The Bradley Showcase, the first show in an eight-part concert series, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Dingledine Music Center.
The Bradley Showcase is part of the annual Music Scholarship Concert Series. Money from ticket sales funds scholarships for Bradley’s music students.
“The Music Scholarship series is our major fundraising event for music scholarship funds,” professor of music business and director of jazz ensemble Todd Kelly said. “Many of our music majors at Bradley have benefited and continue to benefit from these music scholarships.”
The Bradley Showcase will feature professor, alumni and student performers.
“I finished composing [a piece] called ‘Blues for B and P’ about a week ago,” Kelly said. “I wrote it especially for this concert, and it is scored for a jazz quintet consisting of myself on trumpet, Dr. Steve Heinemann on saxophone, Dr. John Orfe on piano, Bradley alumnus Andy Greiner on bass and Bradley alumnus Jeremy Clark on drums.”
Senior music performance and education major Clara Capriotti will also be performing at the concert.
“Dr. Dzapo and I are playing a flute duet, with Dr. Orfe on piano,” Capriotti said. “It’s just one small segment of the stellar program Dr. Orfe has coordinated.”
Assistant professor of music theory and composition Orfe has been an instrumental component in not only planning, but also participating in the event.
“I have undertaken a brass arrangement for [a] quintet,” Orfe said. “We’re rehearsing this week, but it’s all going to come together [for the] show.”
Orfe said this was the first showcase concert of its kind to appear as part of the Music Scholarship Concert Series.
“There used to be a faculty showcase,” Orfe said. “I thought, ‘Maybe we could expand this idea and feature some students and ensembles.’ I made [the event] open invitation. I began with full-time faculty and everyone got back to me on what they wanted to do. Then, I talked to performance faculty for [student performer] recommendations.”
Musical pieces from around the world and of varying time periods will be performed, according to Orfe.
“There is a little bit of everything,” Orfe said. “Vocal, choral, instrumental, solo, ensemble… It is truly a showcase.”
Tickets for the Bradley Showcase are $10, but a package to all eight performances of the Music Scholarship Concert Series can be purchased for $50. Students will be admitted free of charge with a Bradley ID.
