LARGE VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES PERFORM ON TUESDAY

The Department of Music at Ashland University is presenting two student ensembles recitals on Tuesday, April 29.  Both of the concerts are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building). 

The first recital begins at 7 p.m. and is comprised of the string ensemble instructed by Jane Reed, brass ensemble led by Michael Metcalf, a sax quartet taught by Thomas Reed, and Jeff Neitzke instructing the percussion ensemble.  

At 8:30 p.m., the recital features a flute duo instructed by Lindsey Goodman, a low brass ensemble taught by Scott Garlock, and jazz combos directed by Garlock and Neitzke.

JANUARY RECITALS ANNOUNCED

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces several senior recitals and a guest artist recital in January featuring brass, percussion and woodwinds.  All of the recitals are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts. 

Beginning this Sunday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m., the first recital of the year features senior music education major Stephen Morsher, percussion, along with guest performer Jake Lange. A graduate of Bellevue High School, Stephen studies percussion privately with Jeffrey Neitzke. 

The Ashland University flute studio is pleased to host guest artist Alison Brown Sincoff, associate professor of flute at Ohio University, for a masterclass and mini-recital on Thursday, January 16. The masterclass begins at 12:15 p.m. and features performances from all members of the flute studio.  From to 1:35 to 2:15 p.m., Professor Brown Sincoff will perform a mini-recital with pianist Gail Berenson. Known as the Ohio University Lyric Duo, both are highly recognized in their respective disciplines on both a national and international level. After numerous successful engagements, the duo became official in 2004 recognizing their mutual respect for each other's musical contributions and the positive energy achieved in their performances together. In addition to their recital performances, they are frequent master class and workshop presenters. 

On Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m., Catherine Stone, clarinet, will perform her senior recital assisted by pianist Emily Grabinski. She will also be joined by guest performers including Emily Dine, Alex VanScoy and Robin Wolf on clarinet, and Devyn Renninger on flute. Catherine is a music education major and Spanish minor from Sarasota, Florida. She studies privately with Dr. Thomas Reed. 

The final recital in January presents Andrew Bartelheim for his senior recital assisted by Susan Gregg on piano on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 p.m. Andrew is a graduate of Wooster High School and studies trumpet privately with Amanda Bekeny.

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES PERFORM INCLUDING BRASS, PERCUSSION, WOODWINDS AND STRINGS

The Department of Music at Ashland University is presenting two student ensembles recitals in December.  Both of the concerts are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building).

The student ensembles recitals begin on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a brass ensemble instructed by Michael Metcalf, a percussion ensemble instructed by Jeff Neitzke, and a flute ensemble instructed by Lindsey Goodman.

On Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m., the featured ensembles will include clarinet and saxophone ensembles led by Dr. Thomas Reed, a string ensemble directed by Jane Reed, and a trumpet ensemble instructed by Amanda Bekeny.

MUSIC FACULTY SHOWCASE TALENTS AT CHAMBER RECITAL

Directed by Arie Lipsky, several faculty members from the Ashland University Department of Music combine and showcase their talents with Lipsky for a chamber ensemble recital on Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital. The performance is free and open to the public.

The program begins with William Bergsma's "Four All" featuring Lipsky on cello; Thomas Reed, clarinet; Scott Garlock, trombone; and Jeff Neitzke, percussion followed by Arthur Honegger's "Trois Contrepoints" performed by Lipsky; Jane Berkner on piccolo; Jane Reed, violin; Andria Hoy, oboe and English horn. Flutist Jane Berkner and Jeff Neitzke on marimba perform Gareth Farr's "Kembang Suling" in three movements followed by Astor Piazzolla's "Primavera Portena" with clarinetist Thomas Reed, Lipksy on cello, and pianist Pavlina Draganova. After a brief intermission, the recital concludes with Jean Francaix's "Octuor" conducted by Lipsky and performed by violinists Michelle Abraham and Jane Reed; Jim Froelich, viola; Miles Richardson, cello; Dave Lenigan, bass; Thomas Reed, clarinet; Ian Hoy, bassoon and Mike Metcalf, horn.

Known in the Ashland area as the music director and conductor for the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Arie Lipsky is a native of Haifa, Israel, where he received extensive training as a cellist and flutist. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Music which he received before serving in the Israeli armed forces as a tank commander. After moving to the United States, Arie served as Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and graduated from there with distinction. During this period he also assumed conducting responsibilities with the Ohio Light Opera. He moved to Buffalo, New York in 1984 to become the Philharmonic's principal cellist and, in 1990, also became the Resident Conductor, a position he held for twelve years. Maestro Lipsky is currently in his seventeenth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, and also in his thirteenth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Symphony.

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY PRESENTS CONCERT HONORING AREA JUNIOR HIGH INSTRUMENTALISTS

In Celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, Ashland University Department of Music will host the annual Ashland County Junior High School Honors Band on Sunday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre with the Ashland University Concert Band as the featured guest ensemble. Leonard Salvo, Ashland University Director of Bands, will conduct both bands.

Consisting of 75 members, the Ashland County Junior High Honors Band includes seventh and eighth grade students from Ashland, Crestview, Hillsdale, Loudonville-Perrysville and Mapleton Middle Schools. Members of the Ashland County Band Directors Association meet with Leonard Salvo to plan the program. The committee of band directors selects the honors band members based on merit and instrumentation needs of the band. Students meet at Ashland University on Thursday, March 21 and Sunday, March 24 to rehearse and present this program with music ranging from classical selections to traditional marches. 

The 65-member Ashland University Concert Band will open the concert with a cameo program of wonderful but unusual music chosen especially to highlight the day. The Junior High School Honors Band will perform following the University Concert Band’s program.

Guest artist Jeff Neitzke, xylophone, will be featured with the Concert Band in "Rainbow Ripples." Neitzke is the Adjunct Percussion Professor at Ashland University and at Mt. Union College, and is also coordinator of the Canton Symphony Steel Band and Percussion programs. As a performer, Jeff has been a member of such orchestras as the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and is currently the principal timpanist of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. Jeff received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois under Tom Siwe and Bill Moersch, and his Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Akron under Dr. Larry Snider.

The combination of these two bands and guest percussionist make for a rewarding, exciting and satisfying musical experience for both the performers and the audience. Admission is complimentary and a recording can be ordered.

JANUARY RECITALS BEGIN THURSDAY NIGHT

The Department of Music at Ashland University presents several student recitals and a faculty recital in January featuring vocalists, a percussionist and organist.  All of the recitals are free and open to the public.  The student recitals are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building), and the faculty organ recital is slated for the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. 
 

The student recitals begin on Thursday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. with a junior recital by soprano Kathryn Mounts.  She will perform with pianist Deb Logan and fellow soprano Erin Lingenfelter including classical pieces from Rossini, Shubert and Debussy to contemporary works by Ricky Ian Gordon and Stephen Schwartz. Kathryn is a graduate of Ashland High School and is a musical theatre and vocal performance major studying privately with vocal instructor Denise Howell.  

On Sunday, January 27 at 2:30 p.m., soprano Katie Vargo will perform her senior recital with pianists Pavlina Draganova and Kyle Gould, and Maggie Rickard on oboe.  Katie is a music education major and studies privately with vocal instructor Dione Bennett. She graduated from Riverside High School (Painesville, OH).  

Dr. Timothy Guenther

At 4:00 p.m. on January 27, University organist and instructor of music Dr. Timothy Guenther will perform a faculty recital on organ and harpsichord in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. In addition to serving as the University Organist since 1996, Dr. Guenther also teaches applied organ and harpsichord, as well as courses in fundamentals of basic musicianship, and serves as accompanist as needed for the University Choir, Chamber Singers and Ashland Area Chorus. He holds degrees in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, the University of Alabama, and The American Conservatory of Music. He frequently performs as keyboardist for both the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra. Rostered as an Associate in Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he currently serves as Organist and Director of Music Ministry at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Columbus. He is active professionally in the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the Hymn Society, the Organ Historical Society, the Reed Organ Society, the American Theatre Organ Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He also performs regularly on the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield. 

Also on January 27 at 7:30 p.m., percussionist Matthew Dawson will present his senior recital.  Matthew is from Perrysville, Ohio and is a graduate of Lexington High School.  He is a music education major studying privately with percussion instructor Jeff Neitzke.

SEVERAL STUDENT RECITALS SLATED FOR NOVEMBER

The Department of Music at Ashland University is presenting a full slate of student recitals in November including senior and junior recitals as well as student ensemble performances.  All of the student recitals are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building).

The student recitals begin on Sunday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. with a senior recital by Margaret Rickard on oboe.  She will be accompanied by pianist Pavlina Draganova and joined by guest musician Margaret Couts on oboe.  Margaret is a graduate of Cloverleaf High School (Lodi, OH), and is an instrumental music education major studying privately with oboist Andria Hoy.  

On Sunday, November 11 at 5:00 p.m., clarinetists Alex VanScoy and Katie Stone will present a joint junior recital.  They will be accompanied by pianist Pavlina Draganova and joined by guest clarinetists Robin Wolf and Janet Ankomah. Alex and Katie are music education majors and both study privately with Professor Thomas Reed. Alex graduated from Huron High School (Huron, OH) and Katie graduated from Riverview High School (Sarasota, FL).  

Also on November 11 at 7:30 p.m., Janet Ankomah will perform her senior recital on clarinet.  She will be accompanied by pianist Pavlina Draganova and joined by her applied Music Professor Thomas Reed on bass clarinet, and clarinetists Robin Wolf, Alex VanScoy, and Katie Stone. Janet is a native of Erie, PA and a graduate of Mansfield Senior High School studying music education with an instrumental emphasis.

The Jazz combos and percussion ensemble will present a student ensembles recital on Wednesday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m.  Under the direction of instructors Jeff Neitzke and Ashley Summers, these  ensembles will perform a wide variety of traditional and contemporary pieces.

On Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m., the student chamber ensembles will each perform a selection of chamber music.  The ensembles include the brass under the direction of Michael Metcalf, clarinets with Dr. Reed, flutes with Jane Berkner and strings with Jane Reed.

The last student recital for the month is a senior recital with oboist Margaret Couts on Sunday, November 18 at 3:00 p.m.  She will be accompanied by pianist Pavlina Draganova and joined by guest musician Margaret Rickard, English horn. A graduate of Delaware Hayes High School (Delaware, OH), Margaret is an instrumental music education major studying privately with Andria Hoy.

For more information about the music department and a full events schedule, visit the Web site at www.ashland.edu/music or contact Tricia Applegate, coordinator of performing arts publicity and events, at 419-289-5950 or tapplega@ashland.edu.