INFORMATION FOR
A sensory friendly school day concert to introduce students to the wonders of music and the instruments of the concert band. Featuring Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” Scott Watson’s musical setting of “Aesop’s Fables” and other intriguing musical stories suitable for PK-8th graders.
Free admission. Schools must register at www.wpband.orgor click below.
Directed by Dr. Hannah Carr & Dr. Christopher Herbert, this concert features William Paterson’s Select Vocal Ensemble
Free admission and open to the public.
A sensory friendly community concert to introduce audiences to the wonders of music and the instruments of the concert band. Featuring Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Scott Watson’s Aesop’s Fables and other classic children’s tales set to music. Suitable for all ages, with sensory friendly accommodations available for all.
General admission: Adults $15 Children (Ages 2 and up) $10. Free for WP Community with ID.
Chris Potter is recognized worldwide as one of today’s major saxophone voices – here joining forces with the 18-piece William Paterson Jazz Orchestra. Potter first gained wide recognition as a member of Dave Holland’s sextet, as well as collaborations with Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Ray Brown, James Moody, Joe Lovano, many tours with the rock group Steely Dan, and many others. His early musical association was with trumpeter and Charlie Parker veteran Red Rodney. He is most often heard in small-group settings, and this is a rare chance to hear him solo in front of a big band – featuring premieres of new arrangements of three of his compositions by our second-year grad students.
Tickets: General Public $20 • WP employees and senior citizens $18 • Non-WP students $10 • WP Students admitted free with ID
Free to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.
A program featuring WP Faculty and student performers, including Jake Heggie's Here and Gone, a song cycle of life's transience and chance is paired with Verne Reynolds jazz infused Hornvibes for Horn and Vibraphone for a varied evening of musical contrasts. With faculty performers Dr. Christopher Herbert, baritone and WP vocal area coordinator, Dr. Carol Frierson-Campbell, horn and WP Music Education coordinator, and Dr. Payton MacDonald, vibraphone and WP Music Department Chair, featuring Austin Sidio, tenor and WP BM Music Education Senior. Carl Patrick Bolleia, New Music Series Director
You are invited to a collaborative performance featuring William Paterson University and the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra.
We are thrilled to present an exciting program for our spring concert, where the spotlight will shine on talented students as soloists. The program includes an orchestral arrangement of Quiet Lady, arranged by Logan Friedman, performed by a group of jazz musicians from WPU alongside the orchestra. Seth Burke, a trumpet student majoring in both jazz and classical music, will perform the second movement of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto. Additionally, the program features Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto (soloist Jiao Yidi), Elgar's Serenade for Strings, and Saint-Saëns's Symphony No. 1.
Join us in celebrating the brilliance of jazz and classical music brought to life by this powerful collaboration!
General Admission: Public $25WP employees and senior citizens $15
Conducted by Dr. Sandra Dackow
Featuring William Paterson Voice Students with accompaniment by Hannah Comia, Matthieu Cognet, and June Marano-Murray on piano
Camille Thurman has gained worldwide respect as a saxophonist as well as for her singing. A graduate of the famed New York LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, she was a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition. She has a recording contract with Chesky Records, just released her fourth album on that label, and she was nominated as Best Jazz Album in the 50th NAACP Image Awards. Ms. Thurman is also a dedicated teacher and mentor, leading to her association with the Heart of Jazz Foundation that awards scholarships and pairs young students with professional jazz mentors.
Sponsored by The Heart of Jazz Foundation
Students of the trumpet, trombone, horn, euphonium and tuba studios at WP perform solo and chamber literature in an evening of brass music. Free and open to the public.
A celebration of the career of Professor Emeritus John Link, showcasing his recent compositions, in honor of his nearly 30 years of service on the music faculty of William Paterson University. Featuring Nina Berman, soprano; Marianne Gythfeldt, clarinet; Caroline Stinson, cello; Augustus Arnone, piano; and Carl Patrick Bolleia, piano
Students from the WP Flute Studio, under the direction of Dr. Kristin Bacchiocchi-Stewart, perform solo literature and flute chamber repertoire. Free and open to the public.
Students from the WP Saxophone Studio, under the direction of Dr. James Noyes, perform solo and ensemble repertoire for saxophones. Free and open to the public.
Featuring William Paterson Voice students, this show compilation will feature Dover Beach by Samuel Barber; Lost in the Scroll by Luca Sutto; and H & G: A Great and Terrible Story by Allen Shawn.
Hannah Comia, Music Director
Dr. Christopher Herbert, Producer and Stage Director
Tickets: $25 General Admission$10 Students
Sponsored by: Rosenbloom FoundationNan Guptill-Crain, in memory of Lauren Fowler-CalistoColin and Susan Ungaro
Vocalist Chico Alvarez was born in New York City, but grew up in Cuba and gained his musical background there, now as a New Jersey resident. He is an active singer, performing with the Afro-Cuban band Mafimba, where he has been mostly their lead singer for nearly 40 years. He has also been jazz radio host of “The New World Gallery” on New York radio station WBAI, having won an award from the National Association of Community Broadcasters and interviewed many jazz giants. In this concert, Alavarez combines with the WP Latin Jazz Ensemble.
The Royal Irish Academy of Music Percussion Ensemble, directed by Richard O'Donnell, returns to the WP New Music Series with an eclectic and dynamic program of contemporary compositions!
Featuring WP faculty soloist, Michael Baker, trumpet, and guest conductors, Sarah Culp-Abrams and John Maiello, performing music for winds and percussion.
This concert creates a truly rare performance by bringing together two true jazz giants who have only performed together rarely in the past and never have toured. Christian McBride has a solid reputation as one of the world’s most respected jazz basists and bandleaders, but that is only the beginning: he leads the Newport Jazz Festival, and co-leads Jazz House Kids with his wife Melissa Walker. Bill Charlap is one of the world’s foremost pianists, touring and recording with his trio of 27 years with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, releasing award-winning albums on the Blue Note label and winning a 2016 Grammy Award with Tony Bennett. This promises to be a truly memorable event, a very rare collaboration between two New Jersey residents who are worldwide jazz icons.
Sponsored by the Woody Shapiro Endowment
Tickets: General Admission $33 / Senior Citizens $30 / WP students are admitted free with ID
WP piano students, faculty, alumni, Emeriti and special guests celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Maurice Ravel! Curated by Carl Patrick Bolleia
Dr. Hannah Carr, Director of Choral ActivitiesFeaturing WP Choirs, a Gospel soloist, guest musicians, and 150+ high school student participants.
New repertoire for percussion ensemble.
Presenting compositions of the 20th and 21st Century, including original works by WP students and faculty. Directed by Dr. Carl Patrick Bolleia and conducted by John Ferrari
An Evening with Roger McGuinn is a love for folk music – the music that took him to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. Tambourine Man not only lived history, he made history with his fearless sense of experimentation. As the leader of the influential 60s group, The Byrds, he was on the leading edge, combining the rock beat of the Beatles with the folk sensibilities of Bob Dylan, to create the genre known as “folk-rock.” His groundbreaking work on The Byrds “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” album, is widely credited with ushering in the genre of country rock. Roger’s solo career began in 1973 and has yielded 13 albums, a Grammy nomination, and extensive touring and performing for enthralled audiences ever since.
Jim McGuinn (he changed his name later to Roger) began playing professionally at the age of 17. He was first recognized around the industry for his banjo and guitar playing ability. He began touring with the Chad Mitchell Trio which eventually led to his touring gig with Bobby Darin. When Bobby decided to take a break from performing live, he invited Jim to join him in New York city to work at the famed Brill Building as a songwriter for TM Music. It was there that he became Judy Collins’ musical director, helped Paul Simon record the demo for “Sound of Silence” and was very active in the recording business as the “go to” guy for 12-string guitar.
It was at this time that Roger became fascinated with “rocked up” folk music made popular by The Beatles.
The folk audience didn’t appreciate the combination of folk songs and a Beatle Beat but there was one musician that did. His name was Gene Clark. It was the beginning of a musical revolution. David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke joined the duo and history was about to be made. The Byrds were born!
Their first single was penned by Bob Dylan but when the group heard the demo, they weren’t too impressed. Jim had an idea on how to fix the folkie song. He had been an arranger in NYC, so adding a Bach type intro and a Beatle Beat took the song “Mr Tambourine Man” to the number one slot across the world.
Roger disbanded the BYRDS in 1973 to pursue his dream of being a folk singer like Pete Seeger. He says that the BYRDS were a nice detour on his way to his dream. He recorded five solo albums on Columbia Records. In 1978 he joined with Gene Clark and Chris Hillman for 3 albums on Capitol Records. In 1991 just after the BYRDS were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he recorded on Arista Records his acclaimed “Back From Rio” album with a host of friends, including Tom Petty, Elvis Costello , David Crosby, Chris Hillman and others. It was the last vinyl record in his catalogue.
In 1995 Roger became concerned the traditional folk songs were being lost. No one was recording the songs of over one hundred years ago, so he had an idea. He decided to post an original folk song with a live recording on his web page mcguinn.com each month. He hasn’t missed a month since November 1995. It is carried by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a public service.
Appleseed Records invited Roger to record some of his favorite folk songs with the vanguards of folk music: Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jean Ritche, Josh White Jr and his guitar teacher Frank Hamilton and his wife Mary. The recording “Treasure From the Folk Den” received a Grammy nomination in 2002. He continues to record and release music on his independent label. When asked if he plans on retiring, he laughs, “What? Give up show-business? It’s called “playing music” and I’ve been playing since I was 14.
Tickets: Gold Circle $59Orchestra/Front Loge $49Rear Loge/Accessible Seating $39
They say a man’s “soul” is his spiritual essence. Life’s twists and turns can lift that soul high into the sky or send it crashing to the ground below. Unfortunately, 2023 started with the latter for Will Downing, following the unexpected and soul-crushing loss of daughter Aron Siobhan Downing in January. As a father, he was devastated…heartbroken. As an artist, he sought solace and comfort through his craft…facing the hurt head-on and exploring multiple themes of love to begin the healing. Persevering through the pain Downing is poised to finish the year with his soul rising…literally! The Prince of Sophisticated Soul is ready to share his 7- song masterclass in triumph over tragedy, Soul Rising!
Celebrating an insane 35 years in the “bizness” and 27 Albums to his credit Will Downing will not be stopped! Flexing on his international appeal, the lead single "What Part of My Love" shot to the top of the UK Soul Chart Top 30 and parked there. Those who no longer listen to new releases as the collective work it was intended to be, should make an exception in this case. Although not a "concept" album, the pieces of Soul Rising fit together beautifully as a single statement and should be enjoyed as such. We all know the about the smoothness, but there's a brand-new kind of...dare I say..."Funkiness", that I think is here to stay!
Make no mistake...Will Downing didn't forget the "smooth" that made the Man the Myth the Legend! Nor did he abandon his world-famous knack for what he affectionately calls "interpretations" of classic hits.
There will be no Sittin’ In session prior to this concert
Tickets: Gold Circle $75Orchestra/Front Loge $65Rear Loge $55
