The more than 60 students who comprise The Denison University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble will present a concert with the works of four well-known composers on the program. Set for 8 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 2) in Swasey Chapel, the concert is free and open to the public.

The program will open with Mikhail Glinka's "Ruslan and Lyudmilla Overture." A romantic period composer, Glinka's Russian nationalistic style was typified in this overture. Based on a tale by Pushkin, the opera also has Eastern music and Viennese dance music influences. Paul Hindemith, a German composer, is best known for his symphonies drawn from his operas and for his theoretical writings on tonality in modern music. The orchestra will play his "5Pieces for String Orchestra."

Gustav Holst and Ludwig van Beethoven will also be represented on the program. A British composer of the late romantic period, Holst is best known for his work "The Planets" and for a hymn he composed, "In the Bleak Midwinter." For this Orchestra concert his "Suite in F" will be featured. Beethoven's "Symphony No. 8" will conclude the concert. In the 26-minute symphony, Beethoven is said to have found a musical sense of humor.

Nicolas del Grazia and Andrew Carlson conduct the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. del Grazia joined the Denison faculty in 2003 after earning a bachelor's degree at the City University, London, England, and also studying at the Guildhall School of Music. He studied music theory and analysis and earned his master of music degree at King's College London. He earned his doctorate in music at Indiana University. A clarinetist, del Grazia has appeared as soloist, orchestral and chamber music musician throughout the United States, England, Austria and Italy. He is producing an edition of the clarinet works of turn-of-the-century Italian composer Giacoma Setaccioli. His research into this repertoire resulted in winning the International Clarinet Association top research presentation prize in 2004.

Carlson also is welcomed as a soloist and chamber musician and has performed as soloist with The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Huntington West Virginia Symphony, The Welsh Hills Symphony, The Land of Legend Philharmonic and the University of Iowa Symphony. Dedicated to the performance of new music, Carlson performed regularly with the Iowa Center for New Music and the University of Georgia Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, where he is featured on the Ensemble's ACA Digital CD "The Voice and the Virtuoso." In addition to his experience as a classical violinist, Carlson has been named Georgia State Champion Fiddler twice and Ohio Grand Champion Fiddler. His book, titled "A Guide to American Fiddling," has recently been released by Mel Bay Publishers.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- The Denison Orchestra and Wind Ensemble present a concert of music by Glinka, Hindemith, Holst and Beethoven; 8 p.m., Saturday (Dec. 2), Swasey Chapel. Free and open to the public. Contact 740-587-6220 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

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Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

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(740) 587-8575