Kent State University Orchestra

Join us for our last concerts of the season! Orchestra and choir join forces once again to present Sacred Service (Avodath Hakodesh) by Ernest Bloch 🎶

◽️May 2, 8pm - Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western Reserve University
◾️May 5, 7:30pm - Cartwright Hall

Almost ready! Concerto competition winners Lucas Spencer, Darren Moskowitz and Gabriel MacWilliams are looking forward to debuting with our orchestra in our next concert, March 3rd on Cartwright Hall! 🎶

KSU Orchestra first concert of the year continues with the “Afternoon with the Orchestra” series! Performing works by students composers:

🔹Ángel Barat de Llanos - Hybrid Echoes
🔹Nicholas Mateos - Angel Falls
🔹Alison Joyce - As the Starlight Fades
🔹Theo Lovinski -Even in the Pitch Dark You Can See the Outlines of the Walls of the House

Join us at 2:30pm at Cartwright Hall! 🎶

Join us this December 10th at 3pm for our last concert of the year! Orchestra and choir join forces once again to offer a glimpse of the richness and spirit of American music through the works of Aaron Copland, Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still ♥️💙🤍

Congratulations to the 14 finalists (woodwinds, voice, brass, strings, & percussion!) of the KSU Student Soloist Competition! Hear them compete in the final round of the competition LIVE in recital on Saturday, December 2 from 11am-3pm in Ludwig Recital Hall. At the end of the competition, 1 undergraduate student and 1 graduate student will be selected to solo with the KSU Orchestra in the Spring Semester.

11:00am Undergraduate Round #1:
-Ana Dominguez, viola (graduate student) | JC Bach Concerto for Viola in C Minor
-Darren Moskowitz, marimba | Paul Creston Concertino for Marimba
-Brian Ruppel, clarinet | Busoni Concertino
-Lucas Spencer, voice | "Quanto é bella, Una furtiva lagrima” from Donizetti’s L'elisir D'amore
-Claire Laux, violin | Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

12:25pm Undergraduate Round #2:
-John Alexander, double bass | Dragonetti Concerto
-Tayvis Mayfield, horn | Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1
-Zach Walker, oboe | Strauss Oboe Concerto
-Mia Vela, saxophone | David Maslanka Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

1:40pm Graduate Round:
-Anna Allman, voice | Mozart "Ma che vi fece, o stelle...Sperai vicino il lido"
-Gabriel McWilliams , snare drum | Askell Mason Konzertstuck for Snare Drum
-Drew Russell, voice | "Ach, wir armen leute” from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel
-Emma Grace Homoky, oboe | Mozart Oboe Concerto in C
-Michel Drake, saxophone | Debussy Rhapsodie

Feeling overwhelmed with the hustle of the semester? Take an afternoon to sit back, forget your troubles (hopefully) and listen to wonderful music on Friday, November 17 at 2:30pm at Cartwright Hall as the KSU Orchestra kicks off its new Afternoon with the Orchestra concert series! Music by American composers including William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, and... will there music by John Williams? Come find out for yourself! 🎶

The world-renowned Amernet String Quartet will be visiting the KSU campus this weekend for two exciting events! 🎻

Saturday, Oct. 28:
MASTERCLASS – 4 - 6 p.m.
CONCERT – 7 p.m.
📍 Ludwig Recital Hall
Featuring Prof. Amitai Vardi

Both events are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

What a thrilling afternoon on our first concert of the season last Sunday! Shout out to composer Wang Leyou for being present and talking to our audience about his work “Guangdong Rhapsody”, and our director Jacob Schnitzer for a successful first concert by our orchestra!

The Kent State University Orchestra kicks off its subscription
season with a celebration of vivaciousness
in music – Freedom and Dance. From the propulsive the Slavonic rhythms of Dvořák to the groovy setting of Chinese folk songs to the blaze of glory that is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, this concert is sure to excite! Upholding the KSU University Orchestra’s commitment to bringing world-class talent to Kent, we are excited to host visiting composer Wang Leyou, just days before he is in residence with the Cincinnati Symphony. You are sure to leave this concert with a tapping toe and a smile on your face! 💛💙🎶

We are very excited to introduce our new Graduate Assistant! Ana arrives to lead and support our viola section, working and being in constant communication with our other leaders and our conductor in each orchestral cycle. Learn more about her below! 🎼

Hi everyone! My name is Ana Dominguez, I am from Colombia and I am in my first semester of my Master of Music Performance in viola. I love playing in orchestra and chamber ensembles, but I also like to dance, try new food and learn about different cultures, so my experience at Kent State University has been very pleasant!

In the time I have been here, besides learning interpretation in different fields, I have also perfected my English and I have met many people of different nationalities, so I have been able to have an approach to other cultures from which I have been able to learn a lot.

The energy of everyone at KSU is very motivating to keep learning. Everyone has helped me feel like I am a part of the university and I would be very happy to eventually help new people feel a part of it too!

KSU Orchestra season starts! New music, new faces, we are very excited to get back to work!