19.20 Music Department Awards

Congratulations to the 2019.2020 Music Department Award recipients!

Department Academic Awards
Sophomore: Bethany Leggett
Junior: Kailyn Buyok
Senior: Rebecca Young

OCMEA leadership award: Kendra Garver

Outstanding Student Teacher: Kendra Garver

Zach Spier Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Non-Music Major
Nathan Roblin
Kyle Ackert
Branden Barber

Most Improved Music Major: Jenna Niedermier

Outstanding Performer: Jedidiah McFadden

Outstanding Music Major: Eric Watts

And Congratulations to the Graduating Seniors (Dec. 2019 & May 2020)

Sami Eron

Kendra Garver

Moriah Goldsmith

Alli Lange

Alex Trotter

Rebecca Young

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Headlines Maplerock

Ashland University’s award-winning jazz program is proud to present the 41st Annual Maplerock Jazz Festival slated for Friday, March 20. Along with free performances by nine area school jazz ensembles from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event presents a main stage concert at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre which will headline The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.

The Jazz Festival's evening concert will open with the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock fresh off of their tour to Spain. Dr. Garlock will then switch roles and take the stage as lead trombonist in The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra (CJO).

For 35 years, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice. Led by Paul Ferguson as the artistic director, the CJO promotes jazz in its historical and contemporary forms, through concerts with gifted jazz musicians, arrangers, composers and educators in northeast Ohio. The CJO aims for worldwide recognition in cooperation with guest artists, and looks to shepherd young musicians toward the future of jazz. Their 2019-2020 season exemplifies this mission and vision through a variety of new music, new compositions and arrangements, and a stellar line-up of well-known guest artists and young up-and-coming talent.

Paul has played with the CJO since 1988 and was named the artistic director in CJO's 31st season. Before joining CJO, Paul traveled with and arranged for the Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller Orchestras. Recognized as one of the leading jazz composer/arrangers of his generation, he was recipient of the Gil Evans fellowship in Jazz Composition in 1995 and was the sole American finalist at the ART-EZ Jazz composition contest in Enschede, Holland in 2012. His works have been recorded by various radio orchestras in Europe and his arrangements for Pops orchestra are performed internationally. His most recent recordings are “Encounter”, “Rays of Light” and “Big Band Christmas.” A graduate of the Eastman school and the University of Akron, Paul is Senior Instructor in music at Case Western Reserve University.

Along with Ferguson and Garlock, the CJO roster includes saxophonists Howie Smith, Brad Wagner, Christopher Burge, John Klayman, Johnny Cochran and George Shernit; Jack Schantz, Theresa May, Dave Banks and Joseph Miller on trumpet; along with Chris Anderson, Paul Hungerford and Chas Baker on trombone. The rhythm section consists of pianist Jackie Warren, bassist Aidan Plank, and Jim Rupp on drums. Evelyn Wright will perform vocals for the CJO concert.

In addition to the evening concert, CJO members will conduct a public clinic with nine high school bands that will perform earlier in the day in Hugo Young Theatre. After each high school band performs their 30-minute concert, the guest artists will meet with the band and offer their expertise to strengthen the ensemble and individual musician's performance. The Jazz Festival's afternoon performances are scheduled as follows:

11:30 a.m. MidOhio Jazz Lab
12:00 p.m. Crestview High School Jazz Band
12:30 p.m. Lake High School Jazz Band
1:00 p.m.   Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Jazz Band
1:30 p.m.   Ashland High School Jazz Band B
2:00 p.m.   MidOhio Jazz Combo
2:30 p.m.   Rittman High School Jazz Band
3:00 p.m.   Galion High School Jazz Band
3:30 p.m.   Ashland High School Jazz Band A

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.

AU Jazz Returns to Spain

The Ashland University Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock returned to Spain for another concert tour. Here is a photo of them waiting for their departure from Ashland University yesterday. They arrived safely across the pond. All the best to them in their concerts and adventures.

Pre-Spain Jazz Concert

The Ashland University Jazz Orchestra will preview their Spain tour repertoire at a special Jazz at the Nest concert on Monday, Mar. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

Winter Choral Concert, Mar. 1

The Ashland University Choir, Chamber Singers and Women's Chorus present a concert to relieve our cabin fever on Sunday, Mar. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. The eclectic program will offer everything from a Mass to songs with Shakespeare text and a popular song from a movie soundtrack. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. Rowland Blackley, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, will conduct the University Choir and Ashland Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Antonio Vilvadi's Gloria in D including student soloists Gracie Fumic, Alli Lange, Emily Schordock, Lila Wolfe and Rebecca Young.

The Chamber Singers, also conducted by Dr. Blackley, will perform selections which use all Shakespeare text including Four, a four movement piece by Matthew Harris consisting of Full Fathom Five, Who Is Sylvia?, Tell Me Where Is Fancy Bred and Come Away, Come Away, Death; Edwin Fissinger's Sweet and Twenty as well as Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind by John Rutter.

Directed by Deborah Logan and accompanied by Susan Gregg, the Women's Chorus' selections will feature Stephen Schwartz's When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt soundtrack, How Can I Keep from Singing? by Robert Lowry and Giuseppe Pitoni's Cantate Domino.

Reed to Perform with Ashland Native, Kevin Jones, Feb. 17

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces a concert featuring Dr. Thomas Reed, Professor of Music, on clarinet, with guest artist and Ashland native, Kevin Jones on piano. The free, public concert will be held on Monday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building).

For his 35th consecutive annual faculty concert at Ashland University, Dr. Reed will perform a program of classical pieces with Mr. Jones including Cantilene by Louis Cahuzac, Gordon Jacob's four-movement arrangement of Tartini's Concertino, and Paquito D'Rivera's Two Pieces for Clarinet and Piano. After an intermission, they will return to the stage for Carl Maria von Weber's Grand Duo Concertante, Op. 48.

Reed is professor of music and chair of the departments of music and theatre at Ashland University where he has taught since 1986 in a number of areas including applied woodwinds, music theory and jazz studies. He is a member of the Akron Symphony and Ashland Symphony, was a long-time member of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and has performed on clarinet or saxophone with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Blossom Festival Orchestra, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Youngstown Symphony, Blossom Festival Band and the Jazz Unit. He has been a soloist with the Akron, Mansfield and Ashland Symphonies and performs on CDs from the Akron Symphony, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra. His clarinet CD “Mutually Inclusive” was released in 2008 on Capstone Records. He is also a founding member of Iron Toys, a woodwind quartet that performs original repertoire for saxophones, clarinets and flutes. The quartet released their first CD in 2015. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and the University of Akron.

Kevin Jones began formal musical training at the age of four. After preparatory and high school musical training in Ashland with Judith Thomas and John Gilbert, he attended Southern Methodist University and completed his undergraduate degree at Ashland College, studying organ with Karel Paukert and piano with Elizabeth Pastor. Mr. Jones went on to earn graduate degrees in Collaborative Piano and in Organ Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Pastor, Karel Paukert, Anne Epperson, Thomas Muraco, and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein.

From 1996 to 2004, Jones held the post of Musical Director/Conductor of the New York City based Gilbert & Sullivan ensemble, the Blue Hill Troupe, Ltd. With that ensemble he made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut as guest with Skitch Henderson’s New York Pops Symphony Orchestra. Along with U.S. performances at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Oberlin College, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many other sites, he has performed throughout Europe and the Far East including a recent performance on the Pipes at One series at St. Paul’s Chapel, NYC.

From 2007 to 2012, Jones was Canon Precentor and Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, Connecticut, as well as being a member of the vocal division faculty at the Hartt School. Since 2013, Mr. Jones is Minister of Music at First Congregational Church, Columbus, Ohio, where he oversees a large music program of four choirs and the longstanding concert series Concerts at First Church.

Community Band Rehearsals Begin 2/11

The Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) continues its twenty-seventh season with its weekly rehearsals on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Center for the Arts' Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. Under the direction of Ashland University Director of Bands Joseph Lewis, Jr., AACCB is for those that loved playing in band in high school or college and want the opportunity to play again. Performances for the ensemble this spring include a performance at the University with the Ashland University Symphonic Band on Sunday, May 3 at 4 p.m..

Open to all adults and high school students with the permission of the ensemble's director, requirements for AACCB membership are the ability to play a wind or percussion instrument (no need to be a virtuoso); an interest in playing for enjoyment; desire to play a wide variety of music for the public; an interest in meeting new people who share a common interest and availability for rehearsals on Tuesday evenings.

A nominal membership fee of $25 for adults and $15 for high school students is requested and payable by the fourth week of rehearsals to continue participation for the semester. The membership fee is payable at the Ashland University Box Office via phone at 419.289.5125 or online at www.ashland.edu/tickets.

Dr. Swanson Receives Mentor Award

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Stefan Swanson for being recognized by the Board of Trustees with a Mentor Award! Mentor Award recipients are nominated by a student and are selected by a committee of Board members via a blind review process.

Senior Recital: Alex Trotter, Jan. 23

Ashland University Music presents a senior recital by Alex Trotter (Boston, MA) on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. He will be assisted by Eric Watts, bass trombone, and Branden Barber, trumpet.  The concert is free and open to the public. 

Trotter will present his senior recital in the format of a jazz lecture recital. In addition to performing each piece on the piano, he has also composed his own arrangements of the music he will be performing along with one original composition titled "Great to be Me." Throughout the recital he will introduce each piece and explain the techniques he used to create the arrangement.

Ashland to Host OPCICA Honors Festival

Ashland University Department of Music is honored to host the 2020 Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association (OPCICA) Honors Festival culminating with a free, public concert on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. The 2020 OPCICA Festival is organized by the association's president, John Packard (Mount Vernon Nazarene University), along with the local hosts from Ashland University, Joseph Lewis and Dr. Scott Garlock.

OPCICA represents the instrumental music programs in Ohio's private colleges and universities, whose primary purpose is sponsoring an annual honors festival. This year's festival will involve 111 student musicians and 25 band directors representing 17 schools including Ashland University, Bluffton University, Case Western Reserve University, College of Wooster, Defiance College, Heidelberg University, Kenyon College, Malone University, Marietta College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Muskingum University, Notre Dame College, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein University, University of Findlay, Wittenberg University and Walsh University.

Participating students have been nominated by their university band directors for their exceptional musicianship. All participating students and directors will arrive on the Ashland University campus on Saturday to rehearse with the OPCICA Honors Concert Band or Honors Jazz Band. The bands will then perform at Sunday afternoon's concert.

The OPCICA Honors Concert Band will perform the following pieces led by the corresponding conductors: Joyce’s 71st N.Y. Reg’t March (Joseph Lewis, Ashland University), Early Light (Roy Couch, Bluffton University), Cloudburst (Tom Roblee, Walsh University), Divertimento (Michael Kruger, Notre Dame College), and Danza Final from Estancia (Chris Schletter, Marietta College).

The OPCICA Honors Jazz Band's program will include performances of The Star-Spangled Banner, Thinking, Doin' the Things, Tones for Joan's Bones, Armando's Rhumba and Minor Bop II conducted by Jason Wyse, Malone University; Jordan Reed, Marietta College; and Jack Taylor, University of Findlay.

Ashland University students selected for the honors bands include Emma Graves on flute; Jacob Moses, Matt Roth, Hannah Smigel and Sydney Muller on clarinet; french horn players Jacob Bodnar and Bethany Leggett; and Eric Watts, bass trombone.

In addition to the OPCICA honors bands, the Ashland University Symphonic Band will perform as the host ensemble. Their selections include Sousa's Semper Fidelis, the World Premiere of Dr. Stefan Swanson's Women of World War II, Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium, as well as The Golden Age of the Xylophone featuring guest soloist Elizabeth Procopio.

Ashland Area Chorus Begins Rehearsals Jan. 13

The Ashland Area Chorus (AAC), under the direction of Libby Moore Slade, announces their spring schedule including rehearsals, concerts and membership requirements.

Beginning Monday, Jan. 13, Ashland Area Chorus rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-8:45 p.m. in Room 242 of the Center for the Arts. This semester the Chorus will perform Beethoven's triumphal 9th Symphony with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra for their "Ode to Our 50th" concert on April 18 at Archer Auditorium.

Founded by Dr. Rowland Blackley in 1998, the AAC is dedicated to a mission of learning great music and singing it beautifully. The chorus is open to all singers from Ashland and surrounding counties and includes Ashland University faculty, staff and students as well as other singers from the wider community. Though no formal audition is required for membership, AAC members must be pitch accurate (sing 'on key') and be able to learn and perform their parts successfully. Previous choral experience is helpful.

Membership in AAC is open to all adults. Students still in high school may also participate with the permission of the ensemble's director. A nominal membership fee of $25 for adults and $15 for high school students is requested and payable by the fourth week of rehearsals to continue participation in the ensemble for the semester. The membership fee is payable at the Ashland University Box Office online at www.ashland.edu/tickets by clicking on the "Buy Single Tickets " icon.

For further information, contact the Chorus’ director Libby Slade at eslade@ashland.edu or (419) 685-5460.

Spring 2020 Music Event Schedule Released

The Spring 2020 music event schedule for Ashland University is now available online at ashland.edu/music or in hard copy through the Ashland University Box Office.

The schedule begins with Ashland Area Chorus rehearsals resuming on Monday, Jan. 13 and the hosting of the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association (OPCICA) Honors Festival culminating with a free, public concert on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre.

From the annual Maplerock Jazz Festival to the spring opera scenes, choral and band concerts, faculty and guest artist recitals -- the schedule offers something for everyone and almost all of the performances are free and open to the public.

Be sure to review the schedule today and save the date for all of your favorites.

Annual Festival of Lights Service, 12/8

Ashland University will officially begin its observance of the holiday season with the 29th annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 8 in Ashland University’s Jack and Deb Miller Chapel, located at the intersection of King Road and College Avenue.

The 7 p.m. candlelight service, which is free and open to the public, symbolizes Christ coming into the world. The story is communicated in verse and song. It will include Scripture readings by Rob and Kim Pool, traditional carols, and seasonal choral music by the Ashland University Choir and Women’s Chorus, and the Ashland Area Chorus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The Ashland University Choir is under the direction of Dr. Rowland Blackley, director of choral activities and professor of music, while Elizabeth Slade directs the Ashland Area Chorus and Deborah Logan, the Women’s Chorus. Dr. Timothy Guenther, Susan Gregg and Jedidiah McFadden will accompany the choirs on organ and piano.

Musical selections will feature original works and settings of carols by a variety of composers including Duruflé, Praetorius, Purifoy, Vivaldi, Culloton, and Stopford.

Winter Band Concert Showcases a World Premiere & Xylophone Soloist

The Department of Music presents its annual Winter Festival Band Concert on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. Under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr., the concert will feature the Ashland University Symphonic Band and the Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB). The concert will offer a program of classic compositions for concert band along with some holiday favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Ashland University Symphonic Band is comprised of the outstanding wind and percussion players at the University. The ensemble's program will showcase guest percussionist Elizabeth Procopio on xylophone as she joins the Symphonic Band on Floyd Werle's The Golden Age of the Xylophone. The Band will also perform the World Premiere of Dr. Stefan Swanson's (Visiting Assistant Professor of Music) Women of World War II. This portion of the concert will also include performances of Sousa's Semper Fidelis March and Morton Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium.

After a brief intermission, the 65-member Ashland Area Community Concert Band takes the stage. Established in 1993, the ensemble is designed for both university students and members of the Ashland community to continue their musical study and creative activity.

The Community Band's program begins with a Spanish Pasodoble Amparito Roca and an arrangement of Holst's In the Bleak Midwinter. The program will also feature pieces with guest conductors Dave Wolbert, retired Ashland City Schools music teacher, and Sean DeLong, Band Director at Ontario Local Schools. The program will conclude with a sing along of many Christmas favorites.

TubaChristmas Returns to Ashland on Dec. 7

The local holiday favorite TubaChristmas returns to Ashland University's Hugo Young Theatre on Saturday, December 7 at Noon. The concert is free and open to the public and invites area tuba, euphonium and baritone players to perform. Musician registration will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 10:20 a.m.

In addition to the volunteer performers, the event also showcases a "Celebrity Tubist" which this year is going to be a surprise guest and will be revealed by Dr. Scott Garlock, the event organizer, at the concert.

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 that the whole family can enjoy.

The registration fee for participating musicians is $10 and includes a 2019 TubaChristmas button. The TubaChristmas carol book is also available for $20.

For more information, contact Professor of Music Dr. Scott Garlock at 419.289.5134 or sgarlock@ashland.edu

Holiday Jazz Concert, Dec. 5

The Ashland University Department of Music will present an Ashland University Jazz Concert on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm in Hugo Young Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public.

Under the direction of Dr. Scott Garlock, the concert will offer pre-concert music from the Lost and Profound jazz combo with Jared Metz on alto saxophone; Ariane Hill, flute, Alex Trotter, vibes; Torin Dunn, guitar; Alex Kwan, piano; Jackson Schultz, bass and Molly Winnard, drums.

The 4th annual AUJO Alumni Big Band will rehearse prior to the concert beginning at 6 p.m. for anyone who is interested in playing in the concert. They will perform selections beginning at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra's (AUJO) program of jazz standards and holiday favorites including Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, O Tannenbaum and Let It Snow.

The 2019-2020 AUJO roster includes saxophonists Jacob Moses, Logan O'Lasky, Hannah Smigel, Ariane Hill and Erika Wright; Nick Lawwill, Branden Barber, Nathan Roblin and Jacob Bodnar on trumpet; trombonists Luke Blackley, Colette Mooney, Eric Watts and Emily Schordock on mellophone; while the rhythm section consists of Moriah Goldsmith on piano, Susie Alley on bass, guitarist Torin Dunn, Molly Willard on drums and vocalist Alli Lange.

AUJO will have their holiday CD recording "AUJOy to the World" featuring vocals by Cathi Muckle available for purchase at the concert at $10 each.

Clarinets, Flutes, Brass & Strings Perform, 12/4

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m., several student ensembles will perform in a joint recital including a clarinet trio and the Flute Loops Jazz Combo under the direction of Dr. Thomas Reed, a brass ensemble directed by Joseph Lewis Jr. and a string ensemble directed by Jane Reed. The concert is free and open to the public.

Fall Honors Recital Performers Announced

The best of Fall 2019 will be showcased at the Honors Recital on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

Students who accomplished exceptional musical work during the semester will showcase their talents as selected by their private teachers including:

VOCALISTS: Sami Eron, Lila Hyatt, Maya Rickard, Alayna Ross, Katie Snell, Rebecca Young

INSTRUMENTALISTS: Kailyn Buyok (violin), Ariane Hill (flute), Jed McFadden (piano/violin)

Percussion Ensemble Perfoms New Works, 11/25

On Monday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Liz Procopio, the AU Percussion Ensemble will present a concert of all contemporary works by modern composers including Music for Pieces of Wood by Steve Reich, In C by Terry Riley, and selections of Living Room Music by John Cage. In addition, the ensemble will perform the World Premieres of new works by AU composition studio students. The concert is free and open to the public.

AU Madrigal Feaste Featured in Beacon Journal

2017 AU Madrigal Singers

In the Thursday, Nov. 14 edition of the Akron Beacon Journal, an article was published about Area groups keep madrigal dinner custom alive. Ashland University's Madrigal Feaste was recognized with the following section:

Longtime feast 

For longevity, the Ashland University Feaste, started in 1976 by late choral director Calvin Rogers, takes the prize. The school’s 44th annual event will run before Thanksgiving this year, for five shows at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20-24 in Redwood Hall, 1005 King Road. 

Led by choral director Rowland Blackley, the 17-member Chamber Singers perform ceremonial music, Christmas carols and madrigals based in Elizabethan England. Music includes “The Boarshead Carol,” “Gloucestershire Wassail” and a final “Silent Night” by candlelight.

“I inherited this as a strong traditional event,” said Blackley, who performed in Kent State’s madrigal feasts when he was a graduate student. 

The Madrigal Players also will offer a comedic play and improvisation. Rounding out the cast will be fanfare trumpeters, the court jester, butler and serving wenches. Each night, the four-course meal by the university’s in-house catering service culminates with flaming bread pudding. 

While other Northeast Ohio feasts have fallen by the wayside over the years, AU’s has continued because it keeps its costs down by keeping all of the work in-house, from food to costumes to servers from the choral program. 

The players offer a 15-minute skit that Blackley described as “fractured fairytales.” The jester and his troupe interact with guests during dinner, and the royal court serenades tableside. 

Tickets cost $28 for adults or $18 for children under 12. Children’s tickets can only be purchased directly through the box office at 419-289-5125. For adult tickets, see www.ashland.edu/tickets or call the box office. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Read about the other feasts throughout Northeast Ohio here.