WIND ENSEMBLE Andrew Yozviak, conductor Jonathan Ragonese, tenor saxophone
SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2021 “THE DOCK” SWOPE MUSIC BUILDING 3:00 PM
PROGRAM West Chester University Wind Ensemble Andrew Yozviak, conductor
TO THE NEW YEAR! .................................................................................. David C. Overholtzer b. 1971 SYMPHONY NO. 7................................................................................................. David Maslnaka 1943-2017 I. Moderate II. Slow III. Very Fast IV. Moderately Slow COME SUNDAY ....................................................................................................... Omar Thomas b. 1984 I. Testimony II. Shout Jonathan Ragonese, tenor saxophone
Please Turn Off All Electronic Devices
PROGRAM NOTES TO THE NEW YEAR (2021) Alumna David Olverholtzer contacted me just after the New Year in January and asked if I would take a look at a piece and provide some feedback. Even on a first listen, it rang true to many of the feelings one had experienced during 2020 and hoped to feel in the new year. Mr. Overholtzer provides the following thoughts: “This piece was composed to capture my personal reflection on a tumultuous year, and a true hope for a better future. 2020 was a tough year for many - myself included. To The New Year! intends to invoke angst, introspection, determination, and promise.” SYMPHONY NO. 7 (2004) David Maslanka was born in New Bedford Massachusetts in 1943. He was a composition student of Joseph Wood at the Oberlin Conservatory. He spent a year at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and did Masters and Doctoral work at Michigan State University with H. Owen Reed. From 1970 to 1990 he taught at various universities and has since devoted his life entirely to composing. Maslanka has written nearly 30 major works for wind ensemble, among them his second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh symphonies. His catalogue also contains a wide variety of chamber, orchestral, choral and percussion works. David Maslanka composed his Symphony No. 7 in 2004 for Stephen K. Steele and the University of Illinois Wind Symphony. Maslanka explains that it is a Symphony of “old songs remembered: I am strongly affected by American folk songs and hymn tunes. With one exception, all the tunes are original, but they all feel very familiar. The borrowed melody is from the 371 Four-Part Chorales by J. S. Bach. Each song has a bright side and a dark side, a surface and the dream underneath.” The work is at once serene and aggressive, nostalgic and new, simple and complex – a challenge for the performer and listener alike. COME SUNDAY (2018) Omar Thomas is a composer of diverse musical interests. Writing for diverse genres that span men’s choir to big band, he has made an impression on much of today’s musical landscape. Born to Guyanese parents, Omar moved to Boston in 2006 to pursue a Master of Music degree in jazz composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is the protégé of Ken Schaphorst and Frank Carlberg, and has studied under Maria Schneider. He has provided the following note about Come Sunday: “I played trombone in wind ensembles from the 4th grade through college. This experience has contributed significantly to the life I lead now. I had the pleasure of being exposed to sounds, colors, moods, rhythms, and melodies from all over the world. Curiously absent, however, was music told authentically from the African-American experience. In particular, I couldn’t understand how it was that no composer ever thought to tell the story of a black worship experience through the lens of a wind ensemble. I realize now that a big part of this was an issue of representation. One of the joys and honors of writing music for wind ensemble is that I get to write music that I wish had existed when I was playing in these
groups -- music that told the story of the black experience via black composers. I am so grateful to Dr. Tony Marinello and the Illinois State University Wind Symphony for leading an incredible consortium that brought this piece to life. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to hanging with Tony and the group for a week in about a month’s time! Come Sunday is a two-movement tribute to the Hammond organ’s central role in black worship services. The first movement, Testimony, follows the Hammond organ as it readies the congregation's hearts, minds, and spirits to receive The Word via a magical union of Bach, blues, jazz, and R&B. The second movement, Shout!, is a virtuosic celebration -- the frenzied and joyous climactic moment(s) when The Spirit has taken over the service. The title is a direct nod to Duke Ellington, who held an inspired love for classical music and allowed it to influence his own work in a multitude of ways. To all the black musicians in wind ensemble who were given opportunity after opportunity to celebrate everyone else’s music but our own -- I see you and I am you. This one’s for the culture!” We are excited to feature our recently hired Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone, Jonathan Ragonese, on today’s performance.
West Chester University Wind Ensemble Andrew Yozviak, conductor Flute Julia Carey Wiktoria Godawa Erica Hinchcliff Morgan Turner Erica Westcott Nick Hall Kim Sulahian Oboe John Johnston John DeBiase Bassoon Meghan Freer Joe Plavin Dominick Destefano Bass Clarinet Paige ReHill Clarinet Jen Parziale Morgan Kock Laura Sachaczenski Cassidy O’Donnell Ben Davan Cassidy Miao
Saxophone Joseph Wolf Ethan Tweedie Sara Powell Amy Dulaney Horn Matt Hontz (co-princ.) Felicia Quinn (co-princ.) Hannah Atlas Casey Jennings Katie Fox Frank Stroble Trumpet Josiah Stetler Chloe Francis Zach Walter Julianna Johnson Jacob Stevens Maddie Sellers Trombone Kevin Scheetz Hojun Kim
Bass Trombone Lucy Ferruzza Euphonium Will Rachko Isaac Sattazahn Natalie Travers Tuba Brandon Mooney Andrew Puleo Donovan Gargiulo Piano Aaron Hungerford Bass Casey Warfield Percussion Sean McWilliams Nate Gittelman Anthony Maldonado Anton Salaris Luke Thurston David Sabella John Obringer
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739
COVID-19 STATEMENT In Person Audiences Are Not Permitted for Spring 2021 Events Monday, May 3, 2021, 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 8:15 PM
Collegium Musicum Concert Mark Rimple, director Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
Symphony Orchestra Concert Joseph Caminiti, director Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 8:15 PM
Thursday, May 6, 2021, 8:15 PM
Chamber Winds Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building
Bach Celebration Vincent Craig, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Friday, May 7, 2021, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 8:15 PM
Criterions Jazz Ensemble Concert Jonathan Ragonese. director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building
Spring Choral Festival David P. DeVenney & Ryan Kelly, directors Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
Sunday, May 9, 2021, 3:00 PM
Sunday, May 9, 2021, 7:00 PM
Trivolti Flute Ensemble Concert Kimberley Reighley, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Brass Ensembles Concert JC Dobrzelewski, Jon Fowler, Dan Cherry, Liz Pfaffle Virtual livestream.com/wcupa
*Tickets required for this event.
Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations. Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund” in the memo line. For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/WellsSchoolofMusic and LiveStream.com/wcupa. Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.
The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean