Jazz Groups Have Successful Trip and Competitions

On March 24-26, the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) had several   performances in Pennsylvania as part of their annual tour. The tour began in Butler, PA for the state's district V's annual honor band event.  Jazz Orchestra director Dr. Scott Garlock gave a clinic on jazz improvisation and scatting and after a short break, AUJO performed a concert for approximately 250 students and 70 band directors.

The following day, the Wingnuts (AU's top jazz combo) placed third in the combo division at the 50th Villanova Jazz Festival.  Student receiving individual awards were Aaron Hill, drums, and Trent Kimball, saxophone.

Chris Simmons, Senior Trombonist

Trent Kimball, Junior Saxophonist

On the Saturday of the same event, AUJO likewise placed third. This honor was a great accomplishment for the band, as there were seven bands participating, all of which came from much larger schools many sizes with large jazz programs. Our trombone section was also dubbed the “Best trombone section” at the festival, and again, this is a great honor for our students to win--to our knowledge, no section from A.U. has ever been accorded such recognition at a jazz festival.  The trombone section members are Chris Simmons, John Grimm, Morgan Mirtes, Marisa Sanchez, and Jim Slike.  Individual award winners were Chris Simmons, trombone; Aaron Hill, drums; and Jim Slike, bass trombone.

Ashland offers Summer Mini-Conference for music teachers

AU's Department of Music will host a Summer Mini-Conference for music teachers July 25-29.  The event features a menu of various sessions for music teachers.  For more information go to this link.

Dr. Marla Butke

The coordinator for the event is Dr. Marla Butke.

5 Voice students are winners in Ohio competition

Several Ashland University voice students were award winners at the Ohio NATS (National Association of teachers of Singing) competition held April 2, 2011 at Cleveland State University.  All participating students performed before judges and received comments regarding their singing.

265 performers from all over the state participated along with 56 voice teachers. At the awards presentation, Ashland University's name was called out five times:

Katie Mounts, 2nd place, Lower College Musical Theatre, student of Denise Milner Howell

Japhael Bonderant, Honorable mention, Lower College Musical Theatre, student of Denise Milner Howell

Madeline Beer, 1st place, Upper College Musical Theatre, student of Dione Bennett

Derek Jackenheimer, 2nd place, Freshmen Men, student of Denise Milner Howell

Chanae Curtis, 2nd place, Junior Women, student of Dione Bennett


Congratulations to all!

Voice students win awards at competition

Several Ashland University voice students were award winners at the Great Lakes Regional National Association of teachers of Singing (NATS) competition on March 5, 2011.  All participating students performed before judges and received comments regarding their singing.

The following students placed in their categories:

Lower College Musical Theatre:  Katie Mounts (Honorable Mention)
Freshman College Men:  Derek Jackenheimer (1st place)
Junior College Women:  Chanae Curtis (2nd place)

Katie is a Music and Musical Theatre major from Greenwich; Derek is a music education major from Ashland, and Chanae is a junior music major from Cleveland Heights.

Attending the NATS Regional with these students were 2 of Ashland University’s voice instructors, Dione Parker Bennett and Denise Milner Howell.

Congratulations to all!

Ashland University Bands Host OPCICA Festival

On January 21-23, 2011 the Department of Music hosted the OPCICA Festival (Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Associations Honors Festival).   Approximately 120 students from 20 Ohio Private Colleges and their conductors attended the Festival.  The students were selected by the directors to form the Honors Concert Band and Honors Jazz Band.  This annual event is an excellent opportunity for our best students to meet and work with student musicians from other private colleges, as we as learn from faculty at those institutions.

AU students selected for the Honors Jazz Band are Trent Kimball, saxophone; and Chris Simmons, Jim Slike, and John Grimm, trombone.  AU students selected for the Honors Concert Band are Emily Geib, Clarinet; Jonathan Barko, Clarinet; Margaret Rickard, Oboe and English Horn; Denise Baker, Bassoon; Nick Granitz, Bass and Contrabass clarinet; Alexandra Powell, Trumpet; and Matt Dawson, Percussion

Founded in 1987, The Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association (OPCICA) is comprised of more than twenty private colleges and universities Ohio.  The primary purpose of the organization is to develop a closer network of communication and resource sharing among the instrumental departments, divisions, or conservatories of the various privately funded member institutions of higher education.

An additional purpose of the organization is to sponsor an annual honors festival featuring an Honors Concert Band and an Honors Jazz Ensemble, each comprised of students from the participating schools.  The first honors band festival was held on January 24, 1988 at Capital University.  Festivals have been held every year since with the location rotating between the various member schools.  These festivals have enriched the lives of hundreds of college instrumentalists as well as the conductors from many of the state's private institutions.  Additionally, the Honors Concert Band has performed at three Ohio Music Education Association Conferences.

The concert featuring the OPCICA Honors Concert Band, the OPCICA Honors Jazz Ensemble, and the Ashland  University Concert Band, and the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra was held Sunday, January 23 at Hugo Young Theatre.