Oct. 7, 1997 School of Music Contact Scott Barkhurst (541) 346-1163 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 Oct. 7, 1997 EUGENE--A Homecoming concert, African dances, the debut of Chamber Music Series' 30th season and choral works highlight the four performances scheduled this week at the University of Oregon School of Music, 961 E. 18th Ave. For more information, call the UO School of Music weekdays at (541) 346-5678. To confirm concert times and ticket information, call GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 2533, for a 24-hours-a-day taped message of the week's events. Friday, Oct. 17--Homecoming Concert The School of Music's annual Homecoming Concert welcomes alumni, parents and students with a program that features four of the school's top ensembles in an 8 p.m. concert in Beall Concert Hall, 961 E. 18th Ave. Admission is free and open to the public. The University Symphony, conducted by Professor Wayne Bennett, will perform Dvorak's "Notturno for Strings" and Grieg's "Symphonic Dances." The Oregon Wind Ensemble, directed by Associate Professor Robert Ponto, will play "Jericho" by Morton Gould and "Godzilla Eats Las Vegas" by Eric Whitacre. The Oregon Jazz Ensemble program, led by Associate Professor Steve Owen, will include such selections as "Beautiful Love" by Victor Young, " `Round Chi-Town" by Mike Titlebaum and "Daybreak Express" by Duke Ellington. The University Singers, directed by Associate Professor Richard Clark, will perform "A Jubilant Song" by Norman Dello Joio, "The Lover's Arithmetic" by Paul Halley and "Salve Regina" by Desenclos. Saturday, Oct. 18--Children's Concert Series: Dance Africa! Music and dance from African countries will be featured in a children's concert titled "Dance Africa!" The one-hour program begins at 10:30 a.m. in Beall Concert Hall. Tickets, available at the door, are $3 for adults, $2 for children and students, or $5 for a family ticket. Dance Africa is a university/community ensemble. Under the direction of Rita Honka, Dance Africa has presented numerous performances in local elementary and middle schools. Honka describes their Oct. 18 program as "an informative dance event for children," as it introduces the dances and music of various regions and ethnic groups of Africa. Charles Doggett and the drummers will talk to the audience about African music and their distinctive instruments, and the dancers and drummers will lead the children through some rhythm games. The Children's Concert Series, subtitled "Lively Music for Young Listeners," is designed to present children ages 5-12 with a variety of interesting listening experiences, and to expose them to a broad musical spectrum that they might not otherwise encounter. Sunday, Oct. 19--Chamber Music Series: Raphael Ensemble The Raphael Ensemble, an acclaimed string sextet from England, will open the UO Chamber Music Series' 30th season with a concert at 8 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall. Reserved-seat tickets range from $8 to $22, available in advance from the Hult Center at 682-5000. Student rush tickets will be sold at the door for $5 and $9. Season tickets also are available for the six-concert series, ranging from $42 to $120. The concert will be preceded by a reception celebrating the 30th season, and an official dedication of the plush new seats and refurbished lobby in Beall Concert Hall. Refreshments begin at 6:15 p.m. in Room 186, and ceremonies begin at 6:45 p.m. The concert will feature string sextets by Brahms and Schulhoff, as well as a string quintet by Beethoven. The Raphael Ensemble was formed in 1982 by six exceptional string players with a special desire to explore and perform the masterpieces of the quintet and sextet repertoire. Since then, they have built a strong following, both in this country and abroad, and critics everywhere have applauded their passionate commitment to this medium. The Raphael's recordings on the Hyperion label have brought them international recognition and acclaim. Their debut recording of the Brahms Sextets was selected for BBC Radio's Critics Choice of 1989 and Hi-Fi News and Record Review's Best Recordings of 1989. The ensemble's subsequent recordings of works by Dvorak, Korngold, Schoenberg, Martinu, Schulhoff, Tchaikovsky and Bruckner have been equally well received. Classic CD ranked the Raphael's 1995 recording of Schubert's Quintet among the finest of more than 20 recordings. The Raphael Ensemble has given countless BBC broadcasts, often of unusual and neglected masterpieces. They have performed regularly at Wigmore Hall, on the South Bank and at the Bath, Warwick and Edinburgh international festivals. Abroad, they have toured in Norway, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and the Far East, with performances at the Bergen Festival, Musée d'Orsay in Paris and Berlin's Philharmonie. Thursday, Oct. 23--University Singers and Chamber Choir The University Singers and UO Chamber Choir will give a concert at 8 p.m. in Beall Hall. Tickets, available at the door, are $5 general admission and $3 for students and senior citizens. The UO Chamber Choir, directed by Associate Professor Mark Beudert, will sing Benjamin Britten's "Choral Dances from Gloriana" and "Three Motets for Unaccompanied Chorus" by C.V. Stanford. The University Singers, under the direction of Associate Professor Richard Clark, will perform "Quick! We have but a second" by C.V. Stanford, "The Lover's Arithmetic" by Paul Halley, "A Jubilant Song" by Norman Dello Joio and "Salve Regina" by Desenclos. -30- #P-2051/A&E