Music Department

Down with Love

A Valentine’s Day cabaret of a different stripe, dedicated to all those who have been stiffed by love, couldn’t care less about being in love, or just want to call the whole thing off. Featuring songs by Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill and a host of others, including the premiere of Alpher and Litt’s new smash commission for this very evening, “Luv, Schmuv!”

With support from a member of the class of ’59 in honor of their 60th reunion.

James Osborn, conductor.

Eduardo Navega, conductor

The Latin Grammy® winning, New York based,​​ all-female ensemble, Flor de Toloache continue to win the hearts of both progressive and traditional mariachi music fans alike through their distinct artistic vision and sophisticated, enlightened interpretation of traditional mariachi instruments.  

A Jane Prouty Smith ’32 Event.

Featuring works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, and Schumann. 

From Baroque to Bluegrass. Music of Bach, Barber, Malcolm Callagy, and Henryson. Assisted by Barbara Gonzaléz-Palmer and faculty member, Yves Dharamraj.

A Dutch Treat ~ Fritts Organ

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was one of the most influential organists, composers, and teachers of the 17th century. His father Hans, Jan himself and his son Dirck were organists at the Oude Kirk in Amsterdam for nearly 100 years.  Jan established an organ school in his home which welcomed students from England, Germany and the Netherlands. The toccatas, variation sets, and dances are the bedrock of the North German organ school which will culminate in the 18th century in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Op. 95, Op. 18, No. 6, and Op. 131 to represent all three of Beethoven’s major time periods. Early-Middle-Late Beethoven quartet concert.

A Jane Prouty Smith ’32 Event.

Music of the nineteenth century. Benjamin Prud’homme ’22, classical guitar. Assisted by Richard Mogavero, piano.

A collection of jazz standards, arrangements, and originals. Louis Pappas, bass; TBD, drums

Christine Howlett, conductor

Featuring a collection of works by Mozart, Fauré, Piazzolla, Glass, and many more. Assisted by Aaron Rothko, bass, Prashit Parikh, percussion, and others.

Music by Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, Brahms, and others.

Drew Minter, conductor.

An afternoon of music by Bach, Marcello, Victor Young, Clifford Brown, and others. Assisted by Benjamin Papsun ’20, piano, Aidan Anderson ’20, drums, Ellis Thompson ’20, tenor saxophone, and Michael Pennington ’20, piano.

A Silence Haunts Me

A new choral work by Jake Runestad based on Beethoven’s “Heiligenstadt Testament,” a letter he wrote to his brothers in 1802 about his deafness and his despair, with commentary by Professor Kathryn Libin. Christine Howlett, conductor.

An afternoon of vocal pieces by Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Sondheim, and others. Abigail Goldman, soprano, Helen Johnson, mezzo-soprano. Assisted by Amy Kawa-Posner, piano.

James Osborn, director.

An afternoon of arias, art songs, French chansons, and musical theater pieces. Elinor Qiao ’20, accordion. Assisted by Susan Brown, piano.

An afternoon featuring female writers and composers. Assisted by Susan Brown, piano.

James Osborn, conductor.

Eduardo Navega, conductor.

An afternoon of Debussy, Salzedo, Hindemith, and others.

An afternoon of music and art songs exploring the journey of life through poetry. Assisted by Susan Brown, piano. 

Join us for our 20–30 minute lunchtime recital series by members of the Vassar College Chamber Music Program.

At the Bridge Café in the Bridge for Laboratory Sciences building.

Additional funding for Faculty and Senior Recitals is provided by the Esther Osborne Fund.