Fresh off holiday hiatus, the New River Valley boasts several musical events at the onset of the year. From the Baroque of Buxtehude to the slightly newer of Oliver Messiaen, a diverse amount of great music is on the horizon. There is bound to be something for everyone.

Of the highlights, the Australian Baroque Brass starts off the year with a masterclass at Virginia Tech, sharing their expertise with the next generation. The group boasts authentic, period brass instruments from the 16th and 17th centuries. Trumpets, slide natural trumpets, cornets, sackbuts, and natural horns cater to the genuine interpretation of the group. Visit www.australianbaroquebrass.com for audio samples of their critically acclaimed debut CD Music of a Golden Age. Catch them while they’re in the United States at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18 (Squires Recital Salon, Virginia Tech Campus).

Jan. 18 marks the beginning of a busy musical weekend with Tech’s Honor Band Concerts featuring many groups from the department at 7:30 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium. At 8 p.m. the same evening, the 25th Annual Tribute to Rececca Orr occurs in a memorial benefit concert. Orr was a student killed by a drunk driver during her freshman year of college. Some of the area’s top musicians will perform for the event, which hopes to raise donations that are, in turn, awarded to a deserving high school junior or senior in scholarship. The Honor Band Concerts conclude the evening at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 in Burruss Auditorium. The group will feature two middle school and three high school bands comprised of students from 150 schools in five states. The students are picked by nomination and use this concert as the culmination of a weekend spent in rehearsals, clinics, and performances on Tech’s campus.

Back in Radford, the University’s star faculty host a duo recital of Clarity James, voice, and Robert Trent, guitar. James, an internationally renowned “who’s who in music,” sings contralto, the deepest of female voice ranges. The New York Times raves about her ”resplendent singing; good musical sense and sensibility.” Radford’s music department has happily had James on board since 1990. Joining her is fellow Radford professor Robert Trent, equally international with performance credits ranging from Russia, Brazil, Germany, and France. In addition to the modern guitar, he performs on the renaissance lute, an original French guitar from the early 19th century, and a reproduction of a 10-string double-necked Romantic guitar of Scherzer. He is the first recipient of a doctorate in guitar from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. The duo should not be missed on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. (Preston Hall/Ken Bondurant Auditorium, Radford).

While much more is in store for this month, February looks just as promising. Feb. 8 includes a Radford performance by the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico. The following day will marks the Second Annual Black History Month Gospel Concert, featuring Fred Hammond and Ziel, as well as the winner of the 2008 Virginia Tech Gospel Singing Competition. The competition was held via videos submitted on YouTube. Judges narrow the field to 10 top-notch talents in order for the public to vote for their top choice. More information is available at www.oeo.vt.edu/gospel. So put on your parka and attend one the many musical happenings in the Valley!

C.R. Kasprzyk is a classically trained composer and saxophonist.