WINTER FESTIVAL CONCERT FEATURING JAZZ ORCHESTRA, BRASS AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES

From the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra to the University brass and percussion ensembles, Ashland University’s first of two Winter Festival concerts will offer a full slate a musical treats. Free and open to the public, the concert is scheduled for Monday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. at the University’s Hugo Young Theatre. 

The concert will begin with the Ashland University Brass Ensemble directed by brass and horn instructor Michael Metcalf performing Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” followed by Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium”, and “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” as arranged by Chris Woods.

Percussion instructor Jeffrey Neitzke will then direct the Ashland University Percussion Ensemble performing “Hitzacker Wasserspiele” by Matthias Kaul, “Ogoun Badagris” by Christopher Rouse, and two movements of James Tenney’s Three Pieces for Drum Quartet.

The concert will conclude with the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) directed by Dr. Scott Garlock, associate professor of music.  In addition to Bob Mintzer’s big band hit “Slo-Funk”, the program will be selected from a repertoire of holiday favorites including Paul Ferguson’s arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne”, Tom Kubis’ “Jingle Bells”,   John Berry’s “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow”, and Bryan Kidd’s “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  Vocal soloists Katie Vargo and Jacob Haury will be featured in “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” as Vargo also sings with the “Here Comes Santa Claus” medley.   

TUBACHRISTMAS SEEKING ALL TUBA, EUPHONIUM AND BARITONE PLAYERS

All tuba, euphonium and baritone players are wanted for Ashland University’s TubaChristmas on Saturday, December 3 in Hugo Young Theatre.  Musicians will begin registration for the event at 10:00 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 10:20 a.m.  The public performance which is free and open to the public will be held at noon.  

TubaChristmas is an idea conceived by Harvey Phillips, Professor of Tuba at Indiana University. Mr. Phillips wanted to demonstrate to the public what a beautiful sound a mass ensemble of tubas and euphoniums could make and to provide an opportunity for fellow low brass players to celebrate the season with the community. TubaChristmas is dedicated to the memory of Mr. William J. Bell.  It’s a fun, holiday tradition the whole family can enjoy.  

The registration fee for participating musicians is $5.00 and includes a 2011 TubaChristmas button.  The TubaChristmas carol book is also available for $10.00. Musicians are asked to bring their own folding stand.   

For more information, contact Associate Professor of Music Dr. Scott Garlock at 419.289.5134 or sgarlock@ashland.edu, or visit the Web site at www.ashland.edu/music.

SENIOR CLARINET RECITAL, STUDENT CHAMBER AND JAZZ ENSEMBLES CONCERTS SLATED

The Department of Music at Ashland University hosts several concerts throughout next week including a senior clarinet recital, student chamber ensembles recital, and a performance from the University Jazz combos. All of these performances are free and open to the public.  

The busy week of music begins on Sunday, November 13 at 3:00 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall with senior music education major Emily Geib presenting her senior recital on clarinet.  A graduate of Waynedale High School in Apple Creek, Ohio, Geib begins her program with Germaine Tailleferre’s “Arabesque” followed by Aaron Copland’s three-movement Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and concluding with Felix Mendelssohn’s Concertpiece No. 1, op. 113.  She is assisted by Pavlina Draganova on piano and Jonathan Barko on clarinet.

The evening of Thursday, November 17 will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall with a student ensemble recital featuring the Ashland University woodwind and clarinet ensembles directed by Dr. Thomas Reed, and the string ensemble led by Lindsay Brown.  At 9:00 p.m., the Jazz combos will perform at the Eagle’s Landing student lounge in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center.  The combos are under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock and Jeff Neitzke.

For more information about these concerts, 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.