Orchestra concert jazz festival coming to Baker

Baker University’s Department of Music and Theatre will host three music events next week. The Orchestra will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 15, the Baker University Jazz Ensemble, featuring percussionist Michael Mixtacki, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, and the 19th Annual Baker University Invitational Jazz Festival will be held 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18. All performances are free and open to the public and held in Rice Auditorium on the Baldwin City campus.

Under the conductorship of Director of Orchestral Activities Dr. Mark Pretzel, the Baker University Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Faure’s “Élegié” for cello and orchestra, and Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No. 8. Faculty member Ed Laut is the featured soloist in “Élegié.”

The jazz festival kicks off with a Nov. 17 concert by the Baker University Jazz Ensemble and guest artist Michael Mixtacki. The following day, bands from middle and high schools across Kansas will participate in clinics and competitions. Dr. Frank Perez, director of bands and newly appointed director of the Baker Jazz Ensemble, will conduct the concert.

Mixtacki is an active percussionist and a faculty member at the University of Texas at San Antonio, teaching percussion and drum set lessons in addition to codirecting the UTSA Percussion Ensemble. He was the lead singer, drummer, and percussionist for Ritmos Unidos and helped coproduce the Latin music band’s two CD releases, “¡Funklorico!” and “Ritmos Unidos.” Mixtacki has also recorded with Grammy nominee Wayne Wallace and has been featured as a singer and percussionist with Brazilian bands Grupo Balança and Ginga.

The orchestra and jazz ensemble concerts and the jazz festival are free and open to the public. View the Jazz Festival workshop schedule.