School of Music plans some 40 events this November to celebrate new Holtschneider Performance Center

Named for the university's most recent former president - the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. - the new 185,000-square-foot performance center in DePaul's School of Music is set to open for classes and concerts this fall. It will house the 505-seat Mary Patricia Gannon Concert Hall, the 75-seat Mary A. Dempsey and Philip H. Corboy Jazz Hall, the 140-seat Murray and Michele Allen Recital Hall, the 80-seat Brennan Family Recital Hall, as well as state of the art teaching studios and rehearsal spaces.

"The Holtschneider Performance Center will be a finely-honed, world class home for educating the next generation of musicians and music professionals," says Ronald Caltabiano, a composer and dean of DePaul's School of Music.

"But this welcoming new venue also belongs to anyone with a love of music and a desire to experience breathtaking live performances. It is in this spirit that we swing open our doors and welcome our community to experience nearly 40 events over 11 days including the world's stars of vocal, instrumental music and jazz," Caltabiano notes.

Itzhak Perlman, the reigning virtuoso of the violin, has garnered 16 Grammy Awards and in 2008 was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. He will perform with the DePaul Symphony Orchestra Nov. 11. More about Perlman at http://www.primoartists.com/artists/itzhak-perlman/.

Ana María Martínez, a Grammy Award winner considered to be one of the foremost sopranos of her time, will perform some of opera's greatest arias and popular favorites, as well as duets and trios with DePaul opera students Nov. 4. More about Martínez at https://imgartists.com/roster/ana-maria-martinez/.

Nicholas Payton, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, Grammy-winning trumpet master and founder of the Black American Music movement known as #BAM, will perform with his band and DePaul's Jazz Workshop Nov. 9. More about Payton at http://www.nicholaspayton.com/info.

Evelyn Glennie, who has successfully created and sustained a full-time career as a solo percussionist, performing worldwide with the greatest conductors, orchestras, and artists, will perform with DePaul's Wind Ensemble Nov. 10. More about Glennie at https://www.evelyn.co.uk/about/​.

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra creates extraordinary musical experiences that enrich lives and empower individuals through collaboration, innovation, education, and a passion for artistic excellence. Orpheus strives to be the world's premier chamber orchestra by performing music at the highest level. The orchestra will perform at DePaul Nov. 6. More about Orpheus is at http://orpheusnyc.org/about-orpheus/history/.

The 11-day celebration will begin the evening of Nov. 1 with a concert featuring soloists Lauren Snouffer, one of the most versatile and respected sopranos on the international stage; baritone Andrew Garland, who is widely recognized as a leader in recital work; and American tenor David Portillo, who has established himself as a leading classical singer of his generation. They will appear with the DePaul Concert Orchestra, DePaul Symphonic Choir and Community Music Division's Community Chorus in a performance of "Carmina Burana."

"Events planned throughout the festival include alumni performances, faculty chamber music, a symposium on women in the recording industry led by Shure CEO Christine Schyvinck, lectures by renowned experts, master classes by some of the world's greatest artists, workshops for music teachers, and screenings of documentaries on our artists and distinguished alumni," Caltabiano says.

Also planned is a series of public conversations with music industry CEOs and artists, including a conversation with Welz Kauffman, president and CEO of Ravinia, and Ramsey Lewis, an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement, as well as Jeffrey Alexander, CEO of the Chicago Symphony, and William Mason, past CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

On Nov. 8, Chicago-based contemporary music collective, Ensemble Dal Niente, will perform with the School of Music's new music group Ensemble 20+ with Mexico City-based composer Julio Estrada.

A good portion of events on Nov. 10, a Saturday, will be devoted to the School of Music's Community Music Division. There will be free lessons, and performances by a youth orchestra and the Chicago Children's Choir. Guest speaker Nina Kraus will talk about music and the brain. Kraus is a professor of communication sciences, neurobiology and otolaryngology at Northwestern University. She is a scientist, inventor, and amateur musician who uses hearing as a window into brain health.

"One of my greatest passions is connecting with neighbors and developing community programs," Caltabiano says. "In addition to better serving DePaul's entire student body, the new Holtschneider Performance Center will become a vital cultural destination for all of Chicago to enjoy."

Tickets for the events will go on sale Sept. 4. Prices range from free to $45, with a limited block of premium seats. While additional events are being added, the current schedule is online at http://bit.ly/SOMcelebration.