Musical Retrospect

Students in State Fair Community College’s Music Arts ensembles will present their spring Musical Retrospect at 7:30 p.m. May 3-4 in the Stauffacher Theatre on the Sedalia campus. This concert also will mark SFCC Music Arts Program Coordinator Ron Sayer’s last appearance on the Stauffacher stage, as he will retire at the end of the semester.

In one last tribute to SFCC’s 50^th anniversary, the Jazz Runners will perform a variety of musical styles from Big Band standards to Latin-flavored jazz selections that were popular in the 1960s, about the time State Fair Community College was founded. Featured selections include the classic charts “Mas Que Nada” and “Yesterday” as well as “Cantina Band” from the movie “Star Wars” as a nod to May the fourth.

The Chamber Choir will perform a kaleidoscope of selections ranging from the reflective text of Micah 6: 6-8 in John Ness Beck’s “Offertory” to the rhythmically driving Ryan Main selection “Dies Irae” and the contemporary Gospel Spiritual “Ain’t No Grave.” For good measure, the choir will even throw in a little “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The Jazz Choir will sing familiar standards from the Golden Age of Jazz as well as more contemporary selections. Songs will include “When I Fall in Love,” “Alright, Okay, You Win” and an acapella arrangement of the Bette Midler classic, “The Rose.”

The choirs are under the direction of Sayer, and the jazz band is under the direction of Kelsey Shields, adjunct instructor. Gwen Kappelman will accompany the choirs.

Tickets are $6 for the public and groups of 10 or more are half price. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.sfccmo.edu/the-arts, call the SFCC Box Office at (660) 530-5814 from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email tickets@sfccmo.edu. Tickets also are available at the door. Admission is free to SFCC students and employees. Wheelchair seating is available upon request.

On May 1 at noon, students in Music Arts classes will present a free recital in Stauffacher Center, Room 67. Instrumental and vocal applied music students will present casual performances of works they have prepared for their coursework.

Recitals begin promptly at 12:01 p.m. and last 30 to 40 minutes.