WV Wesleyan Jazz Ensembles performs - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

WV Wesleyan Jazz Ensembles performs

Posted: Updated:
  • COUNTRY ROADS JOURNALCountry Roads Journal

  • Wednesday, May 15 2013 10:14 AM EDT2013-05-15 14:14:12 GMT
    Singer-songwriters Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin perform together as the Clay Center hosts Mountain Stage with Larry Groce at May 19 in Charleston. Artists Aoife O'Donovan, Marti Jones & Don Dixon
    Singer-songwriters Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin perform together as the Clay Center hosts Mountain Stage with Larry Groce at May 19 in Charleston.
  • Monday, May 13 2013 9:25 AM EDT2013-05-13 13:25:39 GMT
    POINT PLEASANT, WV – Re-enactors will turn back the clock to 1778 May 17-19 during the 11th annual Siege of Fort Randolph encampment at Krodel Park in Point Pleasant.The fort will host the three-day event
    POINT PLEASANT, WV – Re-enactors will turn back the clock to 1778 May 17-19 during the 11th annual Siege of Fort Randolph encampment at Krodel Park in Point Pleasant.
  • Monday, May 13 2013 9:19 AM EDT2013-05-13 13:19:31 GMT
    ArtsLink will offer a free presentation of "Through the Eye of the Needle, the Art of Esther NisenthalKrinitz" at 6:30 p.m. May 13 at the Francis Creative Arts Center, located at the corner of Maple Avenue
    ArtsLink will offer a free presentation of "Through the Eye of the Needle, the Art of Esther Nisenthal
    Krinitz" at 6:30 p.m. May 13 at the Francis Creative Arts Center, located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Washington Street in New Martinsville. Light refreshments will be served.

A highlight of the winter jazz season in West Virginia is the annual performance by the West Virginia Wesleyan College Jazz Ensembles, under the direction of James Moore. The 2012 event is set for Dec. 7-8 in the Virginia T. Law Performing Arts Center on the Wesleyan Campus in Buckhannon.

This year's performances have been expanded to two evenings to accommodate participation by high school students, undergraduates, Wesleyan faculty and professional jazz artists in a variety of ensembles and programs, according to a media release by the West Virginia Jazz Society, a co-promoter of the event.

A free concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 7 will feature a set by the Buckhannon-Upshur High School jazz band, followed by the Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble performing music by Mike Tomaro. Tomaro is director of Duquesne University's jazz programs and a recognized jazz artist and composer.

At 8 p.m. Dec. 8, featured professional jazz artists, Wesleyan jazz faculty and students will present "The Jazz Nutcracker," arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and performed in a special "big band" format for only the second time in the central West Virginia region.

Opening the Saturday evening performances will be a "Senior Showcase" set by Kyle Andrews, a Wesleyan student who already plays drums professionally, performing with Jeff Bush, Adam Loudin, Paul Thompson and Sean Parsons of Marshall University.

Tickets are $5 for the general public, $3 for students are available one hour before at the Virginia T. Law Performing Arts Center box office.