The University at Albany Department of Music is pleased to present this season’s first concert by the University Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 3pm in the Main Theatre of the Performing Arts Center on the uptown campus.

Entitled A Night at the Italian Opera, the program celebrates the 150th birthday of Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Soprano Christina Pizzino will sing the popular Puccini Aria 'O mio babbino caro' ('Oh my dear papa'), from the one-act opera, Gianni Schicchi. Works by opera composers Giuseppi Verdi, Rossini and Mascagni will also be performed. The performance marks the first appearance of the orchestra under the direction of faculty member Christopher David Neubert, its new conductor.

Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Neubert first studied violin with his father and began an early professional career playing viola and then double bass with the Allentown Symphony. He has also been a member of the double bass sections of the Long Island Symphony, the Northeast (PA) Philharmonic, the Utica Symphony and the Merrick Symphony. In 1982, he was named conductor of the Allentown Symphony Pops Orchestra and later founded the Port Jefferson Pops Orchestra on Long Island.

In addition to his work at UAlbany, Neubert is Director of Music and Orchestral Studies for the Niskayuna Schools. He also serves on the adjunct faculty at The College of Saint Rose where he is a member of the String Education faculty, conductor of the College Chamber Orchestra and Professor of Double Bass. Neubert is an active New York School Music (NYSSMA) All-State and Major Organization Adjudicator and guest conducts a variety of bands and orchestra festivals throughout the Northeast. He also maintains The Neubert Studio in Saratoga Springs where students study violin, viola, cello, and double bass in preparation for careers in both education and performance music.

Guest artist Pizzino is a 2008 Masters Degree recipient in Vocal Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, a 2006 graduate from the Crane School of Music and a 2002 graduate of Schalmont High School in Rotterdam. She is also the newly appointed Director of Choral Studies at Niskayuna High School.

Tickets are $8 for the general public, $6 for seniors & UAlbany faculty/staff and $4 for students and may be purchased through the Performing Arts Center Box Office. For further information, contact the Box Office at (518) 442-3997 or visit the Performing Arts Center website at www.albany.edu/pac.

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