Pima Community College’s Music Department will celebrate the season with its Spring Music Series, nine concerts featuring student ensembles performing various musical styles and traditions. These performances culminate a semester’s worth of hard work, creativity, and collaboration by students and faculty in the Pima Music program.
From the rich harmonies of choral music, from classical orchestral works to the vibrant sounds of mariachi and musical theater, this series offers something for every music lover. All concerts are open to the public, and we encourage families, students, and members of the greater Tucson community to join in supporting the next generation of musicians.
Spring Concert Series schedule
Concert band: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8
The PCC Concert Band will present its final concert of the semester, with the music of John Williams. Many performing organizations are dedicating an evening to celebrate the greatest film score composer of our time. The evening will include a “Star Wars” suite, showcasing a collection of themes from the celebrated “Star Wars” series.
Mariachi Ensemble: 7 p.m. Friday, May 9
Experience the color and culture of traditional Mexican music with Mariachi Azteca de Pima College. With a spirited blend of vocals, strings and trumpets, this student ensemble performs a lively program celebrating the heritage of mariachi. This concert offers an authentic tribute to folkloric music, rooted in community, storytelling and heartfelt performance.
Orchestra: 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10
The Pima College Orchestra showcases the beauty and complexity of symphonic music in this afternoon’s performance. Blending string, woodwind, brass and percussion sections, the orchestra presents a selection of pieces from classical masters and modern composers alike. Unique selections include the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, highlights from the musical “Wicked,” “Prayer of St. Gregory” and “Cielito Lindo.”
Guitar Ensemble: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10
The Pima Guitar Ensemble concert will include works for guitar duo, trio and large ensemble. The program will feature selected works from Terpsichore by Michael Praetorius as well as “Quartet No. 3” (Mishima) by Philip Glass. The evening’s performance will also include works by Goran Ivanovic, Sergei Prokofiev and Ken Yukl. Special guests will include the MADA Guitar Duo and violinist Angelina Iskandar.
Chorale and College Singers: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11
Two choral groups come together for a moving and uplifting concert that celebrates the power of the human voice. Under the direction of Jonathan Ng, D.M.A., Pima Chorale & College Singers will perform Gregorian chant “Ave Maria,” “Close now thine eyes” (Gawthrop) and vocal quartet “Lord, for thy tender mercy sake” (Farrant). The select mixed-voice a cappella ensemble College Singers will present 20th-century part-songs “Over the wave” (Chilcott), “Blow, blow, thou wind” (Rutter, English madrigal “Mother, I will have a husband” ( Vautor) and choral masterpiece from “Messiah” “And the glory of the Lord” (Handel). For the final section of the concert, women chorus “Lux Aeterna” (Stroope), madrigal quintet “Sing we at pleasure,” Chorale & College Singers will join together again to perform “Sing Gently” (Whitacre), “Danny Boy” (Hayes), Life thine eyes, He’s watching over Israel (Mendelssohn), Moonlight sound design (Tiguls), I dream a world (Pederson), and “Music in the Air” (Murphy).
Musical Theatre Workshop: 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 13
The series concludes with a spirited showcase from the Musical Theatre Workshop. Students will present scenes and musical numbers from well-known Broadway shows, combining acting, singing, and movement in a performance filled with drama, humor, and heart. This performance is a celebration of creativity and collaboration, giving students a chance to shine in the spotlight and audiences a glimpse into the world of musical theatre.
Jazz Improv: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14
Pima’s Jazz Improv Ensemble, directed by Scott Black, will perform a mix of classic and contemporary jazz standards, infused with the creativity of live improvisation. The ensemble’s musicians will demonstrate their skill in interpreting both familiar tunes and modern jazz pieces, highlighting their unique improvisational styles and musical versatility.
Pima’s music program provides education and training in classical and popular music, with classes in theory, history, piano, guitar, studio instruction and sound production. Its musical ensembles are choir, band, orchestra, jazz band, mariachi ensemble, guitar ensemble and percussion ensemble. Course offerings are consistent with the first two years of a bachelor’s degree in music from Arizona’s state universities.
Pima Music Department presents Spring 2025 Music Series
WHEN: Various times through May 14
WHERE: Pima Community College – West Campus Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road, Tucson
COST: Tickets start at $5, except Musical Theater Workshop and Jazz Improv are free and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at pimaarts.com or at Pima Arts Events-Eventbrite.
INFO: pimaarts.com
