Spring is packed with world class artists

Sure, the Tucson performing arts scene slows down a bit when the temperature starts to rise.

But it also gives us a chance to see and hear talent that we don’t have access to much of the year.

Toward the end of the academic year, both the University of Arizona and Pima Community College offer recitals by faculty members who spend much of their time teaching but have performed around the country and, in some cases, around the world.

And student competitions can be attended by everyone — offering an early look at students who have the right stuff to make it to the big time. Which is why you don’t want to miss events such as the Larry Day Vocal Competition for advanced tenor, bass and baritone voice majors. Or the Schaeffer Memorial Guitar Competition, featuring students from the UA’s lauded guitar program. Making the faculty recitals and competitions even more tempting: Most events are free; none are more than $10.

Of course, there is much more you don’t want to miss. Such as Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Scott Carter’s “The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord.” Carter is a former Tucsonan with deep roots here — he was one of the early members of Invisible Theatre. And Artifact Dance Project’s original piece based on the life story of the outlaw John Dillinger is a must-see.

Come to think of it, it doesn’t feel as though the art scene is slowing down afterall. Here are some events we are putting in ink on our calendar:

Competitions/faculty recitals

Larry Day was a voice professor at the UA with experience in opera companies from around the country. Four years ago, the Larry Day Vocal Competition was established in his memory. Tenors, baritones and bass voice majors in their junior year and above compete for cash prizes. It’s April 2 at the UA’s Holsclaw Hall in the Fred Fox School of Music.

The UA’s classical guitar program is one of the country’s best, which makes the Schaeffer Memorial Guitar Competition a don’t miss. The annual event is in the memory of Leonard and David Scheffer, and their father, Albert Schaeffer, a Tucson lawyer and jazz pianist. The students — and they come from around the world to study at the UA — vie for cash awards. And prestige. It’s April 3 in Holsclaw Hall.

Ben McCartney has performed classical guitar around town, the country, Europe, South America and even Cuba. He teaches at PCC, where he will perform a solo classical guitar concert in Pima’s Center for the Arts on April 3.

The Arizona Wind Quintet is made up of UA music school faculty members Brian Luce on flute; Sara Fraker, oboe; Jerry Kirkbride, clarinet; William Dietz, bassoon, and Daniel Katzen on horn. They will team up with the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet to perform a work for double wind quintet. The Graduate Wind group has been making a name for itself, winning the Southwest division of the Collegiate Chamber Music Competition in January. The recital is April 4 at Holsclaw Hall.

Pima’s Mark Nelson’s annual tuba recital is a chance for us to hear what has impressed people around the world. His name is legendary in tuba circles — he has commissioned and premiered more than 30 new works for the tuba. Catch his recital April 14 at the PCC Center for the Arts.

Tenor Hugo Vera and pianist Michael Dauphinais, both members of the UA music faculty, team up for a recital that should be impressive. Vera has performed with opera companies around the country — one review said he had a “brilliant and truly heroic voice” — and Dauphinais has been called “a marvelous collaborative pianist.” He has traveled far and wide performing. Their recital is April 15 at Holsclaw Hall.

Look for a huge production when the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Choir, UA Symphonic Choir and UA Philharmonic Orchestra perform on May 4 at Crowder Hall. On the program is “Dona Nobis Pacem” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. It incorporates poetry from Walt Whitman, passages from the Bible and a political speech to create the piece, a call for peace.

Also: UA piano majors will tickle the ivories in hopes of impressing judges and winning cash in the Lois Trester Piano Competition at Crowder Hall on April 17; the String Chamber Music Showcase at Holsclaw on April 19 will feature UA music majors; the Student Composers Concert at Crowder on April 27 has a program of new music by UA students, and the Pima Wind Ensemble performs April 28 at the PCC Center for the Arts

Young at Art

There’s all sorts of research that says exposure to the arts at an early age helps learning and development skills. Lucky us, arts organizations get how important the arts are in raising children.

The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance makes sure the arts thrive in Oro Valley, and they don’t neglect kids. Its “Musical Magic for Kids” brings the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Wind Quintet to the Oro Valley Council Chambers April 2 for “Winds in Space,” a musical exploration of Bassoonadon and other planets. TSO’s Brass Quintet is back for a program May 7, and the Civic Orchestra of Tucson stops in for a children’s program June 4.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Just for Kids series enlists its Brass Quintet to tell the musical story of “Kalimba Kee, an African Elephant and his Best Friend” April 2 at the Tucson Symphony Center. It’s a tribute to Reid Park Zoo’s Kalimba, and costumes are encouraged.

The TSO takes over the Leo Rich Theatre April 30 for Tucson author Susan Lowell’s retelling of the Cinderella story, “Cindy Ellen, A Wild Western Cinderella.”

The Valley of the Moon is a magical place most any time, but especially when plays are presented. That’s happening April 8-24 with “Rumpelstiltskin.” You wander through the historic site as the story unfolds.

Live Theatre Workshop pays lots of attention to children with its family series. Good storytelling engages the kids. OK, the adults, too. “Jack and the Beanstalk,” an adaptation of the fairytale by Empire High School theater teacher Richard Gremel is April 3-June 5 at Live Theatre. In Gremel’s version, the audience helps Jack escape the grumpy giant.

And Christian Youth Theatre takes a trip under the sea with its performance of the musical “The Little Mermaid” May 13-22 at Crowder Hall.

Classical concerts

Ashley Snavley sits at the Schoenstein organ in Holsclaw Hall for her recital for the Roy A. Johnson Memorial Organ Series at Holsclaw Hall April 1. She’ll be playing French and German organ music from the 19th and 20th century.

It’s not often that we get to hear a virtuoso play the guzheng — which is odd, given that the string instrument dates back more than 2,500 years. Larry Leung plays the traditional instrument with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Also on the bill is the winner of the Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto competition and the SASO chorus and soloists. It’s April 1 at Valley Presbyterian Church in Green Valley, April 2 at DesertView Performing Arts Center, and April 3 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

True Concord Voices and Orchestra dips deep into American music for its April 1 concert at the Scottish Rite Temple. Among the composers on the bill are Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copeland, Eric Whitacre and Sheldon Curry. The program will also be performed April 2 at St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church in Green Valley and April 3 both at Episcopal Church of the Apostles and Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

This promises to be a sublime afternoon: The TSO’s Piano Trio performs works by Bloch, Beethoven and Brahms on April 3 at the Tucson Symphony Center. It’s part of TSO’s Center Stage series.

And speaking of sublime: The Arizona Friends of Chamber Music’s Piano and Friends series will present Hungarian cellist István Várdai and French pianist Julien Quentin for an afternoon of music that will include works by Stravinsky, Kodály, Janácek and Brahms. It’s April 10 at the Leo Rich Theatre in the Tucson Convention Center.

The Friends also bring in the Jerusalem Quartet April 13 for a program that will include Haydn, Bartók and Ravel. It’s also at the Leo Rich.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra evokes the 1,001 nights tale with its “Sailing with Scheherazade” concert with conductor Mei-Ann Chen. The program will include Rimsky-Korsakov’s popular work based on the tale, as well as works by Smetana and Britten. It’s April 15 and 17 at the Tucson Music Hall in the Convention Center.

It’ll be an abundance of guitars when the Arizona Guitar Orchestra performs April 17 at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Tucson Guitar Society has brought in guitarists from the community, the University and throughout the state for this orchestra, led by UA doctoral candidate José Luis Puerta.

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Choral

There is little that can be as moving as voices soaring in unison. That’s what you’ll find with the Southern Arizona Women’s Chorus “Spring Time in Paris” concert of songs from the 1940s April 17 at Ascension Lutheran Church.

And that glorious sound will especially be in abundance when the Tucson Masterworks Chorale presents Mozart’s Requiem April 17 at Catalina United Methodist Church.

The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus will be singing Western songs and performing its signature roping for its pops concert May 7 at Catalina Foothills High School Auditorium.

Jazz/pop

Chris Botti works jazzy magic with the trumpet. Plus he’s a good showman determined to engage the audience. The Grammy winner performs at the Fox Tucson Theatre April 1.

Who doesn’t love Robert Shaw? He gives us Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, and, especially, Elvis. On April 6, it’s the King we get with “How Great Thou Art — The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley.” It’s at DesertView Performing Arts Center.

Grammy winner Richard Marx has sold more than 30 million records. That’s a whole, whole lot. He hit it big in the late ’80s, and continues to croon. You can catch him at the Fox Tucson on April 16.

Judy Collins’ gorgeous voice joins up with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for a concert at the Tucson Music Hall April 22. The concert is a benefit for the TSO and the musicians are donating their services to raise funds for the TSO’s community works.

Dance

OK, this one is hard to resist: “Spectrum: A Theatrical Stilt Dance and Acrobatics Spectacle” is April 15 and 16 at Cirque Roots Studio. There’s live music, an all female cast, stilt dancing and acrobatics. What’s not to like?

The story of Ireland is told in dance and music when UA Presents brings “Celtic Nights: Spirit of Freedom” to Centennial Hall April 20.

The UA School of Dance is considered one of the best in the country. Find out why with its “Spring Collection” April 22-May 1 at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre.

Pima Community College dance students are ready to show off what they’ve learned this year with “Dance Fusion.” You’ll get a taste of different styles of dance. It’s May 7 at the PCC Center for the Arts.

Dolls come to life in Ballet Tucson 2 “The Magic Toyshop.” Ballet Tucson 2 is Ballet Tucson’s youth company. Catch it May 21-22 at the Steve Eller.

Artifact Dance Project is always creating something new. Its latest is “Surrounding Dillinger,” inspired by the gangster John Dillinger, who has nabbed by the cops in 1934 near Hotel Congress. It’s May 20-22 at the Temple of Music and Art.

Opera

UA Opera Theatre stages Donizetti’s comic opera “The Elixir of Love” April 7-10 at Crowder Hall.

Verdi’s “Falstaff” closes out Arizona Opera’s season April 9-10. Shakespeare’s lovable buffoon takes center stage at the Tucson Music Hall.

Theater

There’s an abundance of theater to finish off the 2015-16 season.

One unexpected one — added late in the season — is “Dreamscape” at The Rogue Theatre April 2. The Rickerby Hinds play uses poetry, dance and beatboxing to tell the story of Tyisha Miller, who was shot by police in Riverside in 1998.

Some brave women with Saddlebrooke’s Prime Time Players take the stage with “Calendar Girls,” a sweet comedy about a group of older women who agree to pose nude for a charity calendar. It’s April 5-10 at the MountainView Country Club

The UA’s Arizona Repertory Theatre’s musicals are much in demand, and this one should be especially so: Jonathan Larson’s “Rent,” playing April 10-May 1 at the Marroney Theatre on the UA campus.

The sultry “Anna in the Tropics” is Something Something Theatre Company’s offering April 14-May 1. It takes place in 1929 in a Florida cigar factory where the workers are entertained by a reading of “Anna Karenina.” It’s at Zuzi Theatre.

“The Ghosts of Lote Bravo” closes Borderlands Theater’s season. The Hilary Betts play is about a young woman who has disappeared in the desert outside Ciudad Juarez and the visions by La Santa Muerte that reveal to her mother who her daughter really was. It’s April 14-May 1 at the Temple of Music and Art’s Cabaret Theater.

Scott Carter has written Arizona Theatre Company’s season-ender, “The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord.” The comedy brings the three together to discuss scripture and the meaning of existence. It’s April 9-30 at the Temple of Music and Art.

And what’s spring without a bit of Neil Simon? Invisible Theatre stages his comedy “I Ought to be in Pictures” April 19-May 1. It’s about a teen who tracks down her father in Hollywood in hopes he can point the way to stardom. At Invisible Theatre.

Thornton Wilder’s novel “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” is adapted for the stage by The Rogue Theatre’s Cynthia Meier. It’s about a friar in search of a cosmic reason for death. It’s April 21-May 8 at the Rogue.

And Arizona Rose Theatre tackles a big one with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” It’s at the Berger Performing Arts Center April 23-May 1.

Also: Pima’s production of Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” should keep us laughing April 14-24 at the PCC Center for the Arts. SheworXX will have play readings every Thursday in April, concentrating on female playwrights from Tucson and around the country at the YWCA. Broadway in Tucson brings back the jazz age with the musical “Chicago” April 21-24 at Centennial Hall. Arizona Onstage Productions stages the very funny “Bad Jews” at the Cabaret Theatre at the Temple of Music and Art May 6-22. And Live Theatre asked Tucsonans for their stories, and converted them into songs for “Your Song in My Mouth 2” May 14-15 at Live Theatre.