The UC Davis Department of Music’s upcoming season celebrates multiple (and musical) milestones. Noteworthy UC Davis Centennial events include the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Gala concert, featuring violinist Jorja Fleezanis (concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra) and the University Chorus, and the Music and Theatre & Dance Departments’ joint production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. In addition, the University Chorus, Alumni Chorus, and UCDSO continue their annual collaboration with a bicentennial birthday performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Empyrean, the department’s professional ensemble-in-residence, continues to present fresh and exciting contemporary music throughout the year, including works by internationally recognized composers Petros Ovsepyan and Mario Davidovsky, as well as California composers Wayne Peterson and Sean Varah. Also stretching the boundaries of contemporary music, artists-in-residence Laura Carmichael and Naomi Sato—aka Duo X—perform cross-cultural sonic creations mixing extreme technology, ethno-music, experimentation and improvisation.

Additional highlights include artist-in-residence events with Lois Brandwynne, piano, and Heifetz protégé Zina Schiff, violin; the Ives Quartet, an ensemble inspired by the unique American composer Charles Ives; and Rita Sahai, performing Hindustani vocal music. The season also includes performances by the department’s own student-community ensembles: the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, University Chorus, Early Music Ensembles, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Gospel Choir, Hindustani Vocal Ensemble (directed by Rita Sahai), Gamelan Ensemble and Samba School.

Most performances take place at Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. With student ticket prices starting at $4, and most tickets at $20 or less, the Department of Music provides uniquely affordable access to quality performances across a variety of musical genres. Individual and subscription tickets are available beginning May 16 through the Mondavi Center Ticket Office: 530-754-2787 or MondaviArts.org.

The department continues to host free Noon Concerts, typically held in the Music Building or the Mondavi Center Lobby. Looking ahead to 2011, the department anticipates completion of the new UC Davis Music Performance & Recital Hall, a mid-size, acoustically rich venue tailor-made for intimate chamber, vocal and solo performances, such as those often showcased at the weekly Noon Concerts.

For more information on the upcoming season or the Recital Hall project, please call 530-752-0948 or visit music.ucdavis.edu. For a chronological schedule of events, please continue.

Sat, Nov 15, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Zina Schiff, violin, and Lois Brandwynne, piano (2008–09 artists-in-residence). Schiff, protégé of Jascha Heifetz, and Brandwynne, UC Davis faculty pianist, present works by Mozart, Schubert and Bloch. [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sun, Nov 16, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Empyrean Ensemble: Fault Lines—New Works by California Composers, Kurt Rohde and Laurie San Martin, directors. New chamber works by Wayne Peterson, Josh Levine, Sean Varah and Robin Estrada. Also, Igor Stravinsky: Elégie for solo viola. 
[$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Wed, Nov 19, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Jazz Band, Delbert Bump, director. Big Band & Jazz Improv Combo. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Fri, Nov 21, 7 pm, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorne Lane, Davis
UC Davis Early Music Ensemble, David Nutter, director. Stylistic performance of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque works featuring replica period instruments. [Suggested donation at door only: $6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sat, Nov 22, 7 pm, Freeborn Hall, UC Davis
UC Davis Gospel Choir, Calvin Lymos, director. African and African American choral music, including contemporary and traditional gospel, spirituals and hymns. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sun, Nov 23, 8 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra: 50th-Anniversary Golden Jubilee Gala, a UC Davis Centennial event, with Jorja Fleezanis, violin, and the University Chorus. Beethoven: Gloria, from Missa solemnis, Jeffrey Thomas, conducting; Chausson: Poème for violin and orchestra, and Brahms: Symphony No. 4, D. Kern Holoman, conducting. [$5/7/8 student & child, $10/14/16 adult]

Wed, Dec 3, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Concert Band: Dreams and Visions, Pete Nowlen, conductor. Ticheli: Vesuvius; Zaninelli: Roma Sacra; and other works.
[$4/6/7 student & child, $8/12/14 adult]

Fri, Dec 5, 8 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Chorus, Jeffrey Thomas, conductor. [$5/7/8 student & child, $10/14/16 adult]

Fri & Sat, Jan 23 & 24, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Flute Festival, Tod Brody, director. For information on participation, please call 530.752.7896. [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sun, Jan 25, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Empyrean Ensemble: Americana—Music and Film, Kurt Rohde and Laurie San Martin, directors. Film by Pablo Ortiz with new chamber works by Ortiz, Derek Keller, Aaron Travers and John Zorn. Also, John Philip Sousa plus Charles Ives's Largo. [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sun, Feb 1, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Ives Quartet (2008–09 artist-in-residence). Inspired by the passionate, artistic commitment and unique temperament of American composer Charles Ives (1874–1954), the quartet attracts critical enthusiasm for its “practice of reveling in the unfamiliar.” [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sun, Feb 8, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
Causeway Band Festival Performance, Pete Nowlen, director. Guest conductors, youth ensembles, and the UC Davis Concert Band. For information on participation, please call 530.752.7896. [$4/6/7 student & child, $8/12/14 adult]

Wed, Feb 25, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Jazz Band, Delbert Bump, director. Big Band & Jazz Improv Combo. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sat, Feb 28, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Rita Sahai (2008–09 artist-in-residence). Sahai, given the title “Gayan Alankar” (Jewel of Music), presents classical and original Hindustani vocal music with guest tabla and harmonium players. [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sat, Feb 28, 7 pm, Freeborn Hall, UC Davis
UC Davis Gospel Choir, Calvin Lymos, director. African and African American choral music, including contemporary and traditional gospel, spirituals and hymns. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sun, March 8, 8 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Chorus, Alumni Chorus, UC Davis Symphony Orchestra. Mendelssohn: Elijah, D. Kern Holoman, conducting. [$5/7/8 student & child, $10/14/16 adult]

Wed, March 11, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Concert Band: Winds of Spring, Pete Nowlen, conductor. [$4/6/7 student & child, $8/12/14 adult]

Fri, March 13, 7 pm, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorne Lane
UC Davis Early Music & Baroque Ensembles, David Nutter, Phebe Craig & Michael Sand, directors. Stylistic performance of early music works featuring replica period instruments. [Suggested donation at door only: $6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sun, March 15, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Empyrean Ensemble: Hot Off the Press, Kurt Rohde and Laurie San Martin, directors. New chamber works by Mario Davidovsky, Sara Doncaster, Petros Ovsepyan, Ed Martin and UC Davis’ newest faculty member, Mika Pelo. 
[$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sat, April 18, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Duo X (2008–09 artist-in-residence). Laura Carmichael (clarinet, electronics) and Naomi Sato (saxophones, sho, electronics) comprise a sort of miniature East-West ensemble that braves the least-safe territories of contemporary experimental music and improvisation. [$9 student & child, $18 adult]

Sat, May 2 thru Sun, May 10
Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, a UC Davis Centennial event and joint production of the Departments of Music and Theatre & Dance. Mindy Cooper, director and choreographer, and David Moschler, musical director, with the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra.
•    Sat., May 2, 8 p.m.
•    Sun., May 3, 2 p.m.
•    Fri., May 8, 8 p.m.
•    Sat., May 9, 8 p.m.
•    Sun., May 10, 2 p.m.
[Opening weekend matinee: $8/10/12 student & child, $12/14/16 adult;
  Regular performances: $12/16/20 student & child, $20/24/28 adult.
  Pricing for tickets purchased at the door will be slightly higher.]

Fri, May 8, 7 pm, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorne Lane, Davis
UC Davis Early Music Ensemble, David Nutter, director. Stylistic performance of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque works featuring replica period instruments. [Suggested donation at door only: $6 student & child, $12 adult]

Fri, May 15, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Baroque Ensemble, Phebe Craig and Michael Sand, directors. Stylistic performance of Baroque works featuring replica period instruments. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Wed, May 16, 7 pm, Freeborn Hall, UC Davis
UC Davis Gospel Choir, Calvin Lymos, director. African and African American choral music, including contemporary and traditional gospel, spirituals and hymns. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Wed, May 20, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Jazz Band, Delbert Bump, director. Big Band & Jazz Improv Combo. [$6 student & child, $12 adult]

Sun, May 31, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Chorus, Jeffrey Thomas, conductor. Handel: Alexander's Feast. [$5/7/8 student & child, $10/14/16 adult]

Mon, June 1, 7 pm, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center
Empyrean Ensemble: New Music from Davis—Graduate Student Composers, Kurt Rohde and Laurie San Martin, directors. All new works written for Empyrean by Hendel Almetus, An Tan, Ching-Yi Wang, Ben Irwin, Sue-Hye Kim and Garrett Shatzer. [$9 student & child, $16 adult]

Tue, June 2, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, D. Kern Holoman, conductor. Rossini: Barber of Seville overture; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, with John Abdallah, violin; and Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"). [$5 general admission]

Wed, June 3, 7 pm, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
University Concert Band: Summer Serenade, Pete Nowlen, conductor. [$4/6/7 student & child, $8/12/14 adult]

The department offers a 10% discount for any three performances purchased together; 15% for any five. Individual and group tickets are available beginning May 16 through the Mondavi Center Ticket Office: 530-754-2787, MondaviArts.org or in person at the box office.