UNA Choirs and Ensembles Collaborate for 'Red, White, and Blue Jeans' March 21

Mar. 18, 2011

FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama Wind and Percussion ensembles, along with the UNA Choirs, will collaborate for a “Red, White, and Blue Jeans” concert featuring contemporary Americana music performed by 120 student musicians March 21 at Norton Auditorium.

Directed by Dr. Lloyd Jones, the concert will open with the UNA Wind Ensemble performing “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite” march, which has been voted a top 10 march for more than 50 years. The ensemble will follow with Frank Ticheli’s “Blue Shades,” which, according to Jones, is burlesque at times and uses clichés as a tribute to the Big Band era.

“[‘Blue Shades’] is a wonderful work which combines Frank Ticheli’s own musical style with his love of early jazz music,” Jones said. “It is a real treat to perform, and I feel that the audience will enjoy it as well. It is full of energy and imagery – sometimes swinging and at other times lamenting, and then pulling out all the stops for a ‘barnburner’ of an ending.”

Conducted by Dr. Iain Moyer and special guests, the UNA Percussion Ensemble will perform three musical numbers that focus on the various styles of the American musical heritage. They will perform “Minuano” by guitarist Pat Metheny, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black-Eyed Peas, and “Intermission,” which involves using stools and buckets similar to troupe’s “Stomp” and The Blue Man Group.

The UNA Choirs, under the direction of Dr. Ian Loeppky, will be special guests at the “Red, White, and Blue Jeans” concert. The Collegiate Singers, which is made up of 80 UNA singers, the Chamber Choir and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform.

“The audience should feel free to wear their jeans, something denim, or just anything comfortable to the concert,” Jones said. “We want them to enjoy the music the students have prepared for them.”

There will be a special salute to the U.S. Armed Forces at the concert, which is a tradition for the UNA bands to perform a medley of the U.S. Armed Forces songs. Jones said active and veteran military personnel are encouraged to stand and be recognized for their military service.

Tickets to the event will be $10 for general admission, $5 for students and free to all U.S. military personnel and children age 10 and under.

For more information about the concert, contact Jones at 256-765-4362 or lejones@una.edu.