Festival of Lights, Dec. 9

Ashland University will officially begin its observance of the holiday season with the 28th annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 9 in Ashland University’s Jack and Deb Miller Chapel, located at the intersection of King Road and College Avenue.

The 7 p.m. candlelight service, which is free and open to the public, symbolizes Christ coming into the world. The story is communicated in verse and song. It will include Scripture readings by Mark and Cathy Britton, traditional carols, and seasonal choral music by the Ashland University Choir and Women’s Chorus, and the Ashland Area Chorus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The Ashland University Choir is under the direction of Dr. Rowland Blackley, director of choral activities and professor of music, while Elizabeth Slade directs the Ashland Area Chorus and Julie Strebler-Renner, the Women’s Chorus. Dr. Timothy Guenther and Susan Gregg will accompany the choirs on organ and piano.

Musical selections will feature original works and settings of carols by a variety of composers including Victoria, Biebl, Whitacre, Leavitt, Powell and Whalum.

Winter Festival Band Concert, Dec. 8

The Department of Music at Ashland University presents its annual Winter Festival Band Concert on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. The concert will feature the Ashland University Symphonic Band directed by Joseph Lewis, Jr., Ashland University Director of Bands, and the Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) under the direction of Leonard Salvo. The concert will offer a program of classic compositions for concert band along with some holiday favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Ashland University Symphonic Band is comprised of the outstanding wind and percussion students at the University. The Symphonic Band's portion of the program includes James Curnow's Fanfare and Flourishes, David Holsinger's On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss along with two holiday classics: Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival and Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed which is based on the ancient Russian Christmas carol, Carol of the Little Russian Children.

After a brief intermission, the 65-member Ashland Area Community Concert Band takes the stage. Established in 1993, the ensemble is designed for both university students and members of the Ashland community to continue their musical study and creative activity.

The Community Band's program begins with two pieces by Robert Sheldon including Savannah River Rhapsody and Dances of a Shimmering Spirit, which was commissioned for the Ashland High School Band in memory of Christina Lattanzi, followed by the first movement of Ralph Vaughan Williams' most famous work for military band, English Folk Song Suite: Seventeen Come Sunday. AACCB concludes their portion of the program with two holiday medleys including In the Christmas Mood by John Wasson and It's Christmas by Warren Barker.

Holiday Jazz Concert, Dec. 6

The Ashland University Department of Music will present an Ashland University Jazz Concert on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 pm in Hugo Young Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public.

Under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock, the concert will offer pre-concert music from the Mellow Work Chicken jazz combo with Bridgid McDonald and Jared Metz on saxophone; Molly Winnard, drums; Torin Dunn, guitar; Emily Ebert, bass and Alex Kwan, piano.

The 3rd annual AUJO Alumni Big Band will perform selections beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra's (AUJO) program of jazz standards and holiday favorites including Auld Lang Syne, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas and Let It Snow.

The 2018-2019 AUJO roster includes saxophonists McDonald, Michael Spalding, Lauren DeBracy, Erika Wright and Ariane Hill; Nick Lawwill, Branden Barber, Jennifer Wigton and Nathan Roblin on trumpet; Matthew MacDonald, Satch Garlock and Eric Watts on trombone; Emily Schordock on horn; while the rhythm section consists of Ebert, bass; Winnard, drums; Alex Trotter, piano; Oliver Dewey, guitar and vocalist Gracie Fumic.

AUJO will have their holiday CD recording "AUJOy to the World" featuring vocals by Cathi Muckle available for purchase at the concert at $10 each.

Percussion, Fall Honors & Student Ensembles Recitals

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces a variety of recitals to close the fall semester including an all percussion recital, small ensembles recital which will feature brass, string and jazz groups, as well as the semi-annual Honors Recital showcasing the exceptional work by selected vocalists and instrumentalists. All of the concerts are free and open to the public and will be performed in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall.

On Monday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. under the direction of Liz Procopio, the AU Percussion Ensemble will present a wide variety of works featuring different styles of music performed by Stefan Jonsson and Matt Long. The recital program will also include performances by the University Drumline and the Neutrals Percussion Duo.

The AU Drumline is part of the AU Eagle Marching band, which performs for all home games, as well as traveling to marching exhibitions throughout Ohio. Members include Jonsson, Anthony Brown, Dylan Feo, Paulina Seneff, Steven Shrenkel, Layne Spencer, Nicholas Stupka, Molly Willard and Tiffany Zeigler.

Based in Dayton and formed in 2016 by Evan Miller and Andrew Seivert, the Neutrals Percussion Duo combines their Rust Belt underground upbringings and classical training into a contemporary ensemble firmly grounded by their Midwestern roots. Equal parts written works and electroacoustic improvisation, Neutrals performs established percussion duo repertoire, drone-based sound explorations, and above all, commissioned works by living composers. Past and current collaborators include composers Rob Funkhouser, Nate May, Hugh Sheehan, and Brooks Frederickson, percussionist Aaron Michael Butler, Cincinnati experimental ensemble Knee Play, and Indianapolis-based production company NoExit Performance.

The best of Fall 2018 will be showcased at the Honors Recital on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.. Students who accomplished exceptional musical work during the semester will showcase their vocal and instrumental talents as selected by their private teachers.

On Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m., several student ensembles will perform in a joint recital including a jazz combo, brass ensemble and string ensemble under the direction of Dr. Thomas Reed, Joseph Lewis, Jr., and Jane Reed, respectively.