Luther College Jazz Orchestra and Vocal Jazz Ensemble concert Nov. 23

The Luther College Jazz Orchestra will perform in concert Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m., in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther campus.
   
The concert is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Jazz Orchestra will feature several Luther students as soloists, including Katherine Haller and Adan Ragheb, alto saxophone; Clara Bailey-Hugill, baritone saxophone; Lars-Erik Larson, drum-set; Pete Rusella, guitar; Kevin Williams, piano; Julia Jenkins, vocal soprano; Erik Johnson, tenor saxophone; Nathan Engh, trombone; and Jon Ailabouni, Jake Bohlken, and Brett Cooper, trumpet. 

The orchestra will also perform “Limbo Jazz” and “The Shepherd” by Duke Ellington, “Sambandrea Swing” by Don Menza, “Shiny Stockings” by Frank Foster, “Something’s Gotta Give” by Johnny Mercer, “Los Galanes” by Jeff Jarvis, and “The Touch of Your Lips” by Ray Noble.

Also performing is the Luther College Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The vocal ensemble will feature student soloists: Adan Ragheb, alto saxophone; Pete Russella, guitar; John Carroll, singer; and Erik Johnson, tenor saxophone.

The ensemble will perform “Take Me Back” by William Malpede and Susan Moninger, “God Only Knows” by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, “Night and Day” by Cole Porter, “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla, “Someone to Watch Over Me” by Ira Gershwin and George Gershwin, “Acapella in Acapulco” by Anders Edenroth, and “Why Not?” by Michael Camilo.

The Jazz Orchestra is comprised of outstanding orchestra students who audition annually.  Their repertoire of music ranges from Early Jazz to contemporary compositions and arrangements.  They perform twice annually, in addition to taking an annual tour and, every four years, an international tour.

The Jazz Orchestra is conducted by Luther Associate Professor of Music Juan Tony Guzmán, a conductor, composer, arranger, and music educator from the Dominican Republic.

Guzmán has conducted the Florida State University New Music Ensemble, the Dominican Philharmonic Orchestra, The Conservatory of Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the Dominican Republic National Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others.  In addition, he served as consultant for the design and implementation of the nationwide music education curriculum in the Dominican Republic.

Guzmán received the bachelor’s degree from Luther and holds the Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University and a degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a small group of select Luther students.  It will be directed by senior music major Julia Jenkins. 
 
Luther is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the world with seven choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and nearly 1,000 student musicians.
 
Luther students perform in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. More than 350 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, church music and performance.