The University of Delaware’s Master Players Concert Series has launched Backstage Pass Online, a free educational webinar series that features discussions and short performances by world-class musical artists from past, present and future Master Players seasons.

The events, which will take place at 3 p.m. every Saturday until May 30, are hosted by Master Players Director Xiang Gao and are broadcast live to the audience through the online video-conferencing software Zoom.

Combining musical performances with conversation, the series is designed to engage the public while sharing unique musical experiences and answering audience questions. The series’ successful debut last Saturday, April 25, featured Gao discussing the relationship between Eastern and Western musical cultures, as well as multimedia and technological advances Master Players will be using in future productions on stage and screen.

The next episode in the series, scheduled Saturday, May 2, is called “A Capella from Newark to London and Back.” This webinar features Jon Smith, one of the most visible alumni from UD’s School of Music in recent history. Smith will share his personal journey from Blue Hen to becoming a member of the world-famous a capella group, The Swingles. Conversations will include topics such as the UD professors and classes that contributed to his success, how the UD Chorale and the on-campus a cappella culture prepared him for a world-class career and how the extra skills he obtained during his UD education helped him develop as an arranger and composer. He also will discuss living in the United Kingdom as a Blue Hen and an American, how he got involved in various Hollywood movie soundtracks, and the Swingles' ambitious plan to involve UD students in its spring 2021 concert with Master Players during a North American tour. During this presentation, Smith will share some memorable music performances by the Swingles, as well as an exclusive vocal performance of one of his own arrangements especially for the Backstage Pass Online audience.

Each webinar is free to attend. Those who would like to attend need only register for the event at any time, and then login during the event using the link and password automatically sent by Zoom.

Upcoming speakers include cello virtuoso Zlatomir Fung, longtime member of the Chester String Quartet Aaron Berofsky, the American Brass Quartet and renowned collaborative pianist Martin Katz. For a full schedule and up-to-date information, visit the Master Players website.

The program is intended to benefit music fans of all ages and is designed with students in mind -- including UD students and local middle and high school students -- as well as members of the community with a love for learning and live music. Educators who are interested in incorporating these programs into their curriculum can contact the Master Players Education Team at mpoutreach@udel.edu.

About the Master Players Concert Series

Master Players Concert Series serves as the cultural ambassador for the University of Delaware. Producing Artistic Director Xiang Gao, international artist and University of Delaware Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music, brings a rich and wide array of world-class musicians to the UD Bacampus and to underserved local communities. The series’ hallmarks are its high artistic standards, the Delaware debuts of remarkable artists and its diverse and distinctive programming. Master Players offers a large variety of public performances in numerous University venues and throughout the region.

This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Other sponsors include Vita Nova restaurant at the University of Delaware and the Marriott’s Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware. See a complete list on the Master Players website.