MUSIC
Welcome to the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Please turn off all electronic devices. Photography, recording, or digital capture of this concert is not permitted.
404.727.5050 | schwartz.emory.edu | boxoffice@emory.edu
Audience Information
The Schwartz Center welcomes a volunteer usher corps of about 40 members each year. Visit schwartz.emory.edu/volunteer or call 404.727.6640 for ushering opportunities.
The Schwartz Center is committed to providing performances and facilities accessible to all. Please direct accommodation requests to the Schwartz Center Box Office at 404.727.5050, or by email at boxoffice@emory.edu.
The Schwartz Center wishes to gratefully acknowledge the generous ongoing support of Donna and Marvin Schwartz.
Cover Design: Lisa Baron | Cover Photo: Mark Teague | Emory Big Band by Bill Head
MUSIC
Emory Jazz Combos
Chris Riggenbach, combo director
Penelope Williams, combo director
Emory Big Band
Gary Motley, director
Randy Hunter, assistant director
Devin Allen, student assistant
Michael Wang, social media coordinator
Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 8:00 p.m.
Emerson Concert Hall
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Emory Jazz Combos
Combo 2
On The Street Where You Live by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner
Stella by Starlight by Victor Young
Speak No Evil by Wayne Shorter
St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins
Emma Farrer, vocals; Jin Nguyen, trumpet; Kevin Wu, bass; Ayush Basu, piano; Sergio Solis, drums
Penelope Williams, combo director
Combo 1
Whisper Not by Benny Golson
Barbara by Horace Silver
Look to the Sky by Antônio Carlos Jobim
Anthropology by Charlie Parker, John “Dizzy” Gillespie and Walter Bishop
Jay Hammond, tenor saxophone; Adam Rudhe, trombone; Will Curl, guitar; Alok John, piano; Justin Hahm, bass; Ved Dattaray, drums
Chris Riggenbach, combo director
There will be a brief set change break between Emory Jazz Combos and Emory Big Band.
Emory Big Band
Bring It On by Doug Beach
A Hefti Dose of Basie by Patrick Williams
Fiesta by Vince Gassi
Full House by John L. (Wes) Montgomery arr. Mike Kamuf
Señor Salsa by John Watson
You Dig? by Mike Tomaro
SAXOPHONE
Alex Greenberg, Jay Hammond
Clement Leung, Kai Zhao, Randy Hunter*
TROMBONE
Michael Hu, Adam Ruhde, Tim Brewer
TRUMPET
Tyler Curtis, Joey Chen, Jeffrey Zheng, Jin Nguyen, Henry Donath, Andrew Blumberg
RHYTHM SECTION
Aaron Tyutyunik, piano
Justin Hahm, guitar
Kevin Wu, bass
Ved Dattaray, drums
Danny Lee, drums
Gary Motley, big band director
Randy Hunter, assistant big band director
* indicates Emory artist affiliate
Emory Jazz Studies
The Emory Jazz Studies program features courses in improvisation and history, as well as private instruction and performance opportunities. The mission is to educate students about the rich traditions of American jazz while providing insight into the creative process through performance and analysis. The program includes undergraduate and graduate students spanning the liberal arts. Musicians develop skills in performance through the study of classic repertory in smaller ensembles or in the big band, which focuses on traditional works of the past and present.
Emory Jazz Faculty
Gary Motley, director of jazz studies
Since launching a solo career in 1994, Gary Motley has been at the forefront of jazz in the southeastern United States, establishing himself as both a keyboard virtuoso and a composer. His captivating performances transport audiences back in time as Motley blends musicianship, creativity, and tradition. Recognized by Downbeat magazine, the American Composers Forum, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Motley was recently cited by his home state for his artistic and educational achievements with his induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Motley is also committed to jazz education and awareness. In his role at Emory, Motley developed the Robert Strickland Jazz Studio—an innovative, interactive teaching facility that integrates the rich heritage of American jazz with today’s technology practices.
Emory Jazz Artist Affiliates
Dan Baraszu, guitar
Detroit–born, guitarist–composer Dan Baraszu started playing guitar at age nine. Early in his career, he explored many different styles of music. However, when he first heard the genius of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, Baraszu devoted himself to becoming a die-hard jazz artist. His major influences include guitarists Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, and John Scofield, as well as other instrumentalists like Bill Evans, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Charlie Parker. Baraszu received a bachelor’s degree from the renowned Berklee College of Music, where he majored in jazz composition and arranging, and a master’s degree from the University of Miami with a major in jazz pedagogy.
Justin Chesarek, drums
After earning a bachelor’s degree in music education from Slippery Rock University, Justin Chesarek attained a master of music degree in jazz studies at Georgia State University. He performs regularly with Joe Alterman, Trey Wright, Gary Motley, Joe Gransden, Sam Burchfield, and the ATL Collective. Chesarek has appeared at the Iridium and the Blue Note in New York City; the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; a TED Talk; the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska; the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands; and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Chesarek also teaches jazz percussion at Kennesaw State University. He is a board member of the Atlanta Lovers of Music Association, and he endorses Vic Firth drum sticks.
Randy Hunter, saxophone
Randy Hunter is a professional saxophonist, educational author, and private music instructor from Marietta, Georgia. He studied music education with an emphasis in jazz pedagogy at Valdosta State College. Focused on generating educational jazz material, Hunter developed a series of étude, duet, and combo method books titled Complete Jazz Styles, that has been endorsed by several well-known jazz artists including Joe Lovano, Jerry Bergonzi, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and John Fedchock. He also created jazz improvisation-oriented instructional material in multimedia format, including several eBooks. At Emory, Hunter teaches jazz saxophone and is the assistant director of the Emory Big Band.
Justin Powell, trumpet
Atlanta-based trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator Justin Powell has been active in the Atlanta music scene since moving to the area in 2013. Powell has a master of music degree from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, and a bachelor of music degree in jazz performance from Valdosta State University. He stays busy performing and recording with the Terminus Horns. As a performer Powell has been able to share the stage and collaborate with incredible artists including the Gorillaz, Josh Groban, the Floozies, American Authors, Red Wanting Blue, Sister Hazel, the Isley Brothers, Bobby Feeno, Angie Stone, Chuck Israels of the Bill Evans Trio, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Balsam Range, and the O’Jays. Powell is well-versed in all styles of music and has worked with several classical orchestras, brass quintets, and pop and rock bands, and is a top call session player in the Atlanta area. In addition to performing live, he has arranged horn parts in a variety of styles for live performance and studio sessions.
Chris Riggenbach, double bass and electric bass
Chris Riggenbach has played bass with Josh Groban, Chloe Agnew, Gary Motley, Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Audrey Shakir, Karla Harris, Ted Howe, Keith David, Sarah Partridge, Marcus Lewis, Josh Lawrence, Raphael Imbert, Matt Catingub, Jens Lindemann, Steve Moretti, Macon Pops, Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Atlanta Opera, Jazz Legacy Big Band, 4th Ward Afro Klezmer Orchestra, Sweetwater Junction, and Gold Sparkle Band. He has also played bass on Wicked, The Sound of Music, Catch Me If You Can, Dreamgirls, Bonnie & Clyde, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. In 2010, Riggenbach performed in Poland with the Josh Lawrence Jazz 3 at the Sopot Molo Jazz Festival and Piwnica pod Baranami in Krakow. Riggenbach has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Georgia State University. He studied bass with Dee Moses, Ralph Jones, Thomas Thoreson, Neal Starkey, Rich Nanista, and Robert Dickson. Riggenbach teaches bass and directs jazz combos at Emory University.
Penelope Williams, piano and vocals
Penelope Williams, MM, piano/keyboards/vocals, has performed in countless venues across the globe. A longtime resident of Atlanta, her musical residencies have included the Ritz Carlton Atlanta, Omni Hotel, and Hotel Nikko, among others. Williams’s love of music keeps her active as an instructor of jazz and performance at Emory University, Global Village Project, and the Lovett School. Additionally, she is a creative arts director with the Spiritual Living Center Atlanta and the founder of Gratitude Jazz Foundation, an organization raising awareness of women jazz musicians and composers by providing a positive and supportive environment, i.e., a haven for artistic growth.
Music at Emory
The Department of Music at Emory University provides an exciting and innovative environment for developing knowledge and skills as a performer, composer, and scholar. Led by a faculty of more than 60 nationally and internationally recognized artists and researchers, our undergraduate and graduate students experience a rich diversity of performance and academic opportunities. Undergraduate students in our department earn a BA in music with a specialization in performance, composition, or research, many of whom simultaneously earn a second degree in another department. True to the spirit of Emory, a liberal arts college in the heart of a research university, our faculty and ensembles also welcome the participation of non-major students from across the Emory campus.
Become a part of Music at Emory by giving to the Friends of Music. Your gift provides crucial support to all of our activities. To learn more, visit our website at music.emory.edu or call 404.727.6280.
Emory Jazz Alliance
The Emory Jazz Alliance is devoted to supporting jazz education, awareness, and performance at Emory University. Donations will support Emory Jazz Studies by providing funding for residencies, program development, and community outreach. Students of Emory Jazz have been a part of an exceptional and nurturing space that prepares students to be the next generation of jazz artists and also creates connections and educational experiences with the industry’s top jazz artists. Become a member today by visiting music.emory.edu/home/about/support or scanning the QR code.
Upcoming Emory Jazz Concerts
Many concerts at Emory are free to attend. Visit music.emory.edu or schwartz.emory.edu to view complete event information for all Muisc at Emory events. If a ticket is required for attendance, prices are indicated in the listings below in the following order: Full price/Emory student price (unless otherwise noted as the price for all students).
Friday, February 14, 8:00 p.m., Emory Jazz Fest 2025, Schwartz Artist in Residence David Sánchez, saxophone, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $30/$10, tickets required
Saturday, February 15, 8:00 p.m., Emory Jazz Fest 2025, Emory Big Band, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free, tickets required
Saturday, March 1, 4:00 p.m., Penelope Williams, jazz, Artist Affliliate Recital, Performing Arts Studio
Sunday, March 23, 4:00 p.m., Just Jazzin’ Around with the Gary Motley Trio, ECMSA: Family Series, Carlos Museum, Ackerman Hall
Tuesday, March 25, 8:00 p.m., Emory Jazz Combos, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Tuesday, April 15, 8:00 p.m., Emory Big Band with Special Guest Patrick Langham, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Department of Music Administration
Stephen Crist, Chair
Meredith Schweig, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Paul Bhasin, Director of Undergraduate Research
Martha Shockey, Senior Secretary
Kathy Summers, Academic Department Administrator
Magdalena Shumanova, Academic Services Program Coordinator
Simone McGaw Evans, Program Coordinator
Schwartz Center Staff
Rachael Brightwell, Managing Director
Terry Adams, Box Office Coordinator
Kathryn Colegrove, Assoc. Director for Programming and Outreach
Lewis Fuller, Associate Director for Production and Operations
Jennifer Kimball, Assistant Stage Manager
Jeffrey Lenhard, Operations Assistant
Brenda Porter, House Manager
Caroline Renner, Program Coordinator
Bebe Rogers, Communications Specialist
Alan Strange, Box Office Manager
Nicholas Surbey, Senior Graphic Designer
Alexandria Sweatt, Marketing Assistant
Mark Teague, Stage Manager
Music at Emory brings together students, faculty, and world-class artists to create an exciting and innovative season of performances, lectures, workshops, and master classes. With more than 150 events each year across multiple Emory venues, audiences experience a wide variety of musical offerings.
We hope you enjoy sampling an assortment of work from our student ensembles, community youth ensembles, artists in residence, professional faculty, up-and-coming prodigies, and virtuosos from around the world.
music.emory.edu
