Campus Connection

Performance is final under retiring director Gary Walth

The UWL vocal jazz ensembles will be presenting their final concert of the school year — as well as their final performance with director Gary Walth who is retiring. The three ensembles — T.B.A., La Capella and Collegiates — will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, in the Bluffs Ballroom, Student Union. The concert is free and open to the public. The theme of the performance is “Magical Music.” Students chose a variety of their favorite jazz and pop arrangements, many of which were written by composers like Alan Menken or from musicals like “The Lion King” or “Mulan.” Other selections include jazz standards like “Everybody’s Boppin’” and “All The Things You Are.” This is music director Gary Walth’s final concert as the director of UWL’s vocal jazz ensembles. Walth plans to retire at the end of the semester after 24 years as UWL’s director of Choral Music Studies. Highlights of his work with the vocal jazz ensembles include invitations to appear at Wisconsin’s State Music Educator Conferences and for Collegiates to appear at Walth’s 2010 North Central ACDA Vocal Jazz Conference session. His ensembles have also opened for internationally-known recording artists, “The Real Group.” Several Collegiates members have gone on to professional careers as music theatre actors, rock/jazz singers and composer/arrangers. If you go— Who: UWL vocal jazz ensembles — T.B.A., La Capella and Collegiates What: Concert When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 Where: The Bluffs Ballroom, Student Union, 521 East Ave. N. Admission: Free