FHSU New Music Festival
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Date: Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, 2025
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
World premiere of Remember for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello by Chen Yi.
Hays Symphony Concert - "Romantic Visions"
Brian Buckstead – conductor
​Irena Ravitskaya – piano
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Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Lilburn – Concert Overture in D
Grieg– Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Schumann – Symphony No. 1 in Bâ™ major, Op. 38 (“Spring Symphony”)
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Past Events
Hays Symphony Concerto/Aria Concert
Brian Buckstead – conductor
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Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Fanny Mendelssohn – Overture in C Major
Rossini – Introduction, Theme and Variations (Ashley Vilaysing, clarinet)
Puccini – Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums)
Puccini – "Si. Mi chiamano Mimi" from La bohème (Shan Wang, soprano)
Barbara York – Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra "Creative States" (Adam Ward, euphonium)
Coloring Outside the Lines​
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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​An evening of open-ended and improvised performances displaying the scope of creative musical possibilities! Featuring the Fort Hays Percussion Ensemble and many special guests for a performance of Terry Riley's "In C."​
Hays Symphony Holiday Concert - "Holiday Pops Around the World"
Brian Buckstead – conductor
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Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Chase – Around the World at Christmas Time
Lawson– Christmas in Lapland
Christensen – German Carol Festival
Friedman and Wendel – A Chanukah Overture
Lane – Wassail Dances
Ricketts – Around the World with Old St. Nick
Wendel – Caribbean Sleigh Ride
Hays Symphony Children's Halloween Concert - "Fiesta Mexicana"
Brian Buckstead – conductor
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Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024
​Time: 2:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Moncayo – Huapango
Elizondo – Estampas Mexicanas
Elizondo – "Atardecer Tapatío" from Danzas Latinoamericanas
Hays Symphony concert - Dark Whimsy
Brian Buckstead – conductor
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Grażyna Bacewicz – Overture
Shostakovich – Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 126 (Ben Cline, solo cello)
Beethoven – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
Hays Symphony Outdoor Pops Concert - "Let's Dance"
Brian Buckstead – conductor
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Date: Friday, August 23, 2024
​Time: 7:30 p.m.
​Location: Hays Pavilion
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​Performing:
Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances
Brahms – Hungarian Dance Nos. 1 and 5
Dvorak – Slavonic Dance No. 8
Copland – "Saturday Night Waltz" from Rodeo
Faure – Pavane
Grieg – "Anitra's Dance" from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Grainger – Molly on the Shore
2024 High Plains Music Camp
​​Faculty Strings Concert
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Time: 11:40 a.m.
Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center - Fort Hays State University
Performing: Eleanor Rigby, Counting Stars, Jump, Somewhere, Into the Unknown, Live and Let Die, Smells Like Teen Spirit
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High School Orchestra Concert
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Location: Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center- Fort Hays State University
Conducting: Suite for Strings by Washburn, Concerto for Strings in G Minor by Vivaldi, Molly on the Shore by Grainger.
FHSU New Music Festival
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Date:
Friday, April 26 - Saturday, April 27, 2024
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Time:
7:30 p.m.
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Location:
Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Tim Rolls – Violin Fantasia
Andrew Rodriguez – Dark Water
Andrew Rodriguez – Melt Cycles (World Premiere)
Hays Symphony concert: Tragedy and Triumph
Brian Buckstead – conductor
Date:
Saturday, April 20, 2024
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Time:
7:30 p.m.
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Location:
Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center
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Performing:
Mozart – Mass in C Major, K. 317 (Coronation Mass)
Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36
2024 ASTA National Conference
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I will be presenting the following session at the 2024 ASTA National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky:
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Simplifying the Task: The Violin Exercises of John Kendall
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When: March 22, 2024; 10:00 a.m.
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Description: In this interactive session, I will explore some of the most brilliant and pedagogically intuitive exercises in American string pedagogy. John Kendall, the pioneering pedagogue responsible for bringing the Suzuki Method to the United States, developed a comprehensive system for overcoming obstacles common to many violinists. I transcribed his exercises into distinct categories focused on both the left and right hands. Although this session is aimed toward violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists are also welcome.
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For more information, visit https://www.astastrings.org