UT Kicks off PNC Bank Concert Artist Series Sept. 20 with Brass and Organ Extravaganza

The University of Tampa will kick off the 2015-2016 PNC Bank Concert Artist Series at the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values on Sunday, Sept. 20, with a Brass and Organ Extravaganza!

The concert, which will feature Eric Plutz, university organist at Princeton University, along with The Tampa Brass, will begin at 2 p.m.

According to Haig Mardirosian, who will conduct the concert, two words can be used to describe the size of the brass in this first concert — big and sonorous.

“The repertoire is all drawn from 20th century French composers. Coupling their idiomatic use of the organ with a large ensemble of brass and percussion guarantees spectacular musical results,” said Mardirosian.

The program includes Poème Héroïque, op. 33 by Marcel Dupré, Fugue Grave by Alexandre Guilmant, Cortège by Gaston Litaize, Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain by Maurice Duruflé and Salvum fac populum tuum by Charles-Marie Widor.

Plutz is in his second decade as university organist at Princeton University. There, his responsibilities include playing for weekly services at the university chapel, academic ceremonies and solo concerts. He also coordinates the weekly After Noon Concert Series at the chapel. In addition, Plutz serves as rehearsal accompanist for the Westminster Symphonic Choir at Westminster Choir College at Rider University and for the Princeton Pro Musica.

According to James Reed at The Diapason, “Plutz is a master craftsman … his performances are sensitive, emotional, stunningly accurate and spectacularly musical.”

Plutz has made four solo recordings on the Pro Organo label: Musique Héroïque, Carnival, Denver Jubilee and French Trilogy. As an organ concert soloist, Plutz has performed in locations across the U.S. and abroad, including Germany, Austria, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.

The Tampa Brass was established at UT in 1997. Performers include Aric Brian, trumpet; Michael Dobrinski, trumpet; Perry Landmeyer, trumpet; Casey Jones, trombone; Marc Morgan, trombone; Brad Williams, trombone; and Dave Coash, percussion.

Mardirosian is dean of the College of Arts and Letters and professor of music at UT. He is equally at home as a concert organist, composer and conductor with international acclaim in all three realms. As conductor, Mardirosian has recorded music of Mozart, Orlande de Lassus, Jean Mouton and a disc of Gregorian chant with a variety of orchestras and choral ensembles.

The concert is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. Parking is available on campus.

The 2015-2016 PNC Bank Concert Artist Series is underwritten by PNC Bank and the UT College of Arts and Letters. For more information, contact caldean@ut.edu or go to www.ut.edu/sykeschapel.