UPDATED October 15, 2020
West Chester University’s Wells School of Music Continues Performances with Virtual
Concert Series
West Chester University’s Wells School of Music will continue to delight and entertain audiences with dozens of FREE virtual performances this fall, allowing audiences from around the world to enjoy concerts from the comfort of their own homes. Livestream links are available by clicking on each event in the campus arts event calendar at www.wcupa.edu/arts.
Beginning Friday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m., the link to the Wells School of Music’s esteemed Criterions Jazz Ensemble concert will be available. This concert is the first under the new Director of Jazz Studies, Jonathan Ragonese, and this concert and other large ensemble concerts will be pre-recorded from Asplundh Hall in the Philips Memorial Building to meet current aerosolization and distance guidelines for ensemble music playing.
Remaining constant is the ensemble’s signature big-band sound and their commitment to jazz standards, but audiences may also note masked instrumentalists, increased space between band members, horn covers, and plexiglass screens onstage.
Ragonese says, “It has been a tremendous thing to witness our students finding joy
in music-making again. West Chester University and the Wells School of Music’s administrations
have made incredible investments of time and resources to make our school and performance
spaces safe for music-making.”
The program includes Oliver Nelson’s “Emancipation Blues”, John Coltrane’s “Syeeda’s Song Flute” and Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight” (arranged by Ragonese himself), among others.
The Criterions Jazz Ensemble concert is the first of many virtual events on-tap this fall from the Wells School of Music. Additional fall performances include:
Thursday, October 1, 2020 at noon - Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series - Keyboard Division
Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 8 p.m. - Wind Ensemble Concert, Andrew Yozviak, Director
Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. - Symphony Orchestra Concert, Joseph Caminiti, Director
Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 3 p.m. - Faculty Recital Series, the Dalí Quartet
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 8 p.m. - Wind Symphony Concert, M. Gregory Martin, Director
Friday, October 30, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. - Fall Choral Festival, David P. DeVenney & Ryan Kelly, Directors
Saturday, November 1, 2020 at 3 p.m. - Wind Ensemble Concert, Andy Yozviak, Director
Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 8 p.m. - Friends of Jazz Concert featuring the Criterions, Jonathan Ragonese, Director
Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 3 p.m. - Harp Festival
Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 7 p.m. - Brass Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 8:15 p.m. - Guitar Ensemble