W Jazz and Wind Ensembles

Under the direction of new Mississippi University for Women Director of Bands Ginger Zingara, The W Jazz and Wind Ensembles will present a Fall Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Poindexter Hall’s Kossen Auditorium.

“This concert has something for everyone,” said Zingara, “you will tap your toes, feel the warmth of a lullaby, sing along, engage in warfare and leave with a smile.”

The first portion of the program will feature The W Jazz Ensemble. Their selections begin with “Linus and Lucy” of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” fame and continue with Santana’s “Oye Como Va.” The audience will be encouraged to join in with “Sweet Caroline,” a baseball favorite and then onto “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” made famous by Ashford and Simpson. The Jazz Ensemble will conclude their portion of the program with Duke Ellington and Billy Stayhorn’s classic, “Take the ‘A’ Train.”

The W Wind Ensemble will then take the stage with the Sousa march classic, “The Thunderer,” and onto the energetic “Hidden Wonders” by Sean O’Laughlin. Dr. Julia Mortyakova, department chair and professor of music, will join the Wind Ensemble on piano with Eric Whitacre’s beautiful and touching “The Seal Lullaby.”

To conclude the evening’s performance, the Wind Ensemble will enter musical battle with Randall Standridge’s “Siege,” which includes guttural war chants evoking thoughts of Viking conquerors.

“This performance will not only be entertaining listening, but will feature lighting effects to enhance audience’s experience,” said Zingara. “This group of students come from almost every degree program on campus and brings together people that would never meet, except in this arena. We welcome students of every musical ability level to join the band program. We even encourage professors at The W to join us, as you will see on November 9th. Each person brings their own viewpoint and contribution to our bands. The musicians connect through the mutual goal of performance. The recent quarantine taught all of us that we need music, even more than before. We are honored and excited that we can present live music again for our community.”

Mortyakova said, “We are excited for the inaugural concert of our Wind Ensemble and I am honored to share the stage with them in their debut performance!”

Program

W Jazz Ensemble

Linus and Lucy                                                            V. Guardaldi/arr. J. Berry

Oye Como Va                                                             T. Puente/arr. P. Murtha

Sweet Caroline                                                           N. Diamond/arr. Ri. Stitzel
*Audience participation encouraged*

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough                           N. Ashford and V. Simpson/arr. P. Murtha

Take the “A” Train                                                     B. Strayhorn/arr. V. Gassi

W Wind Ensemble

The Thunderer                                        J.P. Sousa/arr. J. Bocook

Hidden Wonders                                                       S. O’Loughlin

The Seal Lullaby                                                         E. Whitacre
featuring Julia Mortyakova, piano

Siege                                                                     R. Standridge