Category: Performances

The Wichita State Opera Theatre, under the direction of Alan Held, professor of voice and director of opera studies, will present its final production of the academic year, “Handelmania,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31 and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 2 in the Miller Concert Hall of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

The performances will be accompanied by the WSU Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark Laycock, professor and director of orchestra. The performances are presented in honor of Dr. Pina Mozzani, who will be retiring after 18 years of teaching in the School of Music. A reception for Mozzani will be held following the April 2 performance.

“Handelmania” is a unique presentation of George Frideric Handel’s opera, “Acis and Galatea.” A new and entertaining concept has been developed for these performances that will make the story come alive in a contemporary manner. The short opera, with added arias, was first performed in 1718, but it is rarely performed in its entirety.

Tickets for the performances may be purchased at the Duerksen Fine Arts Box Office, by visiting the box office website or by calling 316-978-3233.

The School of Performing Arts presents “Pippin,” a musical production based on the book by Roger O. Hirson with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, in Wilner Auditorium. It will run at 7:30 p.m. Friday Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.

WSU students can get one ticket at no charge with their Shocker ID, otherwise tickets are $10 for children and students, $18 for faculty and staff, and $20 for adults.

Pippin is about a young person struggling with mental health issues and contemplating suicide. After an overdose, they hallucinate a story with characters in their “real world” becoming characters in a dream. This young person becomes “Pippin,” the heir to the Frankish throne. In the hallucination and the dream is the quest to find meaning in life.

For more information, contact the box office at 316-978-3233.

Join Lynne Davis for the next Wednesdays in Wiedemann organ recital on the Marcussen organ at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 in Wiedemann Hall. The event is also livestreamed on the WSU School of Music Facebook page.

Admission is open to everyone at no charge. The program includes the charming early-French music by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault: Suite II on the second tone, which shows off the beautiful tonal resources of the Marcussen pipe organ.

The School of Performing Arts presents “Pippin,” a musical production based on the book by Roger O. Hirson with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, in Wilner Auditorium. It will run at 7:30 p.m. from Thursday Feb. 23 to Saturday, Feb. 25 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.

Tickets are $10 for children and students, $18 for faculty and staff, and $20 for adults. WSU students can get one ticket at no charge with their Shocker ID.

Pippin is about a young person struggling with mental health issues and contemplating suicide. After an overdose, they hallucinate a story with characters in their “real world” becoming characters in a dream. This young person becomes “Pippin,” the heir to the Frankish throne. In the hallucination and the dream is the quest to find meaning in life.

For more information, contact the box office at 316-978-3233.

Six student soloists appear in concert with the WSU Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 in Miller Concert Hall. The program will be led by Mark Laycock, director of orchestras, and Clem Pearson, graduate student conductor. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233 or from the Fine Arts Box Office.

The annual Concerto-Aria concert features soloists selected by a competitive audition. Ottorino Respighi’s Fountains of Rome, a colorful tone poem depicting beloved Italian landmarks, will conclude the program.

• Nicholas Welicky, hornist, from Goddard, will play the finale of Richard Strauss’s horn concerto no. 1. Nick has performed with the Wichita Symphony, Wichita Regional Ballet, Wichita Youth Symphony and the Kansas All-State Orchestra. He received WSU’s 2022 Presser Scholar Award.
• Singing “Depuis le jour” from Charpentier’s opera “Louise,” Ashley Ruckman is originally from Overland Park. She is the 2022 soprano winner of the Rondelli Vocal Competition and most recently performed the role of Hester in Laitman’s “The Scarlet Letter” at WSU.
• Performing the final movement of Dvorak’s cello concerto, Mengielly Diaz Cortes is a cellist from Apizaco, Tlaxcala, Mexico. She began playing in 2014 and two years later, she entered the Preparatory Cycle of the Music School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
• Husband and wife duo Brandon and Sarah Rodriguez play “Tarantelle” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Sarah Rodriguez is a flutist from Brandon, Florida. In 2015, Sarah had the honor of leading the Bicentennial Rosary Processional for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. In spring 2021, Rodriguez completed her bachelor’s degree in flute performance at the University of Southern Mississippi. Brandon Rodriguez is a clarinetist from Chalmette, Louisiana, specializing in jazz and classical performance. Brandon is currently pursuing his master’s degree in clarinet performance with Rachelle Goter at WSU.
• Elyssa Astegiano, clarinetist, presents Donato Lovreglio’s “Fantasia da Concerto su ‘La Traviata,’” based on melodies from Verdi’s opera. Elyssa is from Arkansas City, and has performed with the South Kansas Symphony, Friends Symphony Orchestra and Delano Chamber Players.

Wichita State’s Opera Theater, under the direction of Alan Held, professor of voice and director of opera studies, will present its annual performance of “Scenes and Songs” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 in Wiedemann Hall. Bridget Hille, pianist, will provide musical assistance.

The program, which serves as an introduction to new opera goers and an evening of variety for seasoned veterans, provides performance opportunities for students of all levels of study.

Scenes and arias will be presented from “Rusalka,” “Die Zauberflöte,” “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Manon,” “The Mother of us All,” “Peter Grimes,” “Die Walküre” and “La Clemenza di Tito.”

Tickets are available at the College of Fine Arts Box Office or by calling 316-978-3233. Students receive one ticket at no additional charge with their Shocker ID.

Join Lynne Davis for the next Wednesdays in Wiedemann organ recital on the Marcussen organ at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 in Wiedemann Hall.

Admission is open to everyone at no charge, and the program includes impressionistic works by French composer Henri Mulet from his Byzantine sketches depicting a great cathedral in music.

Rie Bloomfield Organ Series Organ and Orchestra Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28 in Wiedemann Hall.  The concert will be live-streamed on the WSU School of Music Facebook page.

Featured artists will be Lynne Davis on the Marcussen organ, Mark Laycock and the WSU Symphony Orchestra. Purchase tickets at wichita.edu/organ.

David Hunsicker, associate professor of trumpet, will perform Haydn’s masterful Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra this weekend. The concert takes place at Century II Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets are available at wichitasymphony.org. Also on the program is a work by contemporary composer Caroline Shaw and Mozart’s Requiem.

Wichita State Choral Activities is presenting the annual Madrigal Feast starting at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Rhatigan Student Center Beggs Ballroom (3rd floor).

Madrigal Feasts are a unique type of dinner theater, set in Elizabethan England, that feature wonderful food, fun and music.

The evening begins with cocktails and charcuterie, followed by a four-course meal and performances from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are available now through Dec. 5.