Sounds of the Stadium Concert, 11/2

The Ashland University Department of Music presents the Sounds of the Stadium concert featuring the Ashland University Eagle Marching Band under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr., Director of Bands, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Kates Gymnasium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The 2019 Eagle Marching Band will perform selections from their halftime shows including music from Imagine Dragons, The Millenial Show, Toto, The Halloween Show, and others along with other Ashland University traditional favorites. The color guard and feature twirlers will also perform at this concert which will be inside Kates Gymnasium away from inclement weather.

Mamma Mia! Auditions on Monday, 10/28

Ashland University Theatre will hold auditions for its Spring 2020 musical on Monday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre as follows:

MAMMA MIA!
Music and Lyrics by Benny Andersson
and Björn Ulvaeus
Book by Catherine Johnson
Originally Conceived by Judy Craymer

Prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show, an accompanist will be provided
Roles available for 6 women & 6 men & chorus
Dance Audition & Call-backs: Oct. 29 & 30, 6:30 p.m., Hugo Young Theatre
Performances: Feb. 14-22, Hugo Young Theatre

Fall Choral Concert, Oct. 27

The Ashland University Choir, Women's Chorus and the Ashland Area Chorus present a fall choral concert with an eclectic program centered around the theme of hope, happiness and security including Handel's "Sing unto God," Duruflé’s Requiem along with the Irish folk song "The Parting Glass" as sung by The Wailin’ Jennys and much more. The concert will be held on Sunday, October 27 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 with accompaniment by Dr. Timothy Guenther. Their portion of the program will include“San’bonani,” a traditional IsiZulu welcome song arranged by Michael Barrett; the festive music of Lloyd Pfautsch and the joyful poetry of Joseph Addison together in the choral fanfare “Consecrate the Place and Day;” and “Behold, How Good” by Michael John Trotta.

The program continues with Jake Runestad's “Please Stay” which is a simple but dramatic piece that was commissioned by a consortium of Ohio universities including Ashland University; along with a motet imploring God’s peace by the Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz; Handel's “Sing unto God;” and the upbeat traditional spiritual “Walk Together, Children” arranged by Moses Hogan.

Directed by Deborah Logan and accompanied by Susan Gregg, the Women's chorus' selections will include Douglas Wagner's arrangement of Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Linden Lea;" "As the Rain Hides the Stars" by Elaine Hagenberg; and the Irish folk song "The Parting Glass" as sung by The Wailin’ Jennys.

For the Ashland Area Chorus, director Elizabeth Slade has selected Maurice Duruflé's Requiem. Written for a solo voice, mixed choir, and organ, the Requiem's thematic material is mostly taken from the Mass for the Dead in Gregorian chant.

Jazz at the Nest, 10/15

Led by Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra will present a free public concert Tuesday, Oct.15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Eagles Nest at the Hawkins-Conard Student Center, 1010 King Road.

Audience members are welcome to grab a snack, enjoy a beverage and relax to the live music in the venue’s relaxed, club-like atmosphere.

The concert will offer an eclectic mix of old and new arrangements including Kahn and Jones' It Had to Be You, an arrangement of Danny Boy by Paul Ferguson, Nat King Cole's Straighten Up and Fly Right, Semi-Mental Journey by Brown and Homer, and Benny Carter's Vine Street Rumble.

The 2019-20 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.

Junior Recital: Kendra Garver, mezzo-soprano

Junior music education major Kendra Garver, mezzo-soprano, will present her student recital on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. A graduate of Triway High School, Kendra studies voice with Kimberly States and will be accompanied by Deb Logan (piano). Her program will include classical pieces by Mozart, Strauss, and Martini, along with musical theatre compositions by Gilbert and Sullivan and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as a Mexican folk song. The concert is free and open to the public.

Festival of Marching Bands, 9/28

The 1st Annual Ashland University Festival of Marching Bands will be held in Jack Miller Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. featuring the Ashland University Marching Band under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr. Several area high school bands will also perform including Ashland, Crestview, Canton Central Catholic and Western Reserve. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening will begin with a combined performance of the Star-Spangled Banner with all the participating bands. After that, each band will perform their individual show. The evening will culminate in a final performance given by the Ashland University Band and combined performances of a few marching band favorites. There will be concessions available throughout the event.

Madrigal Feaste Tickets On Sale, 9/23

Tickets for the 44th Annual Madrigal Feaste go on sale to the public on Monday, September 23 at 12 p.m. Patrons are reminded that this is a very popular event and the box office will be incredibly busy. For immediate service, the box office recommends that patrons order online at www.ashland.edu/tickets (additional fees apply for online orders). Patrons can also come to the box office window located in the lobby of Hugo Young Theatre at the corner of College Avenue and Grant Street or call the box office at 419.289.5125. Discounted tickets for children 12 and under can only be purchased directly through the box office and not online.

Ashland University Department of Music produces the annual Madrigal Feaste which is slated for Wednesday through Sunday, November 20 - 24 which is before Thanksgiving this year. All performances begin at 6:30 p.m. in Redwood Hall.

Directed by Dr. Rowland Blackley, director of choral activities, the Madrigal Feaste is a dinner theater based in sixteenth-century England with constant entertainment provided throughout the evening. The Ashland University Chamber Singers perform ceremonial music, Christmas carols and madrigals while the Madrigal Players present a new comedic play along with improvisational theatrics. Fanfare trumpeters, the Court Jester, Butler and Wenches round out the cast. Performer costumes are designed as authentic reproductions of period apparel; and the four-course meal culminates in flaming bread pudding.

The 2019 Madrigal Feaste Chamber Singers feature Ethan Tingler and Sami Eron as the King and Queen, along with the members of their royal court including J. Ethan Bedocs, Drew Berlin, Kendra Garver, Maggie George, Mark Gorsuch, Marty Gorsuch, Samantha Gross, Logan Hurst, Karli Ingle, Alli Lange, Jed McFadden, Jenna Niedermier, Matthew Plumb, Nathan Roblin and Rebecca Young. Nik Demers will serve as the Jester leading his cast of Players.

Tickets for the event are $28 for adults; $25 for groups of 10 or more; and $18 for children under 12. A special $13 ticket is available to Ashland University students for the Wednesday performance only. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available upon request at the time of ticket purchase. Due to preparation of meals, tickets are not available at the door.