Watts Presents Original Compositions

Sophomore music and computer science dual major Eric Watts (Ontario) will present a concert of his original compositions titled "Paperclips: An evening of music for trombones" on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Eric composed several pieces for a trombone quartet over this past summer and then received further guidance from Dr. Stefan Swanson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, who has composed over 100 film and concert scores.

Eric's program for Saturday's concert will be selected from his following pieces:

• Chaconne from First Suite in Eb
• I Love You but Don't Like You
• If Only it Wasn't for my Crooked Peg Leg 
• Trombone Quartet 5
• Having Anxiety Gives Me Anxiety
• Equal

Trombonists participating in the concert are current AU students and alumni including the composer, Matthew MacDonald, Kyle Ackert and Jaylynn Buchmelter.

AU Music Begins Year with Vocal Recital & Emmy-Nominated Composer

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces its first recital of the new academic year and a special presentation by an Emmy-nominated composer all to be held on Thursday, September 8. Both programs are free and open to the public.

After a visit to Ashland University last winter, Emmy-nominated composer and Wooster native Philip Giffin returns to campus on Thursday Sept. 8 at 9:25 a.m. in room 303 of the Center for the Arts. He will give a presentation about his most recent film score and about producing and arranging for pop artists. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Giffin has scored and contributed music to numerous features and television programs including "Like Mike," "Fatal Instinct," "Beethoven’s 3rd (and 4th)", "Muppet’s Tonight" and more. As an orchestrator, his many credits include "Sommersby," "Die Hard" (I and II) and "Lethal Weapon" (I and II).

At 7:30 p.m. on September 8 in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall, mezzo-soprano Sarah Napier will present her junior recital accompanied by pianist Deb Logan. Her program will include pieces by Handel, Donizetti, Mendelssohn, Chausson, Lerner & Lowe, Heisler & Goldrich and Mercer & Arlen. Sarah is a music major studying voice with Denise Milner Howell and she is a graduate of Willard High School.

Emmy-Nominated Composer to Visit AU

Ashland University Department of music will host a visit by Emmy-nominated composer and Wooster native Philip Giffin on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 1:40 p.m. in Room 303 of the Center of the Arts. His presentation will take place in the Music Theory IV class, but guests are welcome to attend.

Mr. Giffin will talk about careers in music including his experience as a composer/orchestrator for TV and films. As a composer living and working in Los Angeles, California, he has composed extensively for television & film including 93 episodes of the Disney animated cartoon called Darkwing Duck. Disney gave him a full orchestra every week to accomplish this opportunity and monumental task. In addition to composing music for several other television episodic's, he has orchestrated and written additional music for blockbuster features such as, Die Hard I, Die Hard II, Lethal Weapon I, Lethal Weapon II, Say Anything, Little Mermaid, Pee Wee's Big Adventure & more. He is also a music director for a Cirque du Solei's live stage performances.

For more information about Philip Giffin, visit his website at philipgiffin.com.