This year's Big Band Extravaganza will mark Dominic Spera's farewell performance at the IU School of Music. David Baker, director of IU's jazz program, and Spera will direct the performance. Bandorama will serve as a tribute to retiring IU School of Music Dean Charles H. Webb, who will conduct each of the bands. Webb will conduct Wagner's Overture to Die Meistersinger , Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G Minor , and Weinberger's Polka and Fugue from Shvanda the Bagpiper . Band directors Ray E. Cramer, Stephen W. Pratt and David C. Woodley will conduct the remainder of the performance.
Admission is free.
Saint Peter reveals that too many tenors and basses are in hell. But because of the Redemption Clause, if the sopranos are able to descend into hell and do a selfless deed, they can bring back to heaven as many tenors and basses as needed. The dilemma of the divas is resolved in the riotous second act of Too Many Sopranos, composed by IU faculty member Edwin Penhorwood in honor of Dean Charles Webb. The two-act comic opera will be done in concert version, with no sets or costumes, on Friday, April 25, at 8 p.m. in Auer Hall. Admission is free.