AU Music Begins New Year with Thomas Reed's 31st Faculty Recital

The Department of Music at Ashland University announces its first recital of the new academic year with the celebration of Dr. Thomas Reed's 31st annual faculty recital on Sunday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts. 

For his 31st consecutive annual recital, Dr. Reed will perform on clarinet and saxophone with fellow musicians Susan Gregg, piano; Scott Garlock, trombone; Jane Reed, violin; Lanny Gooding, piano; Paul Martin, bass; and Steve Berry, drums.

His program will include an eclectic collection from his transcription of Tchaikovsky's Serenade Melancolique, op. 26; to Leonard Berstein's Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Paquito D'Rivera's Contradanza. The program continues with Dr. Reed's arrangement of George Gershwin's Promenade (Walkin' the Dog), Golden and Hubbell's Poor Butterfly, I Have Waited So Longby Sarah Vaughan, Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and concludes with Duke Ellington's Ring Dem Bells.

40th Madrigal Feaste Tickets on Sale Sept. 28

Tickets for the 40th Annual Madrigal Feaste go on sale to the public on Monday, Sept. 28 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 come to the box office window located in the lobby of Hugo Young Theatre at the corner of College Avenue and Grant Street or order online at www.ashland.edu/tickets (additional fees apply for online orders). Patrons can also call the box office at 419.289.5125, but phone lines are expected to be busy. Discounted tickets for children 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, Dec. 2-6, 2015. All performances begin at 6:30 p.m. in Redwood Hall. For the 40th celebration, the event promises some special surprises and guest performers from the past 40 years.

Directed by Dr. Rowland Blackley, director of choral activities, the Madrigal Feaste is a dinner theater based in 16th-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 and Butler round out the cast for the event. Performer costumes are designed as authentic reproductions of period apparel; and the four-course meal culminates in flaming bread pudding.

The 2015 Madrigal Feaste Chamber Singers feature Abbie Brady, Deric Dove, Darion Dow, Gracie Fumic, Elisha Hofer, Grace Keller, Danny Lawson, Jacob Markley, Seth Morrison, Sarah Napier, Jacob Poiner, Danielle Rhonemus, Jake Riley, Corey Turpin, Tyler Watson and Hannah Wise. Zack Lindesmith will serve as the Jester leading his cast of players, including Natalyn Baisden, Logan Baker, Andrea Disch and Eryn Tramel.

Tickets for the event are $26 for adults; $15 for children under 12; and $23 for groups of 10 or more. A special $11 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.

Ashland Area Chorus & Community Concert Band Announce Fall Schedules

Two community music ensembles at Ashland University [Ashland Area Chorus (AAC) and Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB)] announce their fall schedules including rehearsals, concerts and membership requirements.

Beginning Monday, August 24, Ashland Area Chorus rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-8:45 p.m. in Room 242 of the Center for the Arts. Initially meeting on Tuesday, September 8, the Community Band rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Center for the Arts' Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall.

Entering its eighteenth season, 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.

This fall, the chorus will participate with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra in "A Joyful Opening" of the new Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Auditorium on Saturday, September 12. The chorus will also perform in Ashland University's performance of Handel's Messiah on November 22, and at the annual Festival of Lights on December 13.

The Ashland Area Community Concert Band begins its twenty-third season and 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 fall include a performance at the University with the Ashland University Concert Band on Saturday, December 12.

Requirements for 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.

Membership in AAC and AACCB 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 is requested and payable by the fourth week of rehearsals to continue participation in either ensemble 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.

Rebecca Wilson: Aria Competition Finalist & Award Winner

Photo by Gwen Juarez

AU Music graduate and former student of Stephanie Sikora, soprano Rebecca Glass Wilson (2000) recently was awarded a grant from the Gerda Lissner Foundation in the 2015 Wagnerian division and was a finalist in the 2015 Lois Alba Competition. In July, Rebecca will be singing the role of Venus in La púrpura de la rosa with Le Château de la Voix. Rebecca is thrilled to be joining Union Avenue Opera this August as Gutrune in their production in Götterdämmerung.

Also, Rebecca has been heard as soloist with the Baroque Artists of Champaign, The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Choir and Orchestra, Chicago College of Performing Arts Orchestra, the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheaton Symphony.

 Other Honors and Credits include the following: 3rd Place Finalist in 2007 Bel Canto Foundation, Bravo Award Winner in 2005 Bel Canto Foundation, Suzel in L’amico Fritz, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Mimi in La bohème, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, 2nd Bridesmaid in Le Nozze di Figaro, La Countessa Le Nozze di Figaro, Pat Nixon in John Adam’s Nixon in China, the title role in Finding Yolanda (based on Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta) and WFMT’s Solo Recital Fazioli Salon Series in Chicago.

Video Credits:

Dich, theure Halle from TANNHAUSER by Wagner

Rebecca was accompanied by Maestra Janice Fehlauer

with HD Video provided by Robert Land Productions

Dalcroze Summer Training Workshop

Dr. Marla Butke and Dr. Kathy Thomsen are leading the Dalcroze Eurhythmics summer training workshop at the Ashland University Columbus Center this week. From June 22 through June 26, the week-long workshop is focusing on Dalcroze Eurhythmics, solfege, and piano improvisation. The workshop is also addressing applications for the music classroom/studio, curricular designs, and assessment. The workshop is sponsored by Ashland University Department of Music and the American Eurhythmics Society.

Successful 2015 Choir Tour!

The Ashland University Choir had an incredibly busy, productive and rewarding tour last week with appearances beginning in Millersburg, Ohio, to New York City and ending in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. Alumna Emily Scaife King ('05) sent us a photo of the choir performing at Leechburg High school (Leechburg, Pa) and several alumni witnessed their concert at NYC's Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Among their many performances, they were able to take in the culture and history in the Big City!  Congratulations and thank you for representing AU well!

Choir Tour 2015: May 11-17

The Ashland University Choir will tour Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York from May 11-17 at the following locations. All concerts are open to the public. Please join us!

Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Millersburg United Methodist Church
5395 Twp Rd 336, Millersburg, OH
330.674.2641

Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Dutilh United Methodist Church
1270 Dutilh Rd, Cranberry Township, PA
724.776.1094

Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
140 E Orange, Lancaster, PA
717.394.6854

Sunday, May 17 at 9:45 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
3832 Gibsonia Rd (Rt. 910), Gibsonia, PA
724.443.8110