LCCC’s March concerts spotlight faculty talent and creative collaboration

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – A weekend of music and art is set to unfold at Laramie County Community College with two distinct concerts showcasing the talents of faculty and students.

The Faculty Chamber Music Recital is set for 3 p.m. Mar. 1, followed by The Nature of Music collaboration concert at 3 p.m. Mar. 2. Both performances will be held in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium on LCCC’s Cheyenne campus and are free and open to the public.

The Faculty Chamber Music Recital will feature small ensembles of LCCC faculty performing an eclectic mix of music. Audiences can expect everything from jazz and pop favorites to classical masterpieces, said Dr. Frank Cook, LCCC music instructor. The program includes performances by a brass quintet, a string trio, a flute choir and the faculty jazz combo.

The Faculty Chamber Music Recital offers an engaging experience for the community while serving as a live demonstration for students, showcasing the artistry, preparation and collaboration essential to high-level performance, Cook said.

“This concert is a chance for students to see the level of dedication and musicianship we expect from music students,” he said. “It’s not only about sharing great music, but also about setting a standard for our students to follow.”

The weekend continues with The Nature of Music on March 2, a collaborative concert blending the creative forces of LCCC’s Music, Art and Theatre departments. This interdisciplinary event will explore the beauty and power of the natural world through each discipline, Cook said.

“Art — whether through music, visual arts or theatre — reflects the human experience and our place in the world, and one of the deepest expressions of that experience is our connection to nature,” he said. “This concert, with its blend of artistic elements, will highlight that relationship and offer the audience a powerful, immersive experience that resonates on both emotional and intellectual levels.”

The Chamber Orchestra will perform pieces like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”, capturing the cheerful arrival in the countryside, and Smetana’s “The Moldau,” a vivid depiction of a river’s journey through the Bohemian landscape.

LCCC’s Collegiate Chorale will be joined by Cheyenne’s Capitol Chorale, a non-auditioned community choral group, for a performance, followed by selections performed by LCCC’s Cantorei and another selection from the Collegiate Chorale. The choirs will present selections such as “Voices of Earth,” a choral setting of Archibald Lampman’s poetry that delves into nature’s hidden sounds, and “Corner of the Sky” from the 1972 musical classic “Pippin.”

The Jazz Ensemble is set to perform classics such as “Over the Rainbow” from the classic 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz,” a new arrangement of the Glenn Miller classic “In the Mood” by Jeff Tyzack and more. The Wind Ensemble’s performance will include “Cloudsplitter Fanfare,” Jack Stamp’s bold, energetic piece that evokes the majesty and grandeur of towering mountain peaks, Samuel Hazo’s beautiful ballad based on Celtic melodies and more.