opera performances are dramatic and as closeto the real opera as one can get.
Her own compositions are different from what other composers aredoing right now, Williams said. She said she often uses extendedvocal techniques and different languages, and leaves much of thepiece up to the performer.
“It’s very unusual music; it’s almost impossible for most of thecountry to hear avant garde composition,” she said. “It’s extremelyrare anywhere for a composer to perform their own pieces,especially [because] there are almost no composer singers.”
Williams has degrees from the Indiana University School ofMusic, and is a composer of all types of music, including vocalmusic. She performs different types of vocal music in concerts aswell as operas.
Williams is a pastry chef on the side, and there will be areception following the concert which she will cater herself, shesaid.
Michael Bellinger, director of public relations and concertmanager for the School of Music, said the High Voltage concert,which will be held July 15, consists of contemporary music, butcontains more acoustic and electronic music as well as visualeffects.
Stephen Beck, professor of composition and computer music,described the type of music at High Voltage.
“High Voltage is a concert series that tries to presentexperimental electronic music in a form that is available tostudents,” he said.
Beck said not only will there be experimental music, but theywill also show experimental videos and animations.
“I think anyone who is interested in electronic music of anykind will find this music and experience quite fascinating,” hesaid. “Quite different from anything they’ve experienced.”
Beck said the performance will be use a 14 channel surroundsound audio system.
“There will be sound coming from every wall and the ceiling,” hesaid.
The “Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz” series has been going onthroughout the summer with concerts June 10 and 11 and future datesset for June 24 and July 8 and 22.
Bellinger said the concerts are centered around facultyperformers Bill Grimes and Willis Delony, and at each concertadditional local jazz musicians and vocalists perform.
The two faculty members were key in obtaining the additionalperformers for each concert because of their skills, experience,and connections, Bellinger said.
“It’s live jazz, as good of jazz as you’ll hear anywhere,” hesaid.
According to the School of Music Web site, every concert wassold out in advance for last summer’s series.
“It’s also one of our biggest draws,” Bellinger said. “[Theconcert is] almost always sold out for every event.”
Bellinger said there is a wide variety of music performed, fromjazz standards to modern jazz to some experimental jazz, but it’sall “quite listenable.”
Bellinger said in addition to the music, a cash bar will openprior to both performances at 7:15 p.m.
All four concerts will begin at 8 p.m. in the School of Music’srecital hall. The Dawn K. Williams guest recital and High Voltageconcert is free to the public, and the “Hot Summer Nights and CoolJazz” concerts are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
July 1 – 8 p.m. – Dawn K. Williams guest recital
July 8 – 8 p.m. – Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz
July 15 – 8 p.m. – High Voltage Concert
July 22 – 8 p.m. – Hot Summer Nights and Cool Jazz