Live Performances from Pima's Music Ensembles, May 5-14
Tucson, Arizona - Pima Community College’s Music Department invites the community to 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 bright energy of jazz to the rich harmonies of choral music, from classical orchestral works to the vibrant sounds of mariachi and musical theatre, 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 us in supporting the next generation of musicians.
Spring Concert Series Schedule:
Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. – Jazz Ensemble
Swing into spring with the smooth sounds of the PCC Jazz Ensemble. This Concert combines timeless jazz standards and contemporary arrangements that let student soloists shine. The ensemble emphasizes improvisation, tight ensemble work, and dynamic expression, delivering an evening full of rhythm, soul, and spontaneity. Jazz lovers won’t want to miss this high-energy celebration of America’s original art form.
Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. – Percussion Ensemble
Directed by Dr. Trevor Barroero, the Pima Percussion Ensemble is bigger and bolder than ever, with 14 talented members! This year's Concert features Edgard Varèse’s groundbreaking “Ionisation”—a landmark work in music history and the first-ever piece written for a percussion ensemble alone. Get ready for a sonic adventure with over one dozen drums, multiple cymbals, gongs, anvils, a “lion’s roar,” triangles, tambourines, castanets, and even air-raid sirens! The program also includes a thrilling mix of duets and quartets on marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, chimes, and more. Plus, don’t miss two world premieres—including a piece for tuned cowbells composed by student Jack Nevin. It’s a night of bold rhythms and inventive sounds featuring some of Arizona’s finest percussionists.
Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. – Concert Band
The PCC Concert Band will present its final Concert of the semester featuring the Music of John Williams. Many performing organizations designate an evening to celebrate the greatest Film Score Composer of our time. The evening will include a Star Wars Suite with a collection of themes from the celebrated Star Wars Series. Come enjoy the work of this excellent ensemble.
Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. – Mariachi Ensemble
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 and passionate tribute to folkloric music rooted in community, storytelling, and heartfelt performance.
Saturday, May 10 at 3 p.m. – Orchestra
In this afternoon performance, the Pima College Orchestra showcases the beauty and complexity of symphonic music. 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,” “Cielito Lindo,” and more!
Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. – Guitar Ensemble
The Pima Guitar Ensemble concert will include works for guitar duos, trios and large ensembles. 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. This will be a riveting and eclectic concert of guitar music.
Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. – Chorale & College Singers
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 the Gregorian chant “Ave Maria”, “Close now thine eyes” (Gawthrop), 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).
Tuesday, May 13 at 4 p.m. – Musical Theatre Workshop
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.
Wednesday, May 14, 6 p.m., Jazz Improv
Pima's Jazz Improv Ensemble, directed by Scott Black, will perform a vibrant 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. This concert will provide an exciting and dynamic exploration of the freedom and innovation that define jazz music.
Pima’s music program provides education and training in both 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, and the program has a reputation for quality instruction and caring faculty.
- What: Pima Music Department presents the Spring 2025 Music Series
- When: May 5-14 (various times)
- Where: Pima Community College – West Campus Center for the Arts, 2202 W. Anklam Road
- Cost: $6/$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.
Contacts:
Carina Garcia, Marketing and Publicity Coordinator
Arts Division | Pima Community College
clisalda@pima.edu, 520-206-3062
Anne Grimes, Music Dept. Head
Arts Division | Pima Community College
acvoita@pima.edu