The Stetson University School of Music announced the 2012-13 concert season, which will kick off with the annual Friends of Music Recital, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. This recital, which is open to the public, free of charge, will be held in Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., on the DeLand campus.

This year’s Friends Recital will feature many faculty in collaborative performance, including Tres Vientos wind trio, faculty pianists Michael Rickman and Edit Palmer, Boyd Jones, organ, and harpist Cameron Huster. Patrons will have a chance to greet the performers and one another at the reception following the program.

The 2012-13 academic year will be the first for Stetson’s Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Timothy Peter. Peter was appointed in December 2011, following a national search conducted last year. He joins Stetson’s School of Music following 20 years at Luther College in Iowa, where he conducted choirs and served as Music Department chair.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Peter at Stetson,” said School of Music Dean Jean O. West. “A man of tremendous energy and vision, Tim looks forward to conducting the Concert Choir and the Stetson Men. Dr. Andrew Larson will continue to conduct the Stetson Women’s Chorale and has exciting plans for the Choral Union, which is open to singers from the surrounding communities.”

Stetson’s Jazz Ensemble will be conducted this year by alumnus Don Waldrop, bass trombonist, bassist and tuba player. In 2002 Waldrop retired after 35 years in the music industry in Los Angeles, where he produced records and worked in television, film, live classical and jazz music.

“Every summer various members of our music faculty help strengthen Stetson’s national and international presence by teaching and performing throughout the world,” said West. This summer, Cello Professor David Bjella participated in an international music program in May in Honduras teaching cello lessons to students, ages seven through college age. Steinway Piano Professor Michael Rickman and Violin Professor Routa Kroumovitch returned to the Orfeo Festival in Italy, and University Orchestra Conductor Anthony Hose again served as artistic director of the Beaumaris Festival in Wales. Opera Professor Russell Franks led fellow faculty and Stetson students in travel to Bulgaria for study and performance of Puccini operas at Stara Zagora Opera House as part of the Second Varna International Opera Academy.

The wind trio, Tres Vientos, featuring alumna Tammara Phillips, flute, Oboe Professor Ann Adams and Clarinet Professor Lynn Musco, performed a new work by Almand Chair of Composition Sydney Hodkinson at the International Clarinet Festival in Lincoln, Neb., and Flute Professor Susan McQuinn performed at the National Flute Association convention in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the School of Music has welcomed over 450 young musicians to campus this summer for seven intensive camps and workshops taught and staffed by Stetson faculty, alumni and students.

“Through the year, our audiences will enjoy recitals by many faculty and guest artists in both solo and chamber performance,” West said. “We can expect to be thrilled by our stellar ensembles, and graduating seniors will present degree recitals through the year.  These recitals featuring our most seasoned student performers serve as capstone experiences, demonstrating the collaboration and professionalism inherent in our program.”

For more information on Music listings, contact the Stetson University School of Music: (386) 822-8950; Concert Line (386) 822-8947; www2.stetson.edu/music. For more information on other cultural events at Stetson, contact Stetson University Marketing (386) 822-8920; [email protected]. Visit https://www2.stetson.edu/today/2012/08/stetson-announces-2012-13-cultural-calendar/ for Stetson’s full cultural calendar.