The first spring semester concert of the student ensembles concert series was presented by the University of New Haven’s Department of

Music, Sunday Feb. 12 in Dodds Theater.

The concert was held at 1:00 p.m. and included performances from the UNH Orchestra, Jazz Band, student solo vocalists, the UNH Jazz Combo, and the UNH Concert Band. The spring concert series started last spring semester of 2011, and the program has grown dramatically. “We love all the support of the faculty and UNH community,” said Jason DeGroff, the director of the UNH Jazz Band and UNH Concert Band.

The UNH Orchestra started off the concert with two pieces accompanied by various instruments including the violin, viola, clarinet, flute, alto sax, the glockenspiel, and the trombone. The conductor of the Orchestra was Guillermo Mager, and he led the students in their beautiful performance.

Following was the UNH Jazz Band which played five pieces. They started off with Preacher Man, a gospel rock piece written by James Swearingen. This piece included student solos from Chris Kerr, a junior, playing the trumpet, and Max Vreeland, a sophomore, playing the drums.

The Jazz Band also played In the Mood, written by Joe Garland and Glenn Miller, which DeGroff called a “Timeless Classic.”, Hold on to Love, One Special Moment, and State Street Stomp, all written by Larry Neeck.

Chris Bonanno preformed various solos on the alto sax, for In the Mood, Hold on to Love, One Special Moment, and State Street Stomp.

State Street Stomp, an upbeat piece by Neeck, featured six student soloists. Tyler Bliss a sophomore, played the drums, Chris Bonanno, a junior, played the alto sax, Dan Kreisler and Billy Hanley, both seniors, played the tenor sax, Andrew McPheirson, a sophomore, played the trombone, and Mike Gallano, a Senior, played the Guitar.

There were two solo performances by Jessica Bartolotta, and Shannon Livewell.  Bartolotta sang an original song titled, Crazy, and played the acoustic guitar. Livewell, who previously had auditioned for American Idol, and made it to Hollywood, sang, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, a tribute to Whitney Houston.

The newly formed UNH Jazz Combo played next. The combo consisted of eight students who have been performing regularly at Wednesday luncheons, and they preformed two songs consisting of various harmonies between guitar and drums, and the brass instruments. The song was Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, written by Duke Ellington, and an original composed by Billy Hanley, titled Billy’s Song. Hanley is a senior and says he is going to miss everyone when he graduates.

The UNH Concert Band, the largest group of them all preformed last, directed again by Jason DeGroff. The Concert Band wrapped up the concert with four beautifully played songs including, Under an Irish Sky, written by Larry Neeck, Highlights from Gladiator, written by Hans Zimmer, and featured a student solo by Khristian Riendeau, a freshman, Realms of Endless Day, written by Jonny Vinson, and ended with a slow march Aces of the Air, written by Karl King.