JANUARY RECITALS ANNOUNCED

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces several senior recitals and a guest artist recital in January featuring brass, percussion and woodwinds.  All of the recitals are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts. 

Beginning this Sunday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m., the first recital of the year features senior music education major Stephen Morsher, percussion, along with guest performer Jake Lange. A graduate of Bellevue High School, Stephen studies percussion privately with Jeffrey Neitzke. 

The Ashland University flute studio is pleased to host guest artist Alison Brown Sincoff, associate professor of flute at Ohio University, for a masterclass and mini-recital on Thursday, January 16. The masterclass begins at 12:15 p.m. and features performances from all members of the flute studio.  From to 1:35 to 2:15 p.m., Professor Brown Sincoff will perform a mini-recital with pianist Gail Berenson. Known as the Ohio University Lyric Duo, both are highly recognized in their respective disciplines on both a national and international level. After numerous successful engagements, the duo became official in 2004 recognizing their mutual respect for each other's musical contributions and the positive energy achieved in their performances together. In addition to their recital performances, they are frequent master class and workshop presenters. 

On Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m., Catherine Stone, clarinet, will perform her senior recital assisted by pianist Emily Grabinski. She will also be joined by guest performers including Emily Dine, Alex VanScoy and Robin Wolf on clarinet, and Devyn Renninger on flute. Catherine is a music education major and Spanish minor from Sarasota, Florida. She studies privately with Dr. Thomas Reed. 

The final recital in January presents Andrew Bartelheim for his senior recital assisted by Susan Gregg on piano on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 p.m. Andrew is a graduate of Wooster High School and studies trumpet privately with Amanda Bekeny.

SPECTRUM SERIES PRESENTS PARAGON RAGTIME ORCHESTRA

The 34th annual Ashland University Spectrum Series begins by travelling back in time to the 19th century with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra presenting their holiday program 'Round the Christmas Tree on Friday, December 6, 7:30 p.m. at Hugo Young Theatre.

This stylish and warm-hearted tribute to America’s Holiday musical traditions features favorite selections from the theatres, ballrooms, grand mansions and humble hearthsides of the Victorian era. The concert will include familiar Christmas songs and carols from their original 19th century scores, along with novelties including a ragtime version of the Nutcracker Suite and sparkling instrumental and vocal soloists. As a finale to the concert, the Orchestra accompanies a screening of one of the world’s first Christmas silent films from 1905 by Thomas Edison.

In addition to the main stage concert, the Orchestra's conductor Rick Benjamin, will present a free workshop on the history of early cinema and film underscoring on Friday, December 6 at 10 a.m. on the Hugo Young Theatre stage.  Benjamin, leading conductor of music for silent film with more than 600 screenings to his credit, will lead participants on a journey to the early 20th Century when downtown Ashland was home to several silent movie houses as the cultural center for all ages in the community.  

Area schools, senior citizen organizations and other groups are invited to a special 1-hour matinee performance of 'Round the Christmas Tree on December 6 at 1:30 p.m. Admission for this intergenerational matinee performance is $2 per person.  Reservations should be made directly with Tricia Applegate at 419.289.5950 to secure group seating.

Season tickets are now available for the entire Spectrum Series at the Ashland University Box Office.  Season tickets include admission to all three mainstage shows with at least a 20 percent discount to single ticket prices.  Season tickets for all three performances are: $28 for adults; and $23 for senior citizens, non- Ashland University students and Ashland University faculty/staff.  Single tickets are: $15 for adults; $12 for senior citizens, non-Ashland University students, University faculty/staff; $10 for groups of 10 or more; and $2 for Ashland University students with ID.

To purchase season or individual tickets, contact the Ashland University Box Office by phone at 419-289-5125, or in person in the lobby of Hugo Young Theatre located at the corner of College Avenue and Grant Street.  Hours are Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are also available on-line at www.ashland.edu/tickets where additional fees apply. 

AU WIND ENSEMBLE & ASHLAND COMMUNITY BAND CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON & REFLECT ON DEC. 7

Under the direction of Leonard Salvo, Ashland University Director of Bands, the Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) and Ashland University Wind Ensemble present their annual Winter Festival Concert on Saturday, December 7, 7:30 p.m. at the University’s Hugo Young Theatre.  Featuring music celebrating the holiday season and reflecting on the events of December 7, the concert is free and open to the public.

The 40-piece Ashland University Wind Ensemble is comprised of the outstanding wind and percussion players at the University and from the community.  The ensemble begins Saturday's concert with Anthony Iannaccone's "Plymouth Trilogy" comprised of three contrasting movements including a saxophone solo, followed by Hymn of St. James by Reber Clark which is based on the hymn "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." The Wind Ensemble concludes their portion of the program with Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride," one of the world's most popular pieces of Christmas music.

After a brief intermission, the 55-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.  In 1995, it was recognized by Cleveland's WCLV FM as "one of Ohio's finest Community Concert Bands."  The Band begins their program with "Midway March" by John Williams followed by Claude T. Smith's arrangement of "God of Our Fathers."  The third piece of the program includes selections from Lionel Bart's delightful musicalOliver! including Consider Yourself, Where Is Love, I'd Do Anything and Who Will Buy. The Band will then perform Robert Palmer's "Overture on a Southern Hymn" which is based on one of the most popular Southern folk hymn tunes "Wondrous Love."  The concert concludes with Robert Sheldon's arrangement A Most Wonderful Christmas which includes Winter Wonderland, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. 

TUBACHRISTMAS RETURNS TO HUGO YOUNG THEATRE

After a one year absence due to a faculty study leave, 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 10:00 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 10:20 a.m.  

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 the whole family can enjoy.

The registration fee for participating musicians is $10.00 and includes a 2013 TubaChristmas button.  The TubaChristmas carol book is also available for $10.00. Musicians are asked to bring their own folding stand. 

For more information, contact Professor of Music Dr. Scott Garlock at 419.289.5134 or sgarlock@ashland.edu, or visit www.ashland.edu/music and facebook.com/AshlandUniversityMusic.

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES PERFORM INCLUDING BRASS, PERCUSSION, WOODWINDS AND STRINGS

The Department of Music at Ashland University is presenting two student ensembles recitals in December.  Both of the concerts are free and open to the public and are held in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts (formerly known as the Arts & Humanities Building).

The student ensembles recitals begin on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a brass ensemble instructed by Michael Metcalf, a percussion ensemble instructed by Jeff Neitzke, and a flute ensemble instructed by Lindsey Goodman.

On Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m., the featured ensembles will include clarinet and saxophone ensembles led by Dr. Thomas Reed, a string ensemble directed by Jane Reed, and a trumpet ensemble instructed by Amanda Bekeny.

BUTKE PRESENTS AT NATIONAL ORFF CONFERENCE

Dr. Marla Butke, associate professor of music, recently presented "Dalcroze Eurhythmics: Guiding Effective Plastique Animée Experiences" at the American Orff Schulwerk Association's National Conference in Denver, Colo., with colleague, Dr. David Frego, professor of music from UTSA.

AUJO PRESENTS FIRST WINTER FESTIVAL CONCERT

The award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) will be hosting a free Winter Festival concert in Hugo Young Theater on Monday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Dr. Scott Garlock, the concert will feature three sets of music including a set of Christmas music for big band performed by AUJO, a few selections by Dr. Garlock's student jazz combo, and closing with  the Jazz Orchestra  performing big band music in several styles.

The Jazz Orchestra’s first set will include holiday favorites such as “Auld Lang Syne,” “Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” and a “Here Comes Santa Claus “ medley.  The student jazz combo’s program includes  “All of Me” arranged by Dick Lieb, “Speak Low” arranged by Roger Holmes and Herbie Hancock’s “Canteloupe Island.”  AUJO’s final portion  of the concert features Mike Tomaro’s  arrangement of Dizzie Gillespie’s “Birk’s Work,” “The Chicken” arranged by Kris Berg, and Frank Mantooth’s arrangement of “Centerpiece.”