Courtesy UMass Media RelationsTonight, the Department of Music ‘ Dance hope to dazzle the senses, while stirring up excitement over the commencement of homecoming weekend with the 33rd annual “Multiband Pops” concert at the Fine Arts Center.
The annual homecoming tradition will feature a vast range of visually and auditorily stimulating performance art. Jazz, choral, dance, and marimba are just a few of the mediums that will be presented during the fast-paced musical showcase. Featuring several of the University’s most acclaimed performing arts groups, the concert has something for just about anyone, regardless of your tastes.
Attendees will be treated to an array of selections performed by the University’s own award-winning Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Professor Jeffrey Holmes. This big band has earned national acclaim, earning top honors at several collegiate jazz festivals while also gaining recognition for their excellence in Downbeat Magazine’s Annual Student Music Awards. The Ensemble performs a mixture of student- and faculty-created pieces while mixing in significant historical selections, creating a sense of comfort and originality to their sound.
In addition to Jazz Ensemble I, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Catherine Jensen-Hole, and Chapel Jazz Ensemble, directed by David Sporny, will also perform. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble puts a heavy emphasis on jazz, blues and soul styles, while the Chapel Jazz Ensemble works jump from traditional big-band pieces to experimental compositions of pop and rock.
Moving from the world of jazz, the event will also showcase the Minuteman Marching Band, under the leadership of George N. Parks, founder of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, and assisted by Thomas Hannum. This year’s incarnation of the band consists of 390 musicians, making it the largest in the history of the university.
Nationally recognized and known as the “Power and Class of New England” the Minuteman Marching Band will bring a level of enthusiasm and excitement to the Fine Arts Center that they routinely invoke during halftime performances at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Similarly energetic will be a performance by the Percussion Ensemble, directed by Eduardo Leandro. No strangers to the road, Leandro and the Ensemble are regulars throughout the Northeast, while remaining active on campus with numerous performances. Combining the various forms of classical percussion, the ensemble will provide a unique contrast to the rest of the showcase.
Additionally, the University Dancers will perform choreographed works by Billbob Brown, a nationally recognized figure known for his work on television commercials and his abilities to educate as a professor both domestically and abroad. The skilled group of dancers will provide a welcome visual element to the showcase, accompanying the overwhelming depth of musical performances.
Other performing groups include the University’s acclaimed Orchestra ‘ Wind Ensemble and the Symphony Band, both under the guide of Laura Rexroth. In addition MASS Marimba Band and UMass Marimba Ensemble will also be performing, providing a taste of West African and Central American culture and instrumentation to the crowd.
Tickets are $12 for children under 18, senior citizens and students and $18 to the general public. For tickets visit or contact the Fine Arts Center Box Office (413-545-2511).
Brian Wood can be reached at [email protected].
