Music Faculty: Will Riley
Email: wriley@umassd.edu
Talk to any student fortunate enough to have witnessed a live concert on the UMD Afternoon Concert Series. They will most likely tell you that it was a profound experience. In addition to hearing great live music, being an audience member exposes you to an unforgettable experience that will leave you wanting more.
Each concert in the series is different by design. Despite differences, each concert shares a desire to connect and immerse students in an authentic expression of live sound created for careful listening that exceeds the ordinary.
Whether it’s a jazz trio, string quartet, soloists, singers, wind ensembles, or world-music instruments, each concert gives stories and challenges the listener.
Coordinated over the past 15 years by Music Department Professor William Riley, the concerts are always full, as there is a built-in audience.
“What we do is combine all our Music Majors with a large section Intro to Music class, and also open it to the general university community, so it’s typically packed! But, since the atmosphere is like chamber music, and we present the series in our recital hall, it really makes for an intimate experience for everyone, as intended,” says Riley. “It also perfectly illustrates the concepts we discuss in the 101 class.”
The series features a rotating list of guest performers, faculty recitals, and a concert that showcases UMD Music Majors. Last semester featured a violin/piano faculty recital and a guest group that presented a traditional Korean instrument called the Ajeang mixed with a delta blues guitarist.
One MUS 101 student said,
“The whole concert was like a story. The performers were extremely talented – they are amazing at what they do, and the performance was far better than I would have ever thought. When people my age think of an orchestra, they think dull and boring, but it was far from that.”
Coming up this semester in back-to-back weeks, Thursday, September 19, features a return of the always high-energy 215th Army Band.
Thursday, September 26, features the Rasa String Quartet, demonstrating how artists mix classical, rock, and folk authentically and excitingly.
Concerts are from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM and are free and open to the UMD community. The department requests that you please arrive early and plan to stay for the whole concert if you would like to attend.