By SHU YI TANG
Contributing Writer
[email protected]

Under the direction of Ronald Stitt, part-time music instructor, The Allegheny College Jazz Band presented a concert for students, faculty, community members and even prospective students on Sunday, April 13 at 3:15 p.m.

The Jazz Concert presented a variety of music ranging in jazz styles from the Big Band Era to contemporary stylings. Some of the pieces played included Woody Herman’s “John Brown’s Other Body,” Quincy Jones’ “Quintessence” and Jeff Jarvis’ “Critical Mass.”

Prior to the Jazz Concert, students in the Jazz Improv class presented a pre-concert show at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of James Froman, part-time music instructor. Members of the class did a tribute to New Orleans, focusing on improvisation.

Breana Gallagher, ’15, was the featured vocalist in the concert.

“I really enjoyed performing in ‘Orange Colored Sky’, ‘In The Wee Small Hours’ and ‘You Belong To Me,’” said Gallagher. “Being able to sing such a fantastic instrumental ensemble is such a rewarding experience.”

Members of the Jazz Band prepared for the concert since the beginning of the semester. Early on, Stitt chose the songs the band would play and they have been practicing them twice a week since. Stitt even remarks on the band’s improvement and growth through the semester.

“We had a good time. The process to make everything come together, to hear the growth and development of the band in the music is just absolutely amazing,” said Stitt.

Students only had positive comments regarding Stitt’s instruction.

“Dr. Stitt is really good,” said William Hawkins, ’17. “We had fun and learned a lot from him. During practices, he shares his past experience in music. He is grateful for the hard work the students put in.”

Among the melodies, “Just The Way You Look Tonight” was arranged by Daniel Honeycutt, ’14, trumpet. Being one of his favorite classic swing charts, Honeycutt thought that it would be fun to write his own take on the piece. He combined the element’s of Frank Sinatra’s version and some original ideas for the performance.

“Making the arrangement was very challenging,” said Honeycutt. “But it was worth it to hear music that I wrote come to life on real instruments instead of just hearing it in my head and through notation software.”

Honeycutt will be pursuing his master’s degree in music at Youngstown State starting next year. He hopes to build off his experience with the Jazz Band to study composition more as a graduate student.

The Jazz Concert was scheduled during a prospective student weekend, allowing high school students a sneak preview of Allegheny College.

“We have this concert on this day so that the visiting group will see something that is out of the school’s class,” said Stitt.

Overall, the prospective students enjoyed the performance put on by the Jazz Band.

“This is really incredible. I’m really impressed by this performance,” said Thomas Gauger, Westtown School senior and prospective student.

Held every semester, the Jazz Concert gathers a diverse audience that enjoys the works produced by students.

Allegheny alumnus Tim Savatt returned to support the concert. A trumpet and piano player, Savatt was invited by Stitt to join the band and perform the last song, “Time After Time,” which also featured two flute solos by John Rooney, ’14, and Ryan Spartz, ’16.

Sandra Cupper, wife of the deceased Dr. Robert D. Cupper, a former professor of economics and computer science at Allegheny, has attended the jazz concerts in past years.

“My husband was a big supporter of the Jazz Concert. I come to all of the concerts and it is a great performance,” she said.