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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2007
Contact: K.E. Schwab -- 724-738-2199
karl.schwab@sru.edu
SRU Jazz Ensemble blows into Butler for free concert
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University Jazz
Ensemble will offer a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the
Butler Intermediate High School in preparation for its appearance
at the 48th annual University of Notre Dame Collegiate
Jazz Festival.
Stephen Hawk, ensemble director, said the local concert will
feature a number of selections planned for the festival and will
give the group the chance to play in different acoustics and before
a different audience than campus concerts. “This concert will give
us a great chance to rehearse and enjoy an off-campus concert
location. We expect a number of Butler high school music students
will attend,” he said.
Selections will include Sammy Nestico’s “Tall Cotton,” originally
written for the Count Basie Orchestra, “Sugar,” arranged by Bob
Florence, and “Smoke and Mirrors,” written by Mike Tomaro.
The
ensemble, selected by audition, performed at the 1999 festival
earning nine “Outstanding Soloist Awards.”
Last summer, the 19-member jazz group was one of only four
collegiate jazz ensembles, and the first from Pennsylvania,
selected to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in
Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in The
Netherlands. While on its 12-day tour, the group also performed in
Paris and Heidelberg, Germany.
The
European trip also resulted in production of the ensemble’s fourth
CD “Crossing Borders,” released Oct. 11 and now heard as part of
SRU’s music-on-hold system. The CD is available at regional record
stores and the SRU SGA Bookstore in the University Union.
Other ensembles competing this year in Chicago include those from
the University of Notre Dame, University of Illinois, Roosevelt
University Chicago College of Performing Arts, Capital University,
Western Michigan University, Indiana University, Southern Illinois
University, Shenandoah Conservatory and Columbia College.
Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier
public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides
students with a comprehensive learning experience that
intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced
educational and learning opportunities that make a positive
difference in their lives.
PN, PGN, WPN, PR
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