University Park, Pa. -- Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, including Marvin Hamlisch, principal pops conductor, will participate in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture residency activities during the last week of March on the University Park campus. Tickets are available now for the two residency events on the University Park campus that are open to the general public. Tickets also are on sale for the March 30 Center for the Performing Arts presentation of the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra in concert with conductor and violinist Andres Cardenes.
Art of the Audition takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in The Playhouse in the Arts Building. Participants, including Penn State musical theater and vocal performance students, will audition for Hamlisch and get his feedback. Then, after they work on his suggestions offstage, each will perform a second time. Admission is free but tickets are required.
A Side-by-Side Scholarship Concert, in which School of Music orchestra students perform with Pittsburgh Symphony musicians, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, March 31, in Esber Recital Hall in Music Building I. Tickets are $15 per person.
In addition to the residency activities, the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra performs in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in Schwab Auditorium. Violinist Cardenes, Pittsburgh Symphony concertmaster and Chamber Orchestra artistic director, performs with harpist Gretchen Van Hoesen in Saint-Saens' "Fantasy for Violin and Harp." The program also includes works by Wagner, Handel and Mozart. Tickets are $28 for adults, $13 for University Park students and $19 for people 18 years and younger.
For tickets to each of the three events and information, call (814) 863-0255 or (800) ARTS-TIX. Tickets also are available at Eisenhower Auditorium, Penn State Tickets Downtown, HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk and Bryce Jordan Center.
In addition to his musical appearances, Hamlisch will discuss "My Life as a Musician" at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, in President's Hall at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, as part of the Penn State Forum Lunch Series. Tickets are $12 for Faculty Staff Club members and $14 for nonmembers and include lunch. For more information or for tickets call (814) 865-7590 or check http://live.psu.edu/story/16410 online.