Spotlight Series

Each year, the UNI School of Music proudly showcases a variety of ensembles and individual performances in our Spotlight Series. These performances consistently offer the highest quality musical performances featuring student, faculty and guest performers. From orchestral to jazz, opera to bands, join us for the series and experience something for everyone! All Spotlight Series concerts are ticketed. For tickets, call (319) 273-4TIX or visit www.uni.edu/tickets and select "Buy Tickets" under the School of Music heading.

Ticket prices for the 2011-2012 Spotlight series are: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8 for non-UNI students. UNI students are admitted for FREE with their UNI ID card.

For more information, call (319) 273-2028.

Spotlight Series Concert: Wind Symphony and Jazz Band One

Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

Two of the School of Music’s finest ensembles will join together to offer an evening of exciting and engaging music in two uniquely different styles. Ronald Johnson, UNI School of Music faculty and conductor for over 25 years, will continue the legacy that he and the Wind Symphony at UNI have created, while Chris Merz, director of jazz studies and conductor of Jazz Band One, will lead the School of Music’s premiere jazz ensemble in the first Spotlight Series concert of the season.


Spotlight Series Concert: UNI Singers and Women's Chorus

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

In a classic fall lineup, the UNI Singers and Women’s Chorus will team up to offer a shared performance of choral works. The UNI Women’s Chorus holds the honor of being the longest ongoing performance tradition on campus, while the UNI Singers is the largest mixed voice ensemble in the School of Music. Choral music lovers will not want to miss this event!

Spotlight Series Concert: Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra

Friday, October 28, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

Rebecca Burkhardt will appear on the conductor’s podium at this fall concert featuring the music of the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. This student ensemble is involved in a wide variety of orchestra experiences each year including full-scale music theatre and opera productions, symphonic concerts which include major works from the repertoire, chamber orchestral work, and concerts featuring some of the most interesting choral/orchestral works of the past three centuries.

Spotlight Series Concert: UNI Instrumental Concerto Competition Finals

Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

Student performers who have reached the final stage of the concerto competition come together to perform their best, for a final chance at a music scholarship award. Join us for riveting performances and standing-ovation worthy student musicians, and stay for the announcement of the Instrumental Concerto Competition winner and post-concert reception.

Spotlight Series Concert: Symphonic Band & Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

Under the direction of S. Daniel Galyen, the Symphonic Band will offer a shared fall concert, with the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Rebecca Burkhardt. The concert will feature standard symphonic band and orchestra repertoire as well as new and exciting compositions in contemporary styles.

Spotlight Series Concert: Jazz Panthers & Jazz Band III

Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

Director Bob Washut will lead UNI’s Jazz Panthers in their fall concert, shared with Jazz Band III. Celebrating 35 years in the UNI Jazz Division, Washut will lead the stellar Jazz Panthers ensemble in a concert featuring student and faculty arrangements and compositions as well as standards, while the Jazz Band III will be led by a graduate student conductor.

Spotlight Series Concert: Chimes of Christmas

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

A perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Come join UNI School of Music choral ensembles in celebrating the joys of the season. From holiday favorites to winter-inspired works, the UNI Singers, Concert Chorale, UNI Cantorei and Women’s Chorus will fill the evening with song. Bring your family and friends and celebrate with us!

Spotlight Series Concert: Faculty Artist Showcase

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

A perfect opportunity to enjoy the wide range of musical styles that are featured throughout the School of Music. From small jazz ensembles to soaring vocal soloists, string quartets to duo pianos, a full roster of outstanding faculty artists guarantees that audiences will be thrilled. Come see what all the buzz is about and enjoy the faculty artists from UNI’s School of Music.

Spotlight Series Concert: Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra & Symphonic Band

Thursday, February 23, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

The UNI School of Music’s premiere orchestral ensemble will offer their annual spring concert, shared with the UNI Symphonic Band. For this concert, the orchestra and symphonic band will be joined by guest composer and conductor Dan Welcher. Welcher has won numerous awards and prizes from institutions such as the Guggenheim Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and more, and his orchestral music has been performed by more than fifty orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony. This evening’s concert will be one you don’t want to miss!

Spotlight Series Concert: Performance Competition Finals

Monday, March 26, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

One of our most interactive performances of the year, the UNI School of Music Performance Competition Finals concert is a great opportunity to get involved in the music education of our students. Come for engaging performances from some of our most talented students, stay for the second act when our judge’s panel will award scholarships to three students based on the evening’s performance and audience members vote for the “People’s Choice Award” scholarship. It’s your opportunity to make an impact on the life of a student musician…while enjoying amazing music!

Spotlight Series Concert: Jazz Band One

Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

Director Chris Merz will lead UNI’s premiere jazz ensemble in their spring concert. The concert will feature student and faculty arrangements, new compositions as well as standards and tunes from jazz giants like Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, Kenny Wheeler and more. Swing into the School of Music and enjoy the great musicianship, improvisation and style of this group.

Spotlight Series Concert: UNI Singers, Concert Chorale and Women's Chorus

Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

The UNI Singers and Women’s Chorus will team up once again, this time with Concert Chorale, to offer a shared performance. This spring concert will offer majestic choral works. Visit campus for the day and stay for the evening performance of these three exceptional choral ensembles. 

Spotlight Series Concert: Varsity Men's Glee Club

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

One of the largest and most popular choral ensembles on campus, and a group with a rich tradition of excellence, the UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club will offer their spring concert. Well known for their great showmanship and sold out events, this group will have music lovers cheering for more. Come join us!

Spotlight Series Concert: Opera Scenes Performance

Friday, April 20, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Bengtson Auditorium, Russell Hall

The UNI Opera Ensemble will present a scenes performance for opera lovers and newcomers alike. This concert performance provides students the opportunity to apply the performance skills developed in the classroom, with scenes fully staged and costumed. Audiences will be swept away by the immense talent of this group!

Spotlight Series Concert: W.A. Mozart's Requiem

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Great Hall, GBPAC

The UNI Singers, Concert Chorale and the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra will join together to present Mozart’s classic and powerful “Requiem”.  Composed in Vienna in 1791, this timeless work will bring a thrill to music lovers of all ages and serve as an inspiring conclusion to the 2011-2012 Spotlight Series.