April 5, 2009
YORK, Pa. — York College students in several musical performance groups will present concerts on April 18 and 19. The Jazz Ensemble will perform at 3 p.m., April 18, in DeMeester Recital Hall, Evelyn and Earle Wolf Hall. A concert featuring the Chorale and Chamber Singers is scheduled for 3 p.m., April 19, in the Collegiate Performing Arts Center. Both events are open to the public free of charge. More information is available by calling 717-815-1354 and 717-815-6490.
The Jazz Ensemble will present a program including “Waltz for Debby,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Four” and “Jelly Roll.” A rendition of “Basie Straight Ahead” that incorporates improvisational solos will be performed. In addition, audience members will pull the name of a student in the band, who will then play what is called a trigger solo. Because the students don’t know who will play, the trigger solo creates drama, according to musical director and conductor Jeff Stabley.
The concert will also include a song written by Stabley as a tribute to Sunra, who was an eccentric band leader. Many people did not believe that Sunra’s music was legitimate, but now it is being proven as a strong contributor to jazz, Stabley said. The piece, titled “Le Sony’r Ra,” includes four solos and a plumber’s plunge.
The Jazz Ensemble is an audition-based ensemble of about 20 students that is open to any major on campus.
The weekend’s second musical event showcases the talent of the College’s Chorale, Chamber Singers and Women’s Ensemble. The groups will present 18 songs during the 75-minute performance. The concert’s theme is “Live. Laugh. Love,” and it incorporates folk and show songs, as well as songs that poke fun at people falling in love. All songs are composed or arranged by contemporary American composers.
The program will also feature senior music major Eric Bashore of Bernville as a student conductor. To be eligible for this honor, he took conducting courses and participated in the Chorale for years. A senior music education major from York, Hannah Stayer will play the piano for one song as part of an independent study.
Assistant Professor of Music Grace Muzzo will conduct the concert. Faculty pianists include Lois Nielson and Gretchen Dekker. Chamber Singers and Women’s Ensemble both have about 20 student members, while the Chorale has 80. All groups are open to any major on campus, but Chamber Singers is audition-based.
Located in southcentral Pennsylvania, York College offers more than 50 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences and humanities to its 4,600 undergraduate students. With a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and distinctive mentoring programs, York provides an environment that emphasizes close personal attention to students from 32 states and 30 countries.
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