Music Education Major Opens 2016 URCA

Junior music education major Jaylynn Buchmelter (sponsored by Dr. Christina Fuhrmann, Professor of Music) will be the first oral presenter for the 2016 College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium on April 12 at 9 a.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Below is a synopsis of her abstract which is published in the URCA program.

Jaylynn's presentation titled "Acceptance of Fate in Franz Schubert's Winterreise (1827-1828)" will focus on particular songs in this song cycle which are poems by Wilhelm Müller set to music by Schubert. In the series of songs, the protagonist (the wanderer) embarks on a long journey resulting in an acceptance of his own destiny. Winterreise's wanderer moves toward his destiny throughout the cycle by relinquishing old ways of thinking and feeling, becoming self-aware, and finally embracing his fate. Jaylynn will explain how this work conveys the wanderer's discovery of and acceptance of his destiny. She will also analyze musical devices used by Schubert to represent the wanderer's internal and external journey toward his destiny.

Vocalists, Flutist and Trombonist Present Senior & Junior Recitals

The Department of Music announces upcoming senior and junior recitals featuring vocalists, a flutist and a trombonist. Scheduled throughout the months of March and April in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall, these concerts are free and open to the public.

On Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m., soprano Abigale Brady and trombonist Cody Henderson will present their joint junior recital accompanied by pianists Deb Logan and Susan Gregg, respectively. The program will include vocal selections by Mozart, Strauss and Fauré, while instrumental pieces feature compositions by Marcello, Ewazen and Fauré. Miss Brady is from Ashtabula, Ohio and is majoring in music and psychology while Mr. Henderson is from Bellevue, Ohio and is studying music and business administration.

On Sunday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., soprano Fatima Imani Smith will perform her senior recital featuring classical, jazz and contemporary pieces from composers including Gioachino Rossini, Georges Bizet, Hugo Wolf, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Ricky Ian Gordon. Accompanied by pianist Deb Logan, Fatima will be assisted by guest performers mezzo-soprano Grace Keller, tenors Jake Riley and Jacob Poiner, baritone Deric Dover and guitarist Darion Dow. Fatima is an applied vocal music major from Copley, Ohio.

Flutist Emily Minns will present her junior recital on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. accompanied by pianist Susan Gregg. Her program will include Fantaisie Pastoral Hongroise by Franz Doppler, Acht Stücke by Paul Hindemith, the first movement of Concerto by Jacques Ibert, Sonata in g minor by J. S. Bach, and Sonate by Francis Poulenc. Emily is from Brunswick, Ohio and is an art education major with minors in music and french.

Band Concert Honors Area Middle Schools' Instrumentalists

In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, Ashland University Department of Music will host the annual Ashland County Middle School Honors Band on Sunday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre with the Ashland University Concert Band as the featured guest ensemble. Gary Ciulla, Ashland University Director of Bands, will conduct both bands.

Consisting of 85 members, the Ashland County Middle School Honors Band includes seventh and eighth grade students from Ashland, Crestview, Hillsdale, Loudonville-Perrysville and Mapleton Schools. 


Members of the Ashland County Band Directors Association meet with Gary Ciulla and Crestview's Christopher Thompson, this year’s chairman, 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 17 and Sunday, March 20 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 including Clifton Williams' Caccia and Chorale, Frederick Fennell's arrangement of Florentiner, three movements of Claude T. Smith's Incidental Suite, and Yo Goto's arrangement of Funiculi - Funicula.

The combination of these two bands make for a rewarding, exciting and satisfying musical experience for both the performers and the audience. Admission is free and open to the public.

Four Guest Artists Headline Jazz Festival

Ashland University’s award-winning jazz program is proud to present the 2016 Maplerock Jazz Festival slated for Friday, March 18. Along with free performances by area high school jazz ensembles in the afternoon, the event presents a main stage concert at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre.

The evening concert opens with the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock and features guest jazz artists pianist Dr. Michael Stryker, saxophonist Mike Lee, bassist Aidan Plank and guitarist Justin Haynes.

Dr. Stryker is co-leader of the jazz quintet Condition Blue. He can also be heard on Roots and Branches with the Shirantha Beddage Quartet, and regularly performs with the Todd Kelly Quintet and many other fine musicians throughout Illinois. With a D.M.A. in Jazz and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music, B.M. and M.M. in Jazz Performance from DePaul University, and a B.S. in Biology from Purdue University, Stryker is Associate Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Illinois University where he directs big bands and coaches jazz combos, teaches various jazz classes and is a member of the Dale Hopper Faculty Jazz Sextet. He is also on the faculty of the Birch Creek Summer Music Performance Center (Wisconsin).

Mike Lee has been a part of the greater New York Jazz Scene for almost 30 years. Since his early associations with Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano, through his stint with the Woody Herman Orchestra and regular gigs with The Village Vanguard Orchestra and Maria Schneider Orchestra, to his current associations with Oliver Lake's ensembles, Wallace Roney Orchestra, and Michele Rosewoman's New Yor-Uba -- Lee has a proven track record as a versatile soloist and a consummate ensemble musician. As a leader, he fronted the renowned Cecil's Big Band and co-leads the ground breaking quartet New Tricks. He performs with his trios regularly at his weekly Hat City Kitchen Jam Session as well as Trumpet's Jazz Club and other venues.

Aidan Plank has performed in a wide range of musical genres with many musicians from pop legends Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker, to classical ensembles such as The Case Baroque Orchestra and The Oberlin Opera, and with contemporary jazz artists Bobby Selvaggio and Dominic Ferannaci along with many others. Aidan has performed at Carnegie Hall, Severence Hall, The Knitting Factory, The House of Blues, The Beachland Ballroom, The Bop Stop, Blossom Music Festival, and other venues throughout the country. He can presently be heard in duo performances with guitarist Daniel Lippel and as the bassist for the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra's 2015-2016 season.

Justin Haynes has been recognized as an outstanding soloist and composer at the University of North Texas Jazz Festival, the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival, the University of Louisville Jazz Festival, and the Western Illinois University Jazz Festival. One of his charts, “I’ve Gone Crazy,” was debuted at the Rootabaga Jazz Festival featuring Greg Osby on alto saxophone. As an educator, Justin is a member of the Knox College Music Department faculty where he teaches jazz saxophone, jazz guitar, jazz bass and basic improvisation skills. Justin also directs the Knox-Rootabaga Jazz Festival Alumni Band every spring.

The Jazz Festival's afternoon performances begin at 1 p.m. with the Wellington High School Jazz Band followed at 1:30 p.m. with the Ashland High School Jazz Band B, the Rittman High School Jazz Band at 2 p.m., the Galion High School Jazz Band at 2:30 p.m. and the Ashland High School Jazz Band A presents the final high school performance at 3 p.m.

The afternoon performances are free and open to the public while tickets for the evening concert are available through the Ashland University Box Office at 419.289.5125, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or online (additional fees apply) at www.ashland.edu/tickets.

Tickets for the evening concert are $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, non-Ashland University students and Ashland University faculty and staff; and free for Ashland University students.