As the academic semester marches towards final exams, students enrolled in School of Creative Arts (SoCA) ensemble classes are polishing their performances, ready to take to the stage for the concerts that mark the end of the semester. And the best part — everyone is invited to hear their performances.

This weekend, instrumental musicians in the University Wind Ensemble and University Jazz Ensemble will perform on the Pentastar stage in the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Ave. West.

Friday, the University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mike Seguin will delight audiences with the fanfare A Festival Prelude by Alfred Reed. The remainder of the concert will feature orchestral transcriptions and tone poems for wind ensemble, including musical gems Water Music Suite by George Frideric Handel, Richard Wagner’s Overture to Rienzi, Swiss composer Stephan Jaeggi’s Titanic: Dramatische Fantasie, Canticle of the Creatures by Jim Curnow, and for brass afficionados, John Williams’ The Symphonic Marches and the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Fanfare & Theme. The concert opens at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance on the Capitol Theatre website, or at the door.

Saturday, the University Jazz Ensemble directed by Robert Fazecash will delight with the music of jazz legends and popular songwriters, featuring solo instrumentalists and vocalists from Shahida Nurullah’s studio. The ensemble is composed of music students augmented with some alumni. The concert opens at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance on the Capitol Theatre website, or at the door.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the SoCA choirs under the direction of Bruce Kotowich along with guest student performers from the School of Dramatic Art will enchant their audience with a performance of seasonal favourites and a dramatic “radio show” production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Assumption Church, 2735 University Ave. West. The Songs of the Season show gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available in advance on the SoCA website or at the door by debit or credit card.

If you have questions about any SoCA concerts, call or email Trevor Pittman at 519-253-3000, ext. 2799, or tpittman@uwindsor.ca.