Director Peter Jutras (left) greets HHSOM donors. (Photos by Easel Images)Director Peter Jutras (left) greets HHSOM donors. (Photos by Easel Images)

On April 26, 2024, a couple hours before the final concert of the year, Director Peter Jutras and the faculty and staff welcomed donors to the 2023-24 closing Director’s Circle event. These special events are available for donors who have given support at or above the Director’s Circle level to one of the many scholarships, support funds, and endowments that provide invaluable support to the students.

Photography credit: Kathleen Dreier Photography

Story by Kara Kane, Fischoff Education Director

UGA Vocal Performance alumnus Clay Hilley (BMus. ‘04) has been named the winner of the 2024 Richard Tucker Award. The award comes with a $50,000 cash prize as well as the ongoing support of the Tucker family and foundation. It is hoped that the award acts as a well-timed catalyst to elevate the selected artist’s career to even greater heights. The Richard Tucker Award is selected by conferral, rather than audition.

The British Brass Band, under the baton of Bandmaster Philip Smith, has become an Athens fan favorite. The repertoire encompasses a wide variety of styles including excellent original works, marvelous transcriptions of orchestral works, as well as marches and other light pieces. British Brass Band concerts are free. No tickets are required.

This performance will highlight composition students’ development while juxtaposing their work opposite compositions that have inspired growth and change in modern music. In addition to world premieres by UGA student composers, CCE will perform the Grammy-winning work “Meanwhile: incidental music to imaginary puppet plays,” by Stephen Hartke, and Mary Kouyoumdjian’s haunting electroacoustic piece, “The Vanishing Dark.”

The British Brass Band, under the baton of Bandmaster Philip Smith, has become an Athens fan favorite. The repertoire encompasses a wide variety of styles including excellent original works, marvelous transcriptions of orchestral works, as well as marches and other light pieces. British Brass Band concerts are free. No tickets are required.

Jazz Ensemble I is the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s advanced level big band, and as such is made up of advanced students. The group is comprised of traditional big band instrumentation: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section featuring drums, piano, guitar, and bass.  The band performs music of a variety of styles, including swing, be-bop, latin, and contemporary jazz. Performances take place both on campus and at off-campus events by invitation. Jazz Ensemble I is conducted by David D’Angelo.

Jazz Ensemble II introduces students to the experience of performing in a traditional big band. By participating in Jazz Ensemble II, students study the evolution of  big band music, familiarize themselves with stylistic comparisons, and refine their improvisational skills. Like Jazz Ensemble I, this ensemble is made up of traditional big band instrumentation, and plays music of various styles both on campus and in the community. Jazz Ensemble II is co-conducted by Greg Satterthwaite and James Weidman.

Jazz Ensemble I is the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s advanced level big band, and as such is made up of advanced students. The group is comprised of traditional big band instrumentation: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section featuring drums, piano, guitar, and bass.  The band performs music of a variety of styles, including swing, be-bop, latin, and contemporary jazz. Performances take place both on campus and at off-campus events by invitation. Jazz Ensemble I is conducted by David D’Angelo.

Jazz Ensemble II introduces students to the experience of performing in a traditional big band. By participating in Jazz Ensemble II, students study the evolution of  big band music, familiarize themselves with stylistic comparisons, and refine their improvisational skills. Like Jazz Ensemble I, this ensemble is made up of traditional big band instrumentation, and plays music of various styles both on campus and in the community. Jazz Ensemble II is co-conducted by Greg Satterthwaite and James Weidman.

Under the direction of Vicki Lu, several distinguished guest artists join this ensemble which features instruments such as the erhu, guzheng, pipa, hulusi and the yangqin.

UGA Professor of Ethnomusicology Jean Kidula will be offering the African Music Ensemble this spring as an opportunity for students to discover and explore musical history, instrumentation, and expression that is rooted in African cultures and traditions.