University Choir & Ashland Area Chorus Perform with Ashland Symphony

The Ashland University Choir and Ashland Area Chorus will perform Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, op. 80 with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra (ASO) this Saturday, April 29, 7:30 p.m., in Archer Auditorium at Ashland High School.

For its final concert of its 47th season, the ASO will feature showstoppers from Beethoven and Rossini in their program themed Bravo Beethoven. The concert welcomes back pianist Roman Rabinovich as part of the Elizabeth Pastor Series of Guest Pianists who will also perform Beethoven's "Piano Concerto in C minor, No.3, op.37."  The program also includes Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Tickets are available for purchase weekday mornings at the Symphony Office in Room 147 of the Center for the Arts, by calling 419.289.5115 or online at AshlandSymphony.org. They can also be purchased on weekday afternoons at the AU Box Office by calling 419.289.5125, and at the door of the concert.

Three Vocal Ensembles Featured in Spring Choral Collage Concert, April 30

The Ashland University Choir, Chamber Singers, and the Women's Chorus present a spring choral concert program of an eclectic mix from American compositions to spirituals and a cappella pieces. The "Choral Collage Concert" will be held on Sunday, April 30 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel and is free and open to the public.

Dr. Rowland Blackley, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, will conduct the University Choir and Chamber Singers. After their spring tour in Germany and a concert with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, the University Choir has prepared three great works by American composers for their final concert of the year. The selections include  Randall Thompson's The Last Words of David (text from Biblical book of II Samuel), Z. Randall Stroope's Amor de mi Alma   (text by 16th century poet Garcilaso de la Vega) and Eric Whitacre's With a Lily in Your Hand (text by 20th century poet Garcia Lorca).

The Chamber Singers will sing Six Chansons written by twentieth century German-turned-American composer Paul Hindemith. Based on the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, the texts deal with natural or pastoral topics. The select-ensemble will also perform three foundational spirituals including Rockin' Jerusalem by André Thomas, Lily of the Valley by Wendell Whalum and Ain'-a That Good News by William L. Dawson.   

Directed by Kimberly Wolbert, the Women's chorus will also perform a spiritual as they sing Mark Hayes' arrangement of Go Down Moses. Other selections include Six Chansons, A Natural Woman by Deke Sharon and Anne Raugh, and Omnia Sol (Let Your Heart Be Staid) by Z. Randall Stroope as a senior tribute for the graduating members.

Spring Honors Recital, Monday, Apr. 24

Scheduled for Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall, the Honors Recital showcases students who accomplished exceptional musical work during the semester and are selected by their private vocal and instrumental teachers. Students will also be recognized with end-of-the-year department awards.

Performers include:

Vocalists: Andrea Disch, Gracie Fumic, Elisha Hofer, Sarah Napier, Rebecca Young

Instrumentalists: Chanel Bluntschly & Michael Byndas (saxophone), Alex Trotter (piano), Jaylynn Buchmelter & Cody Henderson (trombone)

Jazz at the Nest Returns April 25

Led by Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) will present a free public concert on Tuesday, April 25 in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center’s Eagles Nest at 7:30 p.m. The Just Friends jazz combo will provide pre-concert music beginning at 7 p.m.

Join us as our amazing seniors perform their final AUJO concert. The concert will also premiere Dr. Garlock's Second in Line for Pumpernickel.

Audience members are welcome to grab a snack, enjoy a beverage and relax to the live music at this free public concert.

Spring Band Concert Celebrates Senior AU Band Members

Ashland University Department of Music presents its final band concert of the 2016-2017 academic year on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre with the annual Spring Band Concert. The Ashland Area Community Concert Band under the direction of Leonard Salvo, and the Ashland University Concert Band directed by Gary Ciulla will perform and senior Concert Band members will be recognized for their dedication and contribution to the AU Band program. Admission to the concert is complimentary, open to the public 

The Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) will open the concert with Prelude on an Old English Hymn op. 67 by Robert Sheldon which is based on the famous hymn All Creatures of Our God and King; followed by Vincent Persichetti's Pageant, a commissioned piece for the American Bandmaster's Association. The Community Band will then be joined by guest clarinetist Dr. Thomas Reed to perform Ernesto Cavallini's Adagio and Tarantella Solo for Clarinet and Band. AACCB will close their portion of the concert with the Nathan Hale Trilogy by James Curnow which was inspired by three significant points in the life of this legendary American hero from the Revolutionary War. 

After a brief intermission, the University Concert Band will perform a program beginning with the very popular and traditional march The Boys of the Old Brigade by American composer W. Paris Chambers, followed by David Holsinger's Nilesdance which is built on the expected ostinato and variations on a whimsical 13 1/2 beat melodic dance song. The band will then travel to Austria with Franz von Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture from his operetta Light Cavalry. The concert will conclude with the simple charm of traditional Irish music with Jay Bocook's Kirkpatrick's Muse.  

Student Ensembles Recital, April 19

On Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall, several student chamber ensembles perform including the saxophone, brass and string ensembles under the direction of Dr. Thomas Reed, Michael Metcalf and Jane Reed, respectively. Mr. Jeff Neitzke will lead the jazz combo on the program as well. The concert is free and open to the public.

Low Brass Senior Recitals, Navratil & Henderson, Apr. 9

Eileen Navratil and Cody Henderson will present their senior recitals on Sunday, April 9 with Navratil taking the stage at 5 p.m. on the euphonium and Henderson at 7 p.m. on trombone. Both will be accompanied by pianist Mark Koehler, The concerts are free and open to the public.

Eileen Navratil (Spokane, Washington) is a music performance major and political science minor. She assisted by saxophonist Jason Wolfe. Her recital program includes Michael A. Fisher's arrangement of Camille Saint-Saens' Romance Op. 36, Concerto for Bass Trombone by Elizabeth Raum, Maid of the Mist by Herbert L. Clarke, Piece Concertante by Samuel Rousseau, Variations on a March of Shostakovich by Arthur Frackenpohl along with movements 4 and 7 of Vladislav Blazhevich's Concert Duets for Two Trombones.

Cody Henderson (Bellevue) is a business administration major with an applied music minor. Selections for his concert are Sonata for Trombone and Piano by Richard A. Monaco, Pastorale for Tenor, Bass Trombone and Piano by Eric Ewazen, Sonata for Bass Trombone by Patrick PcCarty and Slippery Gentlemen by Harold L. Walters.