Performances

The Chamber Music Series

As a gift to the Colorado College and Colorado Springs Community, the Music Department presents a distinguished series of chamber music by faculty and guest artists throughout the academic year.

The Lanner Faculty Artist Chamber Music Concert Series was established in 1991 in memoriam Professor Emeritus Max Lanner, and is supported by the Lanner Endowment Fund for Music at Colorado College. The series presents two major concerts each year, featuring diverse and exciting repertoire performed by the finest ensemble and solo musicians in the region.

In the Fall of each year, the Department brings to campus a Distinguished Visiting Composer-in-Residence. This residency includes a concert of the composer’s works, and the performers have an opportunity to work with the composer in the preparation of this once-a-year special event.

A Chamber Music Extravaganza is presented once a year which brings together the talents of Artist-in-Residence Susan Grace, the DaVinci Quartet, and other distinguished artists.

Our Visiting Artist-in-Residence program showcases nationally and internationally-known performers. The program sponsors a wide variety of artists, solo and in ensemble. In the past, cellist Janos Starker, flutist Marina Piccinni, pianist Loren Hollander, violinist Jose-Luis Garcia, mezzo-soprano Delores Ziegler, and many others have presented a major concert and offered master classes to our students.

During the year, our own Faculty Artists perform solo concerts, rounding out a full, inspiring and exhilarating concert series.

Student Performance Opportunities

Elementary/Intermediate Performance Class
Offered on the last Monday of each semester at 4:00 PM, this is an informal performance in Packard Hall for less advanced students. Students must be taking lessons through the department and have the teacher’s approval. Students need to fill out a form for this class which is available in the Music Department and turn it in to the Music Department office no later than Friday at noon before the class.

Instrumental Performance Class
This class is offered every third Monday of the block at 3:15 PM in Packard Performance Hall. Any level of ability is accepted as well as any instrument or chamber ensemble. One or more faculty members will be available to critique. Faculty members will be asked to attend this class. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the Music Library door the week before the class. Students should sign-up by noon on Friday before the class. Students should contact Susan Grace (Packard 115; x6556), accompanist for the class.

Voice Performance Class
Voice performance class meets every second Friday of the block at 3:30 PM in Packard Performance Hall. This class is open to all voice students. Contact Victoria Hansen for details at x6550. Students should contact Dan Brink (Packard 123, x6551), accompanist for the class.

Master Classes
Occasionally, throughout the year, the department will have guest artists who will present master classes for the students. Faculty will be notified as far in advance as possible of these classes. Faculty will be expected to contact their students about these classes and prepare any students who they feel would benefit from this kind of instruction. Every effort will be made to consult faculty before scheduling these classes. Faculty are also welcome to schedule master classes with their own students, as well as submit proposals for guest artists whom they would like to invite to give a master class for their students.

Chamber Ensembles
If students are interested in forming small ensembles (trio, quartet or quintet), the DaVinci String Quartet will be coordinating these efforts. Once an ensemble is established, regular coachings will be made available by the DaVinci Quartet and other performance faculty interested in doing so.

Music at Midday
These concerts are scheduled every third Wednesday of the block at 12:15 PM in Packard Performance Hall. Students must be at the intermediate/advanced level and performance ready. The concerts are open to students who are signed up through the department for lessons, as well as any small ensembles which have a faculty sponsor and have had coachings. Students must fill out a form in the Music Department, obtain the instructor's signature, and return it to the office by noon of the preceding Monday. All types of music are accepted for these performances with the instructor’s approval.

Honors Concert
The Honors Concert is open to advanced students who are presently studying with a performance faculty member and have performed on at least one Music at Midday concert during the current year. Auditions are held for this concert in the 7th or 8th block - a minimum of one week before the concert. A sign-up sheet for these auditions can be found on the Music Library door one week prior to the auditions. Students who are chosen by a faculty panel will perform on the formal evening concert.

Concerto Auditions
Concerto auditions will be held during the early part of the 2nd semester. The audition date will be announced at the beginning of the 1st semester. The auditions are open to all advanced students who are enrolled in lessons with a Colorado College faculty member. Students must have the consent of the instructor and orchestra conductor. The audition panel will consist of faculty members who do not have students in the competition, and the orchestra conductor. The winner(s) will play on the spring Chamber Orchestra Concert. The repertoire chosen must be suitable for a chamber orchestra and approved by the orchestra conductor. Forms for the auditions will be available in the Music Department office.

Recitals
First-year, sophomore and junior recitals should be given by exceptional students only; these should be short in length and, when possible, shared by two or more students. These recitals will be scheduled at 4:00 PM on any weekday afternoon. Senior recitals can be full length and presented on Sunday afternoon or any weekday evening. All students must be studying with a performance faculty member and be at the advanced level. Forms are available in the Music Department office. They must be filled out and approved by the department one month before the recital. Juniors and Seniors may sign-up for a readings block when preparing for a recital. The student must have an academic as well as a performance faculty sponsor for this course. The student can take one block to practice intensively and must write program notes for the concert.

Miscellaneous
If students would like to perform outside of Colorado College, the faculty and student should contact Susan Grace (x6556).