The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha’s Nancy Van Brunt, assistant professor of music, will perform during the Autumnal Tea Recital on Friday, Sept. 7, at the college. The recital will begin at 3 p.m. in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre lobby. UW-Waukesha is located at 1500 N. University Drive in Waukesha.
Jennifer Van Brunt (associate lecturer, music) will accompany her on piano, and Craig Hurst (professor, music) will perform on the Italian aria, which includes a trumpet obbligato. Hurst will offer pre-concert comments at 2:45 p.m.
Nancy Van Brunt said the music she picked for the recital reflects both her classroom and personal interests.
“I am building my repertoire of musical examples to share with the sophomore music theory class which addresses the compositional practices of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic and Contemporary eras,” she said. “Also, I had an interest in exploring lullabies from around the world incorporating different languages, cultures and musical styles.”
Nancy Van Brunt has selected the following pieces for the recital: an Italian aria, a group of German Lieder, two groups of French art songs, two groups of lullabies from around the world and a group of musical theatre pieces. The music includes compositions by Scarlatti, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Hahn, Poulenc, Satie, Mussorgsky, Montsalvatge, de Falla, Copland and Gretchaninov. She will sing in multiple languages including English, Italian, French, German, Finnish, Russian and Spanish.
Nancy Van Brunt holds a bachelor’s degree in music theory, a master’s degree in choral conducting and a doctor of philosophy in music theory with a minor in vocal performance, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her teaching career with the UW Colleges in 1980 at UW-Fond du Lac, also teaching at UW-Fox Valley and UW-Washington County before joining the faculty at UW-Waukesha in 1999. She teaches freshman and sophomore music theory and aural skills, handbell choir and vocal jazz ensemble at UW Waukesha. Van Brunt has served as choir director and director of music ministries for churches in Waupun and Beaver Dam, respectively, and as director and conductor of the Beaver Dam Oratorio Society, a community chorus of 40 voices. A long-time member and soloist with the Green Lake Festival Choir, she has also performed with the Master Singers of Milwaukee and served as their assistant conductor.
Hurst has been director of bands at UW-Waukesha since January of 1993. He holds degrees from Boise State University, North Texas State University, and the University of North Texas. At North Texas, he was a conducting student of Robert Winslow and studied trumpet with John J. Haynie and Leonard A. Candelaria. In the greater Milwaukee area, Hurst has performed as principal trumpet or trumpet soloist with the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, the Waukesha Park and Rec Band, the Concord Chamber Orchestra, the Milwaukee Stadpfeifer, The Jazz Express Big Band, the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra and the Milwaukee Police Band. Hurst has served on the boards of directors for the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, Waukesha Area Arts Alliance, and the Concord Chamber Orchestra. He has published articles in the “Southeastern Journal of Music Education” and the “Journal of the International Trumpet Guild.” He also writes reviews of concerts by the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra published in the Waukesha Freeman.
Jennifer L. Van Brunt is a 2012 graduate of UW-Milwaukee, where she earned a master’s degree in collaborative piano. She earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from UW-Milwaukee in 2010, double majoring in collaborative piano and voice and graduating with high honors. Van Brunt has recently served as rehearsal accompanist and as the main keyboard player in performance for UW-Waukesha's 2011 production of “Urinetown,” the 2010 production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” and the 2009 production of “Working.” She was the transcriber, music arranger and accompanist for dance pieces in the 2009 and 2010 Art to Art Show at Dance Works in Milwaukee. She has performed numerous student recitals at UW-Milwaukee and tutored class piano and music theory there as an undergraduate student. Van Brunt currently teaches class piano and vocal techniques at UW-Waukesha and teaches private piano and voice lessons in her studio.
UW-Waukesha
UW–Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 UW Colleges campuses with more than 2,000 students. These freshman/sophomore campuses and UW Colleges Online comprise the UW Colleges. They offer an associate of arts and sciences degree and prepare students of all ages and backgrounds for baccalaureate and professional programs. In addition, UW-Waukesha offers several collaborative bachelor’s degrees through UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh.
For information about programs, admission or financial aid, contact the Student Services office at 262-521-5040 or visit the Web at www.waukesha.uwc.edu. You can follow the campus on Facebook or Twitter.
