Concerts and Operas

Name: Lecture and Music Demonstration: <em>Kircher’s Arca Musarithmica -Artificial Creativity in the 17th Century</em>
Start: 2026-08-28T17:15:00
End: 2026-08-28T19:15:00
Location: Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts

Fall 2026 Lecture: Kircher's Arca Musarithmica: Artificial Creativity in the 17th Century Promotional Poster

Lecture and Music Demonstration: Kircher’s Arca Musarithmica -Artificial Creativity in the 17th Century

Date: 5:15 pm, Friday, August 28, 2026

August 28, 2026 @ 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm – In his 1650 book Musurgia universalis, Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher introduced the world to his Arca Musarithmica. This device, a forerunner of generative AI, could automatically compose liturgical music. In this lecture Joel Bacon will discuss Kircher’s extraordinary ideas on music and artificial creativity, and perform a musical work composed on the spot by a […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: Nicole Asel, Mezzo-Soprano; John Lindsey, Tenor; and Tim Burns, Piano

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, August 31, 2026

August 31, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Come Away! Songs of Love, Wit, and Imagination The recital performed by CSU faculty-artists Nicole Asel, mezzo-soprano; John Lindsey, tenor; and Tim Burns, piano, brings together a tapestry of English-language song from both sides of the Atlantic, threading through the classical, the cabaret, the contemporary, and the theatrical. From the timeless poetry of Shakespeare set […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: Tiffany Blake, Soprano, and Tim Burns, Piano 

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, September 9, 2026

September 9, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – An evening of art song performed by CSU faculty-artists, Tiffany Blake, soprano, and Tim Burns, piano.

Virtuoso Series Concert: Cayla Bellamy-Lanz, Bassoon –B is for Bassoon!

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, September 14, 2026

September 14, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – B is for Bassoon! With CSU Music faculty and students CSU faculty-artist Cayla Bellamy-Lanz presents an alphabetical tour of repertoire featuring the bassoon, including collaborations with Galit Kauntiz, oboe; Juhyun Lee, piano; Hsin-Hsuan Lin, piano; Meredith Blecha-Wells, cello; and members of Dr. Bellamy-Lanz’ undergraduate bassoon studio. The evening begins with a new transcription from Emilie […]

Guest Artist Concert: James Bunte, Saxophone / FREE 

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, September 16, 2026

September 16, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Contemporary and Classic Works for Saxophone James Bunte, professor of saxophone at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, presents a guest artist recital with CSU faculty-artists Juhyun Lee, piano and Peter Sommer, saxophone, featuring new and standard solo and chamber works for concert saxophone. Dr. Bunte is an internationally recognized master of the instrument, […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: Ysmael Reyes, Flute and Hyeji Seo, Piano –Sound, Memory, and Identity 

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, September 21, 2026

September 21, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Sound, Memory, and Identity CSU faculty-artists Ysmael Reyes, flute, and Hyeji Seo, piano present a recital exploring how musical identity is shaped through sound, memory, and cultural exchange. Centered on Venezuelan composers and voices, the program brings together works that illuminate different ways of hearing, remembering, and transforming lived experience across borders and traditions. Music […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: The Mendelssohn Trio –American Trios and Mendelssohn

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

September 23, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – American Trios and Mendelssohn The Mendelssohn Trio (Erik Peterson, violin; Barbara Thiem, cello; and CSU faculty-artist Bryan Wallick, piano) performs highlights from their recent European tour showcasing American trios by Amy Beach, Jennifer Higdon, Paul Schoenfield, and concluding with Felix Mendelssohn’s Trio in D minor Op. 49. The Trio was originally formed in 1988 and […]

2026 Jazz Ensembles Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial Poster

Jazz Ensembles I & II Concert : Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, October 1, 2026

October 1, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial Jazz Ensembles I and II, directed by Wil Swindler and Darren Kramer, present a concert celebrating the 100th birthdays of jazz greats Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Guest Artist Concert:  Mackenzie Melemed, Piano / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Friday, October 2, 2026

October 2, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Keys Across America   With more than 50 performances scheduled in over 30 states, Keys Across America is Mackenzie Melemed’s landmark recital project exploring nearly two centuries of American piano music in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Keys Across America offers a vivid musical portrait of our nation, inviting audiences to hear American […]

Guest Artist Concert: Frangel López Ceseña, Violin

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, October 5, 2026

October 5, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Rosary Sonatas of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber With Joel Bacon, Harpsichord and Organ CSU alum Frangel López Ceseña, violin (National Symphony Orchestra, Mexico), joins CSU faculty-artist Joel Bacon, harpsichord and organ, for an evening of baroque sonatas for solo violin and continuo by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. This concert is a sequel to their successful […]

Guest Artist Concert: Anne Slovin, Soprano / FREE 

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, October 7, 2026

October 7, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Becoming America With Rose Wollman, Viola, and Hyeji Seo, Piano Soprano Anne Slovin with CSU faculty-artists Rose Wollman, viola, and Hyeji Seo, piano, present a chamber music commemorating America’s 250th anniversary. The United States has seen itself as a place where anyone can make their dreams come true: ‘a nation of immigrants,’ ‘a melting pot,’ […]

Wind Symphony Concert: 1876

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, October 8, 2026

October 8, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – 1876 The Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Rebecca Phillips, is back in concert with a celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial. The program harkens back to this region and its people before statehood, followed by historical, cultural, and innovative events that make up today’s Centennial State. Look here for more information on special guests, artists, and performers […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: Meredith Blecha-Wells, Cello and Friends

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, October 12, 2026

October 12, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – The American Soundscape: A 250th Anniversary Celebration Join us for an evening celebrating the richness and diversity of American music through works for cello and piano, solo cello, and string quartet. The American Soundscape: A 250th Anniversary Celebration features Samuel Barber’s powerful Cello Sonata, Allison Loggins-Hull’s evocative Stolen for solo cello, Jerod Tate’s Pisachi, as […]

2026 Symphonic Band From Sea to Shining Sea Concert Promotional Poster

Symphonic Band Concert: From Sea to Shining Sea

Date: 7:30 pm, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

October 13, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – From Sea to Shining Sea Join the Symphonic Band as it celebrates both the 150th anniversary of the State of Colorado and the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The band, directed by Dr. Jayme Taylor, with graduate student conductor, Benjamin Corneliusen, performs the music of Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Caroline Bremer, Dana Wilson, […]

2026 University Orchestra Concert Arts of Resistance: Music as Movement Concert Promotional Poster

University Symphony Orchestra Concert- Arts of Resistance: Music as Movement

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, October 15, 2026

October 15, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Arts of Resistance: Music as Movement Arts of Resistance: Music as Movement traces the ways musicians have used sound, structure, and collective action to respond to the world around them. The orchestra, directed by Dr. Rachel Waddell, opens with the explosive energy of Ginastera’s Danza Final from Estancia, a celebration of cultural identity and the […]

Virtuoso Series Concert: Galit Kaunitz, Oboe –Reverberations: An Evening of Chamber Music for Winds

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, October 19, 2026

October 19, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Reverberations: An Evening of Chamber Music for Winds With Juhyun Lee, Piano and Harpsichord; Ysmael Reyes, Flute; Tenly Williams, Oboe; and Cayla Bellamy-Lanz, Bassoon Contemporary woodwind playing draws on the traditions of the past, but in this case, the past is anything but boring! Join us as we travel from the quirky sonic world of Madeline […]

2026 Concert Orchestra Peter and the Wolf Concert Promotional Poster

Concert Orchestra Concert: Peter and the Wolf / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, October 21, 2026

October 21, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Join Concert Orchestra as we open with Peter and the Wolf. Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved musical features colorful characters and vivid orchestral storytelling, with a few surprises along the way!

Fall 2026 Ralph Opera Program The Old Maid and the Thief and The Telephone Promotional Poster

Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief and The Telephone

Ranging: October 22, October 23, October 24, and October 25

Starting: 7:30 pm, Thursday, October 22, 2026

October 22, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Presented by the Ralph Opera Program    Enjoy two comedic one-act opera gems by Italian American composer, Gian-Carlo Menotti.

Promotional Photo of University Center for the Arts External Spring

Wind Symphony Chamber Concert / FREE

Date: 2:30 pm, Friday, October 23, 2026

October 23, 2026 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Featuring graduate student conductor Amanda Manning, the Wind Symphony performs chamber works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Thèodore Gouvy, Florence Price, and Erika Svanoe.

Guest Artist Concert: Matt Boyle, Percussion / FREE NEW DATE

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, October 26, 2026

October 26, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – NOTE: This concert has changed from its original date on Thursday, November 5. The concert features percussionist and chamber musician, Matt Boyle, on a variety of solo percussion. Boyle appears regularly in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings, with performances at venues and festivals including Carnegie Hall (New York), Yellow Barn (Vermont), the Lucerne Festival (Switzerland), […]

Jazz Combos III, IV, & V Concert 

Date: 7:30 pm, Tuesday, October 27, 2026

October 27, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – CSU Jazz Combos III, IV, and V, directed by Dr. Gabriel Santiago, and graduate teaching assistant, Cael Cheeseman, present a concert of small group jazz. The program includes music by established jazz artists as well as original student compositions and arrangements.

Fall Choral Showcase

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, October 28, 2026

October 28, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Featuring Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and University Chorus The popular Fall Choral Showcase features all three CSU choirs in an evening of vibrant and diverse repertoire. The Chamber Choir, directed by Dr. James Kim; Concert Choir, directed by Dr. Nathan Payant; and University Chorus, present music spanning styles, languages, and traditions, offering a dynamic introduction […]

Halloween Organ Extravaganza

Date: 6:00 pm, Saturday, October 31, 2026

October 31, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm – 21st Extravaganza Saturday, October 31, 6, 8, 10 p.m The organ studio, with faculty-artist Joel Bacon, presents the 21st annual Halloween Organ Extravaganza, with classic (and not-so-classic) works, including the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. Don’t miss this community favorite!

Voice Area Recital / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Tuesday, November 3, 2026

November 3, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – A recital of vocal music by students from the studios of Dr. Nicole Asel, Dr. Tiffany Blake, and Professor John Lindsey.

Jazz Combos I & II Concert 

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, November 4, 2026

November 4, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – CSU Jazz Combos I and II, directed by Dr. Gabriel Santiago, present a concert of small group jazz. The program includes music by established jazz artists as well as original student compositions and arrangements.

Guest Artist Concert: Matt Boyle, Percussion / FREE  DATE HAS CHANGED

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, November 5, 2026

November 5, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – NOTE: This concert has changed from its original date to Monday, October 26. Please be sure to check that listing for updates and potential changes. The concert features percussionist and chamber musician, Matt Boyle, on a variety of solo percussion. Boyle appears regularly in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings, with performances at venues and festivals […]

Percussion Ensemble Concert

Date: 6:00 pm, Sunday, November 8, 2026

November 8, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – The contemporary percussion concert features new works for chamber percussion, including music alum, Colin Ferry (B.M., 2025). The concert features a variety of players, sounds, colors, styles, and percussion instruments.

Brass Area Solo Recital / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 8, 2026

November 8, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba students from the studios of Dr. Stanley Curtis, Dr. John McGuire, Dr. Drew Leslie, and Dr. Brian Sugrue, perform solo and chamber pieces.

Virtuoso Series Concert: Faculty Chamber Music 

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, November 9, 2026

November 9, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Featuring the Performance Faculty of the Department of Music An evening of mixed chamber music by CSU Music’s faculty-artists.

Fall 2026 New Music Ensemble Promotional Poster

New Music Ensemble / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, November 11, 2026

November 11, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – The New Music Ensemble returns to the stage performing music of the 20th and 21st centuries. The concert features an array of combinations of instruments performing music by today’s leading composers and yesterday’s icons.

Brass Area Chamber Recital / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, November 12, 2026

November 12, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Brass Area students are featured in an evening of chamber music in a variety of settings and styles, including brass quintet, trombone quartet, trumpet ensemble, tuba/euphonium quartet and more! The program features undergraduate and graduate students from the studios of Dr. Stanley Curtis, Dr. John McGuire, Dr. Drew Leslie, and Dr. Brian Sugrue.  

Saxophone Studio Recital / FREE

Date: 3:00 pm, Sunday, November 15, 2026

November 15, 2026 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Students of saxophone professors Peter Sommer and Dr. Dan Goble present a recital of solo and chamber works for saxophone, including classic and contemporary literature featuring a dynamic range of expression and musical interplay. 

CSU Trombone Choir / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 15, 2026

November 15, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – The trombone studio, directed by Dr. Drew Leslie, presents an evening of music composed and arranged for trombone ensemble. The concert features the CSU Trombone Choir performing a range of pieces that showcase the trombone ensemble’s beauty and versatility. 

Virtuoso Series Concert: Wesley Ferreira, Clarinet and Tim Burns, Piano  –A Century of French Masterworks for Clarinet and Piano

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, November 16, 2026

November 16, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – A Century of French Masterworks for Clarinet and Piano Join CSU faculty-artist Wesley Ferreira, clarinet, and Tim Burns, piano, for an evening of French music by celebrated composers including Claude Debussy and Francis Poulenc. Spanning nearly a century, the program highlights France’s rich tradition of wind writing while following the clarinet across a wide range […]

Woodwind Chamber Ensembles I & II / FREE

Ranging: November 17, and November 19

Starting: 6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 17, 2026

November 17, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Over the course of two evenings, student ensembles perform trios, quartets, and quintets prepared through a combination of self-directed rehearsals and coaching by woodwind faculty Dr.  Ysmael Reyes, Dr.  Galit Kaunitz, Dr.  Wesley Ferreira, Dr.  Dan Goble, Professor Peter Sommer, and Dr.  Cayla Bellamy-Lanz.

String Chamber Music Recital / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, November 18, 2026

November 18, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Chamber music performances by CSU string students.

Fall 2026 Jazz Ensembles I & II Paul McKee Memorial Concert Promotional Poster

Jazz Ensembles I & II Concert: Paul McKee Memorial Concert

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, November 19, 2026

November 19, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Paul McKee Memorial Concert CSU Jazz Ensembles 1 and 2, directed by Wil Swindler and Darren Kramer, present a concert commemorating the life of composer, arranger, and trombonist Paul McKee. Mr. McKee, who touched so many lives in Colorado and around the world with his music and friendship, passed away in April, and the concert […]

Flute Studio Recital / FREE

Date: 6:00 pm, Thursday, December 3, 2026

December 3, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – The students of Dr. Ysmael Reyes present a solo and chamber works for flute in a variety of styles and genres. 

All-Choral Holiday Concert 

Date: 7:00 pm, Thursday, December 3, 2026

December 3, 2026 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Note: This concert will take place at the First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St, Fort Collins, CO 80524 Featuring Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and University Chorus Celebrate the season with the annual All-Choral Holiday Concert. Featuring CSU’s three choirs, this festive evening blends familiar favorites with a rich variety of seasonal repertoire. Set in […]

Fall 2026 University Symphony Orchestra: Somewhere Concert Promotional Poster

University Symphony Orchestra Concert: Somewhere

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, December 3, 2026

December 3, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Somewhere Somewhere explores the universal search for belonging, as individuals, as communities, and as a nation imagining its future. Elena Kats‑Chernin’s Dance of the Paper Umbrellas opens the program with a burst of color and curiosity. Bryan Wallick joins the orchestra for Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor.” The orchestra, directed by Dr. […]

Double Reed Studio Recital / FREE

Date: 3:00 pm, Sunday, December 6, 2026

December 6, 2026 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Students of the oboe and bassoon studios of Dr. Galit Kaunitz and Dr. Cayla Bellamy-Lanz perform solo and ensemble works written from the 1600s to the present day. 

Concert Orchestra Concert and Mariachi Ensemble Collaboration/ FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Monday, December 7, 2026

December 7, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Concert Orchestra joins forces with the Mariachi Ensemble, under the direction of Nelson Rodríguez Garza, for a vibrant and celebratory program highlighting the musical traditions and artistry of both groups Experience an evening of mariachi music with the Latin American Ensemble. The program highlights the beloved works of the mariachi repertoire. Come enjoy the sounds […]

Keyboard Area Recital / FREE

Date: 7:30 pm, Wednesday, December 9, 2026

December 9, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Join us for a concert featuring various pieces and concerti performed by members of the keyboard studio led by Dr. Bryan Wallick. 

Fall 2026 Symphonic Band: Urban Landscapes Concert Promotional Poster

Symphonic Band Concert: Urban Landscapes

Date: 7:30 pm, Thursday, December 10, 2026

December 10, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Urban Landscapes The concert explores urban life through music, featuring faculty composer James David’s Urban Light and Jeff Tyzik’s New York Cityscapes for Brass Quintet and Wind Ensemble, performed with the CSU Faculty Brass Quintet. The Symphonic Band is conducted by Dr. Jayme Taylor with graduate student conductor, Amanda Manning.

Fall 2026 Wind Symphony: Gateway to the West Concert Promotional Poster

Wind Symphony Concert : Gateway to the West

Date: 7:30 pm, Friday, December 11, 2026

December 11, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Gateway to the West The Wind Symphony continues their celebration of Colorado, the West, and the outstanding artists of the premiere land-grant institution of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado State University. Join the ensemble in their final on-campus performance before traveling to Colorado Springs for the Colorado Music Educators Association invited convention performance on January 29, […]

Spring 2027 Opera Program Production Carousel Promotional Poster

Carousel, Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

Ranging: April 1, April 2, April 3, April 4, and April 4

Starting: 7:30 pm, Thursday, April 1, 2027

April 1, 2027 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Presented by the Ralph Opera Program  Directed by Nicole Asel Thursday, April 1, 2, 3, 4, 7:30 p.m.; matinee Sunday, April 4, 2 p.m., Griffin Concert Hall  The Ralph Opera Program brings Rodger and Hammerstein’s masterpiece to life in this interdisciplinary production between CSU Music, Theatre, and Dance. Carousel is a sweeping tale of love, loss, and hope for […]