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.

Annual Parade of Bands This Sunday

The annual Parade of Bands at the Ashland County Fair will be held this Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Grandstand. This community-favorite event will kickoff with the Ashland University Marching Band under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr., Director of Bands, and will also feature performances by all of the area high school marching bands.

Community Band Begins Fall Rehearsals, Sep. 10

The Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB) begins its twenty-seventh season with its weekly rehearsals on Tuesday, Sep. 10 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Center for the Arts' Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. Under the co-direction of Ashland University Director of Bands Joseph Lewis, Jr., and Dave Wolbert, 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 fall include a performance at the University with the Ashland University Symphonic Band on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 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 by clicking on the "Buy Single Tickets" icon.

For further information, contact Joe Lewis at jlewisjr@ashland.edu or 419.289.5132.

Ashland Area Chorus Begins Rehearsals, 8/26

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

Beginning Monday, Aug. 26, Ashland Area Chorus rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-8:45 p.m. in Room 242 of the Center for the Arts.

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.

Reed Busy Performing Throughout NE Ohio

Dr. Thomas Reed, professor of Music and chair of the Music and Theatre Departments, has given a number of performances in recent months. 

• Played saxophone with the Cleveland Orchestra in performances of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at Blossom Music Center July 5 and 6.
• Performed as Assistant Principal Clarinet with the Blossom Festival Band on July 3 and 4. 
• On June 29 he played saxophone with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. 
• In May and June he played clarinet and saxophone in the Cleveland Orchestra's performances of the film score to "An American in Paris" at Severance Hall.
• And played Bass Clarinet with the Akron Symphony in the concert version of "West Side Story." 
• In March, he performed as Principal Clarinet with the Akron Symphony in Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and works by Korngold and Adams.
• Performed on the CD "Blue is More Than a Color," by Youngstown State University faculty member Dave Morgan. On the CD Reed plays baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, and is clarinet soloist on the song "Coisa Nova." The CD is available on Spotify and iTunes.

Blackley to Conduct Annual "Pops in the Park"

The Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell at Ashland City's Brookside Park will host its annual "Pops in the Park" concert by the Ashland Symphony Orchestra  and Ashland Area Chorus on Sunday, June 30 at 8 p.m. 

Under the direction of Dr. Ron Blackley, audience members will have the chance to sing along to popular movie musical numbers from “Mamma Mia!,” “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman.” The concert will also include several patriotic pieces in honor of Independence Day including the “Armed Forces Salute,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful” and two marches by John Philip Sousa: “Semper Fidelis” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The symphony will bring back the “1812 Overture” featuring mock cannon fire from Civil War Battery D from the 1st Ohio Light Artillery. Audience members will be provided with paper bags and sparklers to set off during the performance as well.

From 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., ASO’s instrument petting zoo will be open to participants of all ages
interested in learning about different musical instruments.

Freewill donations will be collected during the performance which will benefit both the ASO and Band Shell.

In the event of inclement weather the concert will be moved to Ashland High School’s Archer
Auditorium at 8 p.m.