The in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) is launching ÂĄGuitarra!, a new recital series that will bring world-renowned classical guitarists to campus for free public performances and master classes for Setnor students.

The inaugural performance of ¡Guitarra! will take place on Thursday, March 19, with by at 8 p.m. in Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Recognized as “a young 21st-century virtuoso” (The Guardian), Whittingham’s debut album “My European Journey,” released in 2021, was described as “a superb debut” (BBC Music Magazine) and led to her being chosen as one of Classic FM’s “Rising Star” artists in 2022.

The series will continue on Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. with by , in Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Smits, who plays on eight-string guitars and historical instruments, has been praised as “an uncommonly musical guitarist” (The New York Times) and “one of the most sensitive and cultured performers of our time” (Diapason).

ÂĄGuitarra! is generously supported by VPA alumna Ronna B. Erickson ’76, whose love of classical guitar inspired her to establish the series first at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then at Íű±ŹĂĆ.

“We are beyond grateful for Ronna’s generosity, as it enables us to bring international concert artists and educators to our students and community, for years to come,” says , instructor of guitar in the Setnor School.

Nine faculty members in the (VPA) and five Universitywide organizations are among more than 2,400 nonprofit arts and culture organizations and individuals receiving (NYSCA) funding for 2026. NYSCA recently.

The following organizations received Support for Organizations awards totaling $110,000 to assist with general operations:

• , $10,000
• , $25,000
• , $10,000
• , $40,000
• , $25,000

Support for Artist awards of $10,000 each were also announced for these faculty members:

• , professor, Department of Film and Media Arts, for the project “Aphrodite’s Conception”
• , assistant professor, Department of Film and Media Arts, supporting the Light Work project “By the Skin of Her Teeth”
• , associate professor, Department of Film and Media Arts, for “By All Your Memories”
• , associate professor, Department of Film and Media Arts, for “Mid-Film Crisis,” presented with New York Women in Film & Television
• , assistant professor, School of Art, for “Demigoddess Comic Series”
• , associate professor, Setnor School of Music (in VPA) and School of Education, for “We Hold These Truths: Commemorating the 250th Birthday of The United States of America”
• , assistant professor, Department of Drama, for the project “Wolf Women”
• , instructor in the School of Art, for the work “Night Field,” presented at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park.

In addition, , associate professor in the School of Art, in collaboration with Columbia University faculty members Lynnette Widder and Wendy Walters, received a for the book initiative, “Seeds of Diaspora: Plants, Migrations, Settlements, Cities.” The grant program, a partnership between NYSCA and The Architecture League of New York, recognizes work in architecture, historic preservation and various fields of design.

Update, Nov. 12: Tickets for the 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in-person shows on Dec. 7 are sold out. If you’d like to join the waitlist, email chapel@syr.edu with your name, number of guests and preference of show. You must to receive the link for the virtual show, which will premiere on Dec. 18 at 7  p.m. EST. 

Íű±ŹĂĆ invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to “,” which will include two in-person performances in and a recorded virtual concert.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, two performances will take place in Hendricks Chapel at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. These performances are free and open to the public. The recorded virtual concert will premiere on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. EST.

In-Person Show Ticket Details

Tickets for in-person programs are required and will be available through the , where guests will be able to reserve specific, individual seats.  Within this convenient digital platform, individuals will be prompted to create an account, select their seats and receive their digital tickets. Registration will open on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at noon EST.

Virtual Show Registration Details

To receive the link, you must , which will premiere on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. EST.  Registration will be available as of noon EST on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The virtual show will include the recorded concert and notes from the directors.

2025 Holidays at Hendricks Event Details

An ongoing tradition hosted by  and the  in the , “Holidays at Hendricks” celebrates the sounds of the season and is anchored by the and its director JosĂ© “Peppie” Calvar, professor of applied music and performance and director of choral activities in the Setnor School of Music.

The student-centered concert features performances from:

• The Hendricks Chapel Choir under the direction of Calvar;
• The Íű±ŹĂĆ Symphony Orchestra, directed by James Tapia, associate professor of applied music and performance in the Setnor School of Music;
• The international award-winning Íű±ŹĂĆ Singers, under the direction of John Warren, professor of applied music and performance and director of the Setnor School of Music;
• Concert Choir and Crouse Chorale directed by Calvar and Kyra Stahr, respectively;
• Student organists and Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance and University organist;  and
• The Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble, directed by John Coggiola, associate professor of music education in the Setnor School of Music and the School of Education.

Musical selections this year include: “Christmas Exhilaration” by Sean O’Loughlin; a jazz setting of “S’vivon” arranged by Robert Applebaum and orchestrated by Calvar; “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” and many others.

Complimentary parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in Irving Garage, Hillside Lot and the College Place lot. Those who require accessible parking or would like more information about the event may call Hendricks Chapel at 315.443.2901 or email chapel@syr.edu.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and AIRA will be provided at the in-person concerts. Captioning will be provided at the virtual concert. Doors to Hendricks Chapel will open 30 minutes prior to each concert start time.

Unveiling two world premiere recordings, the Íű±ŹĂĆ Wind Ensemble will release an album, “,” on Friday, Aug. 16, dedicated to the 270 lives lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988.

The album contains George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue,” along with two pieces commissioned in remembrance of those who perished in the bombing, including 35 Íű±ŹĂĆ students.

The Wind Ensemble is the University’s premiere concert wind organization. Possessing an extensive history that includes a series of internationally distributed recordings, the ensemble, conducted by Professor and Associate Professor in the ’ Setnor School of Music, has commissioned dozens of works.

The Wind Ensemble performed the recently commissioned pieces, “Energy and Light” by , assistant professor in the Setnor School of Music, and “Angels Rising” by , during its 2023 United Kingdom Remembrance tour, held in observance of the 35th anniversary of the bombing.

“The scale of that disaster is incredibly humbling and haunting for our community,” says composer Draper. “In addition to mourning those who were lost, it is important to remember that each of the students had a vibrant life that should also be celebrated. With that in mind, I decided to write a piece that was about energy and light—two direct components of what it means to be alive.”

Following Draper’s piece, the listener journeys through the four sections of “Angels Rising”—lament, chorale, ascent and prayer. The work ends with the everlasting question of existence, composer Ticheli notes.

The final album piece, “Rhapsody in Blue,” featuring pianist associate professor and director of the Setnor School of Music, takes the listener back in time.

“This recording, celebrating the centennial of its composition, depicts what was likely heard by the audience packing New York City’s Aeolian Hall on Feb. 12, 1924, when ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ had its premiere with Paul Whiteman’s Palais Royal Orchestra and Gershwin himself at the piano,” says Laufer.

The Navona Records release will be available in both stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive audio formats. It will be accessible for streaming on Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music.

Story by Mikayla Heiss

A composer-organist pair of graduate students in the received a $1,000 grant from the American Guild of Organists (AGO) to compose and perform a new piece for organ. Composer Ryan McQuay Meredith and organist Joseph Maxwell Ossei-Little were among four pairs selected for the grant from the AGO’s this year. The students used the opportunity to explore the vast capabilities of the organ, pushing its limits.

Meredith’s composition, “Polluted Skies,” consists of two movements, “Clouds” and “Stars.” The piece mimics a cloudy sky that eventually opens into a starry night.

A massive mechanical instrument, the organ always fascinated trombonist Meredith. Housed in Crouse College’s Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium, a 3,823-pipe Holtkamp Organ is part of what attracted him to Íű±ŹĂĆ. “There’s a lot of magic tricks you can pull off on the organ,” says Meredith. “Specifically with our organ, there’s a lot of options where you can have one hand do an orchestra’s worth of what you want.”

The completed composition broadened organist Ossei-Little’s musicality, allowing him to play with unique rhythms and contribute his own voice to the growth of the organ community. “What really got me interested in the project is this whole idea that my professor has been championing about expanding the repertoire of the organ,” he says. A composer-organist pair themselves, Setnor Associate Professor Anne Laver and Assistant Professor Natalie Draper guided the students throughout the project.

The creation of new compositions can have a large impact on the evolution of the instrument, Ossei-Little notes. When large chords became commonplace in compositions, organ builders reacted, making it easier for players to meet the needs of the pieces.

Available on video via the AGO website this summer, “Polluted Skies” will highlight all the organ has to offer. Ossei-Little plans to premiere it at his scheduled for Saturday, April 13, at 5 p.m. in Setnor Auditorium. “It’s a very wonderful opportunity for us to showcase what the organ can do,” Ossei-Little says. “Not just what it used to do in the past but what it can do now.”

This past spring, the voices of members of the Hendricks Chapel Choir and the notes played by the Íű±ŹĂĆ Wind Ensemble floated through various spaces in the United Kingdom—from urban St. Paul’s Church in London’s Covent Garden, to rural Tundergarth Church and the town hall in Lockerbie, Scotland, to the majestic space of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.

These performances had a special meaning for the musicians and their directors—they were a way to pay tribute to the 270 people lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988. Among those lost were 35 students returning home after a semester abroad through Íű±ŹĂĆ’s Division of International Programs Abroad (now Syracuse Abroad).

The tour, planned by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) in the lead up to the tragedy’s 35th anniversary, was meant to honor those who were lost in the bombing, strengthen the bonds that have grown between Syracuse and Scotland in the ensuing years, and give the student musicians the experience of an international tour.

Planning and curating the remembrance tour began in the summer of 2021 with a conversation between Milton Laufer, associate professor and director of VPA’s Setnor School of Music, and Bradley Ethington, professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and Timothy Diem, assistant professor of applied music and performance (conducting), about meaningful performance experiences for the wind ensemble.

“They suggested curating a performance centered around the 35th anniversary of the Flight 103 bombing during 2023—that the numeric significance of the year and the number of students we lost that fateful day should be memorialized somehow,” Laufer says.

After conversations with college and University leadership and with Hendricks Chapel Choir Director Jose “Peppie” Calvar and Dean Brian Konkol, and extensive planning by Setnor School administrators Michelle Taylor and Megan Carlsen, the tour was born. The trip was made possible with the support of Chancellor Kent Syverud; Vice Chancellor Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter and Trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56.

“Two concurrent tours of two distinct ensembles; six concerts in three cities at five venues culminating in Lockerbie over the course of eight days. After nearly two years of planning, the day finally came for us to depart,” Laufer says. “I was overcome with emotions throughout the trip—from hearing these incredible students perform beautifully in venues of historical consequence to experiencing the Remembrance Garden alongside them. It was one of the most deeply personal and beautiful, gratifying experiences of my life. I could not have been prouder.”

The Hendricks Chapel Choir, 35 members strong, was led by Calvar, associate professor of applied music and performance (conducting) and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School. The Wind Ensemble, 65 members strong, was directed by Ethington and Diem. Anne Laver, associate professor of applied music and performance (organ) and University organist, and Joseph Ossei-Little, a graduate student and Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar, provided organ accompaniment to the choir.

Laufer; Michael Tick, dean of VPA; Dean Konkol; Elisa Dekaney, professor of music education and VPA associate dean for research, graduate studies and internationalization; and Taylor, assistant director for operations in the Setnor School and “tour mom,” also accompanied the group. Travel arrangements were facilitated by Kipling Tours.

The musical selections performed on the tour were carefully chosen. “Energy and Light,” a celebration of and a reflection on life, was specifically composed for the Wind Ensemble by Natalie Draper, assistant professor of music composition, history and theory in the Setnor School. The St. Paul’s performance was the piece’s European premiere.

“Such Splendor,” performed by the choir, was created by U.K.-based composer Cecilia McDowall, based on a poem written by Pan Am 103 victim and Syracuse student Nicholas Vrenios.

“The text happens to evoke significant meaning when contextualized with Pan Am 103,” says Calvar. “We are grateful to Elizabeth Vrenios, Nicholas’ mother, for her graciousness in allowing us to use this text. We hope the piece and our performance serve as a lasting monument to the Remembrance Scholars Program mission to ‘Look Back and Act Forward.’”

“Angels Rising,” a piece commissioned by the Setnor School and performed by the Wind Ensemble, was composed by prominent American composer Frank Ticheli.

“This work is composed as a deeply moving tribute to the memories of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day in 1988,” says Ethington. “It is a work of sorrow and of hope, a transcendent musical portrayal of the human condition and the beauty and fragility of life itself. This remarkable work will be forever associated with Íű±ŹĂĆ as it is performed around the world in the years to come.”

“Such Splendor” and “Angels Rising” were performed by the Hendricks Chapel Choir and Wind Ensemble, respectively, at the annual Remembrance Scholar Convocation, held in Hendricks Chapel on Oct. 20.

For Ronald Ditchek ’23, a member of the choir, the trip was especially poignant. Ditchek was one of three Remembrance Scholar alumni, including Micayla MacDougall ’22, G’23 and Tyler Youngman ’20, G’21, a Ph.D. student in the School of Information Studies, who performed as part of the Hendricks Chapel Choir (MacDougall also played the bassoon with the Wind Ensemble). During his year as a Remembrance Scholar, Ditchek represented Nicholas Vrenios and continues to do so.

One of Ditchek’s best memories of the trip is signing the book that was kept in a dedicated Remembrance room at Tundergarth Church. “Signing it meant so much to me because it represented how a piece of me was left in Lockerbie. It signified a vow as to my commitment to looking back and acting forward for the 270 lives lost on Pan Am Flight 103,” he says.

Ditchek says visiting the Pan Am Flight 103 memorial in Dryfesdale Cemetery in Lockerbie was another major moment. “I saw a new way of remembering. I was able to lay stones for people who were just like us and learn new stories about the SU students and other passengers who were on the flight,” he says. “When I paid tribute to the victims at the garden, I did everything: said prayers for the lives lost, told stories to other SU students about those who were on the flight and thought about how my experiences in Lockerbie should be told to others, so the legacies of those on the flight are not lost.”

Ben O’Connell, a graduate student in choral conducting in the Setnor School, says the trip left him speechless. “I can’t put to words the kindness and embrace we experienced from the people in Lockerbie. It is truly inspiring how welcoming and gracious the people are after all these years,” he says. “Seeing the memorials in person in the environment where the tragedy occurred put a true humanistic aspect that was missing from my experience with Remembrance Week, one that I wish all people could experience.”

O’Connell even found a personal connection to one of the victims, Colleen Brunner, who grew up in the same town as his mom.

Alie Fitt, an oboist in the Wind Ensemble, says she gained a deep appreciation for Remembrance Week and for the Syracuse students who represent the lives that were lost.

“When Dr. Ethington and Dr. Diem were preparing us to go abroad, we had many conversations about the importance of why we were going and the impact that this had on the Syracuse community. The true weight of the attack, though, didn’t really hit me until I was standing in front of the memorial in Lockerbie,” she says. “In that moment, I realized that these victims were the same age as me, enjoying college life and friends, and had goals and dreams just as I do. 
 Taking part in this Remembrance Tour was such a moving experience and one I will never forget.”

Joseph Ossei-Little, graduate student, Hendricks Chapel Organ Scholar and member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir, says the trip connected him on a personal level with the incident that happened nearly 35 years ago.

“Singing in Tundergarth Church, which overlooks the field where the nose cone of the plane fell that day, signified a true connection for me. I was able to share in their grief and comfort everyone present with my voice and music,” he says. Performing “Such Splendor,” he says, brought him to tears.

“It gave me that resolve, in my heart, that never again should such acts of violence be allowed to happen and how I, can in my small way, share kindness and love to make the world a better place,” Ossei-Little says.

Ben Vermilyea, a graduate student, trombonist and graduate associate conductor with the Wind Ensemble, says the whole week was an extremely powerful and moving experience. “I was fortunate enough to conduct one of the pieces at the concert in the Lockerbie Town Hall. It was amazing to feel the connection between the students and the audience in the room,” he says. “Even though we had never met before, we were bonded by the music being made in remembrance to the events of 35 years earlier. I have never had as powerful of a music making experience than I had performing in the Lockerbie Town Hall, particularly when we performed ‘Angels Rising.’”

The trip was the first experience of traveling outside of North America for percussionist  and graduate student Alex Talerico G’24.

“The thing that stood out to me the most was just how accepting and friendly the people of Lockerbie were when we visited. The positive relationship between the town and the University was palpable and I was approached and accepted with open arms despite being a stranger to every person I met,” he says. “Performing musical works in Lockerbie Town Hall specifically dedicated to the tragedy was incredibly poignant and evoked feelings I’m not sure I’ll ever experience again.”

Allison Pasco, a graduate student in orchestral conducting and music education and a flutist, has long felt a connection to Remembrance. She grew up in Oswego, New York, with Remembrance Scholar alumnus Tyler Youngman. “The trip was one of the most special and memorable opportunities throughout my years at Syracuse,” she says.

Pasco had two prominent solos in “Angels Rising.” “It made me think of all of the Remembrance Scholars I have known throughout the years and of Lynne Hartunian and Colleen Brunner, the two SUNY Oswego students who were victims in the tragedy,” Pasco says.

“The Íű±ŹĂĆ Wind Ensemble’s concert tour of the United Kingdom with the Hendricks Chapel Choir was a remarkable and memorable experience for our students,” says Ethington. “The concerts in London, Lockerbie and Edinburgh were once-in-a-lifetime performances before enthusiastic audiences.”

“Our hosts in Lockerbie were gracious and welcoming, and our shared history in remembering the tragic events of December 1988 resonates from generation to generation,” he says.

Video by Nick Dekaney ’26, a broadcast journalism major in the Newhouse School and a member of the Hendricks Chapel Choir

The spirit of the Orange will unite with the precision of the United States Army’s oldest active-duty band, the West Point Band, for several events this weekend at the University, including a public concert with the University’s Wind Ensemble in Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium Sunday, Sept. 24.

Established in 1817, the West Point Band is the Army’s oldest continuously operating unit at West Point, tracing its lineage to the field musicians assigned by General George Washington when he established the post in 1778. Since that time, the band has evolved into one of the most capable and versatile professional performing groups in the world. Through its 2,600 annual missions, the West Point Band continues to serve the nation as a piece of America’s living history.

First, on Saturday, Sept. 23, when the in the JMA Wireless Dome, the West Point Band and United States Military Academy Cadet Spirit Band will play with the Íű±ŹĂĆ Marching Band as part of the Military Appreciation Day game.

During halftime, legendary Hall of Fame football coach Ben Schwartzwalder, a  war hero who earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star for his actions during World War II, will be inducted into the Syracuse Athletics Ring of Honor. Schwartzwalder led the Orange to the 1959 National Championship and coached some of the greatest players in football history, including Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. Following the ceremony, the Íű±ŹĂĆ Marching Band and the West Point Band will play the West Point Band’s version of “Armed Forces Medley.”

Next, on Sunday, Sept. 24, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, in collaboration with the West Point Band, will host a series of masterclass sessions for Íű±ŹĂĆ students and local high school musicians to learn firsthand from the members of the West Point Band. Sessions will focus on woodwind and brass instruments.

After the masterclass sessions, the during a concert in Setnor Auditorium. The performance will also be livestreamed. Please note, the livestream will only be available during the concert from 2 to 3 p.m.

Based in the , the Wind Ensemble is the premier concert wind organization at Íű±ŹĂĆ. Bradley Ethington, director of bands at the Setnor School of Music and the director of Wind Ensemble, and Timothy Diem, director of the Marching Band, will co-conduct the Wind Ensemble and will be guest conductors for the West Point Band. Additionally, Lt. Col. Daniel Toven, commander and conductor of the West Point Band, will also guest conduct the Wind Ensemble in a piece.

“The members of the West Point Band are marvelous musicians and consummate professionals,” says Ethington. “We look forward to this outstanding collaboration with our students, which will be long remembered. It is a great honor to have them on our campus to perform with the SU bands.”

During the final piece of the concert, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” two local musicians, William Boyd, former member of the West Point Band, and , a former faculty member in the Setnor School, a former member of the West Point Band and former principal trombone in the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, will join the performance.

Syracuse will be the place for the sweet sounds of jazz June 22-25 for the city’s 37th annual —and the Orange has a special role to play in this year’s event.

During this ever-popular Central New York festival, musical members of the University community will perform as part of the lineup: the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble (BCCE), the Orange Juice advanced jazz combo and the Íű±ŹĂĆ Jazz and Commercial Music Faculty Ensemble. The University will also host a special gospel event, with a welcome luncheon.

will present “Return to Community: A Sunday Gospel Jazz Service” to close out Jazz Fest on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m. The public will hear performances from the , the Dillard University Concert Choir (New Orleans) and a community choir. The first-of-its-kind program will offer a dynamic and inclusive spiritual experience that fuses and celebrates gospel and jazz music. A luncheon will be held beginning at 12:30 p.m. on the Shaw Quad. The and are both free of charge; the luncheon is available for the first 1,000 attendees.

“To host the Sunday Gospel Jazz Service on the campus of Íű±ŹĂĆ is an honor and joy, as Syracuse Jazz Fest is widely known and respected, and we at Hendricks Chapel hope to contribute in ways that celebrate music and build unity in ways that are memorable and meaningful,” says Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. “The Dillard University Concert Choir, Black Celestial Choral Ensemble and Syracuse-area Community Choir will unite to provide a wondrous and welcoming experience that acclaims the splendor of gospel and jazz music, sparks spiritual renewal and blesses our beloved community.”

Founded in 1977 by Seretta C. McKnight to provide a spiritual home for Black students at Íű±ŹĂĆ, the BCCE ministers through Gospel music that fosters and supports academic excellence at a university welcoming to all. Led by student director Gabrielle Pinkney ’24 and supported through The Alumni Group (TAG) of the BCEE, the choir has performed at numerous venues throughout North America.

“What an absolutely amazing time for Syracuse Jazz Fest to close with a Return to Community: A Gospel Jazz Service Experience at Hendricks Chapel. As we all know Hendricks Chapel is the heart of Íű±ŹĂĆ and the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble is its soul,” McKnight says. “As we look and see all the challenges we are facing in our communities and around the country, this music experience, merging the Gospel—good news—and jazz—a smooth groove—is just the balm needed for such a time as this.”

To honor the gospel service theme of “Return to Community,” a diverse community choir composed of Syracuse area residents will be led by Cora Thomas, known locally as the “First Lady of Gospel Music.” Born and raised in Syracuse, Thomas supports numerous community organizations and hosts “Sunday Morning Gospel” on WAER.

“This is the premiere year for us to celebrate gospel music through the Syracuse community at large and renowned talents of Dillard University Choir,” Thomas says. “I want to see the city come alive, people come together as a community with BCCE and Dillard University and be enthralled by this epic event.”

The nationally renowned Dillard University Concert Choir features vibrant student voices from across North America. The choir recently performed for the Historically Black College and University All-Star Game and the National Association for Law Placement Annual Education Conference.

Earlier in the Jazz Fest festivities, the Orange Juice advanced jazz combo, made up of students in the , will , at the Visit Syracuse Stage in Hanover Square.

An advanced jazz combo featuring instrumental and vocal performers, Íű±ŹĂĆ Orange Juice performs regularly in concerts on campus and at University and community events. The group is vocalist McKenna Fenimore ’25, Joseph King ’25 on saxophone, Xaden Nishimitsu ’26 on trumpet, keyboardist Sam Ronan ’23, Luke Brady ’25 on bass and Grady Collingbourne ’24 on drums.

The student musicians are looking forward to performing—and being part of an event that includes Grammy Award-winning jazz artists Herbie Hancock and Gladys Knight and other national and international artists.

“We’re excited to hear the big jazz greats coming to the ‘Cuse!” Nishimitsu says.

The Íű±ŹĂĆ Jazz and Commercial Music Faculty Ensemble . Both groups are housed in the Setnor School of Music in the .

Íű±ŹĂĆ Faculty Ensemble are members of the Setnor School of Music Jazz and Commercial Music department faculty and alumni. Their performances will feature new arrangements and compositions. The group is musical director and saxophonist Mike Dubaniewicz, John Hasselback III on trumpet, Daniel Mach-Holt on trombone, Nick Abelgore on keyboards, Rick Balestra on guitar, Matt Vacanti on bass and Allan Ward on drums.

The headlining performers are Grammy Award-winning jazz artists Herbie Hancock and Gladys Knight. Other national and international artists and a collection of local acts will also play as part of the free five-day festival.

Íű±ŹĂĆ is participating in and sponsoring the City of Syracuse’s 37th annual Jazz Fest, held June 22-25 at various locations around the city.

New this year, the festival has expanded to four days, with the University hosting a Sunday Gospel Jazz service inside to close out Jazz Fest on Sunday, June 25. Members of the Syracuse community are invited to campus to hear performances from the out of Hendricks Chapel, along with a community choir and other nationally renowned gospel choirs and jazz groups.

Earlier in the week, the Orange Juice advanced jazz combo, made up of students in the , will perform from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, at the Visit Syracuse Stage in Hanover Square.

The Íű±ŹĂĆ Jazz & Commercial Music Faculty Ensemble will play on the Amazon Stage in Clinton Square from 4-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. Both groups are housed in the Setnor School of Music in the .

“Íű±ŹĂĆ wants to ensure Jazz Fest will be a big success for our community. This is a great opportunity to support the local community and to open up our campus for a great closing event on Sunday showcasing our wonderful and talented students and faculty,” says , vice president of community engagement and government relations.

The headlining Jazz Fest performers are iconic jazz artists Herbie Hancock, a 14-time Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, and Gladys Knight, a seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer also known as the “Empress of Soul.” They will perform in Clinton Square on June 23 and 24, respectively.

Six other national and international artists and a collection of local acts will also play as part of the free five-day festival.

Ten students in the ’ (VPA) are spending spring break in Austin, Texas, for the (SXSW) conference and music festival as part of Gilbert Week, the school’s annual professional development immersion experience.

Established in 2013 by Dennis Gilbert ’73 and Nancy Shapiro Gilbert ’74, Gilbert Week allows Setnor students to learn about the wide variety of career opportunities in music from Íű±ŹĂĆ alumni and other industry professionals in a culturally rich city. Previously held in New York City, the immersion was recently expanded to offer additional cities on a rotating basis, including Austin, Los Angeles and London.

“In discussions with Dennis and Nancy, we talked about expanding Gilbert Week to provide a wider range of experiences for our students,” says Milton Laufer, director of the Setnor School. “These new cities are of interest to our students and home to many successful alumni in the music business. We’re excited to partner with the Gilberts on this re-envisioning of Gilbert Week and are grateful for their continued support.”

Under the guidance of Jim Elenteny, assistant teaching professor of sound recording technology in Setnor, and Jackie Flores, VPA’s assistant director of career development, the students are attending the music conference during the day and the music festival in the evening. The conference portion includes panels, discussions and presentations on a variety of industry topics, including artist rights, touring, publishing, marketing, streaming, mental health and diversity. Small group mentoring sessions with industry professionals will also be offered.

Flores met with the Gilbert Week students prior to the trip to provide guidance on networking in a fast-paced conference environment, such as developing an “elevator pitch” to quickly showcase skills to potential employers.

Follow VPA on Instagram to see what the Gilbert Week students are up to during SXSW.

Members of the University are helping the Bones East trombone ensemble mark its 40th anniversary with a trio of local concerts, beginning with a Palm Sunday performance at DeWitt Community Church (DCC).

The 25-piece group returns to DCC on Sunday, April 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. The program features traditional and contemporary favorites, including several new arrangements by co-director Tom Camp.

Although the concert is free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to make a $10 tax-deductible donation to the church’s music ministry fund. DCC is located at 3600 Erie Blvd. in DeWitt. Parking is free. For more information, visit .

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our 40th anniversary with what is turning into a springtime tradition at DeWitt Community Church,” says co-director , who recently retired from a 50-year career in the University’s and at Onondaga Community College. “I can’t think of a better way to usher in the holiday season while giving back to the community.”

The concert runs the stylistic gamut. DCC Music Director and organist Abel Searor ’08, G’10 joins Bones East for the “Adagio” from Saint-Saens’ “Third Symphony (Organ)” and “Nessum dorma“ from Puccini’s “Turandot.” The latter, recently arranged by Camp, features soloist Pete Sanborn.

Other soloists include Mark Anderson G’18 and Dave DiGennaro ’91, both of whom shine in the world premiere of Camp’s up-tempo arrangement of “Jada.” DiGennaro also takes a turn in the Duke Ellington chestnut “Reflections,” arranged by Camp, as well.

The world premiere of a jazz sextet by Loyola University Professor John Mahoney also is on tap.

“We’re grateful to partner with groups like Bones East,” says Searor, who teaches in the Setnor School and the , both of which reside in the . “Music is vital to what we do [at DCC] because it enhances worship and fosters a sense of community.”

The Palm Sunday concert is well-timed, given the church’s acquisition of a new, technologically state-of-the-art organ. “It’s like welcoming a new family member,” says Searor, who also oversees DCC’s chancel choir and adult bell choir.

Bones East was founded by Howard Kelley ’42 in 1983, around the same time that he and his wife, Gayle, started the Skaneateles Community Band. Since then, Bones East has concertized throughout the region while attracting a deep bench of talent that includes students, retirees, music educators and performers.

Some members also play in the award-winning (SUBE), housed in the —Jim D’Addario ’80, Clifford Crain and Jim Greenwald, to name a few.

Harris, who retired in 2009 after 48 years as principal trombonist of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, has taught musicians in SUBE and Bones East. “I feel like I’ve come full circle as a teacher,” he says.

The former member has fond memories of his student days at Syracuse—performing at the 1960 Cotton Bowl; picking up an Orange Key Award with football great Ernie Davis ’62; and pledging Phi Gamma Delta, where he met his artist wife, Karen ’65, at a Gamma Phi Beta mixer. Fifty-eight years on, they’re still married.

Harris also is a West Point Band alumnus, a retired fire police captain for the Fayetteville Fire Department, a marshal of the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade and an avid golfer. “If I swing my trombone like my golf club, I’m happy,” he says.

Bones East will present a joint concert with SUBE on Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (259 East Onondaga St., Syracuse). The trombone group will then perform a concert on Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Cortland (25 Church St., Cortland) benefitting earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey.

Members of the are helping the Society for New Music (SNM) celebrate its annual “Vision of Sound” program, Feb. 17-19.

For the past 17 years, “Vision of Sound” has embodied the best in new music and modern dance throughout the region. This year’s program features compositions by Assistant Teaching Professor Loren Loiacono, master’s student Jaclyn Breeze ’23 and composer Christopher Cresswell ’11, to name a few.

Musical performances are by the Society Players, whose members include clarinetist and saxophonist Ronald Caravan, a retired professor in the Setnor School, which is part of the .

“Vision of Sound” runs Friday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Palace Theater (2384 James St., Syracuse); Saturday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (299 Pulteney St., Geneva); and Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. at Wellin Hall at Hamilton College (198 College Hill Rd., Clinton).

Regular tickets are $20. Student and senior citizen tickets are $15. People 18 and under are admitted free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit .

“We’re excited to showcase members of our campus community,” says Pilgrim, a former Syracuse professor who co-founded SNM in 1971. “’Vision of Sound’ is a celebration of not only new and established talent, but also the combined experience of live music and dance.”

Of the eight compositions on the program, five are world premieres, including Loiacono’s “Miniatures“ for solo piano. The award-winning composer will perform the piece with a sextet of dancers, choreographed by Caitlin Mahon of MAYHEM//dance fame. Loiacono dedicates the piece to her cats.

Co-founder of the Kettle Corn New Music series, Loiacono composes music that is described as “plush 
 elusive” (“The New York Times”) and “vivid and colorful” (Albany’s “Times Union”).

Breeze’s “Structures” is a five-movement work for two saxophones. Utilizing traditional compositional techniques, the 2022 piece is something of a departure for the master’s student of . “I tried writing outside my comfort zone,” admits Breeze, whose piece features a Cyr wheel performance by Cirque du Soleil alumnus Avi Pryntz-Nadworny.

A Rising Star at SNM’s 2022 Cazenovia Counterpoint festival, Breeze also is an accomplished flutist and a member of SNM’s board.

The program continues with Cresswell’s “Three Studies” for baritone saxophone and electronics. Premiered at Syracuse, the 2011 work marks the composer’s fascination with human-generated sounds and electronic media. “Each movement is connected by pitch content but explores different timbral possibilities,” explains the multi-instrumentalist who teaches at Onondaga Community College.

“Three Studies” accompanies a quartet of dancers, choreographed by Maya June Dwyer, a faculty member at Le Moyne College and the Manlius Pebble Hill School.

“Vision of Sound” highlights dozens of other musicians and dancers, including Ryan Chase, an Emmy-nominated composer on the faculty of Colgate University, as well as Sean McLeod and Kierstyn Zaykoski, both of whom are affiliated with the New York Institute of Dance and Education.

Based in Syracuse, SNM is the only year-round new music organization in New York state outside of Manhattan. Pilgrim attributes its success to partnerships with universities like Syracuse, where students, faculty and alumni participate in some 30 concerts and workshops a year.

“We provide a format for living composers, much like galleries do for visual artists,” says Pilgrim, whose organization also collaborates with in the . “Our longevity is a testament to the hard work of many people and the enduring popularity of contemporary music.”

Holidays at Hendricks has become one of the most anticipated holiday traditions on the Íű±ŹĂĆ campus.

Each December, students in the  in the  entertain the University community with live musical performances, and this year, there are two sold-out, in-person concerts on Dec. 4—4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.—along with a on Dec. 11.

Hosted by , these performances are free and open to the public. Celebrating the sounds of the season, Holidays at Hendricks is anchored by the  and its director , associate professor of applied music and performance and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School.

“The amount the show has grown since my arrival here in 2013 is incredible,” says Calvar, who spends 18 months organizing each year’s musical celebration.

“We’re showing institutionally what we as the Setnor School of Music do best, and we get to do it all at once in this one big moment. It’s tremendously fulfilling for us and for our students, and we hope that our audience feels the same way.”

Calvar stops by to discuss Holidays at Hendricks and what the student-centric concerts mean to the University community, why Holidays at Hendricks is such a special celebration and what people can expect from this year’s performances.

Calvar also shares the challenges of producing the first virtual Holidays at Hendricks during the COVID-19 pandemic, how he went from being an engineering student to pursuing a career in music and his passion for spreading choral music around the world through a series of international residencies.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 125 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring José “Peppie” Calvar, director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir and artistic director of Holidays at Hendricks. A transcript [PDF] is also available.

Íű±ŹĂĆ invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to “,” which will include two in-person performances in Hendricks Chapel as well as a recorded virtual concert.

On Sunday, Dec. 4, performances will take place in Hendricks Chapel at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The recorded virtual concert will premiere on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. EST.

These performances are free and open to the public. for both the in-person and virtual concerts. Guests for the in-person concerts can select which section they will sit in for the performance.

An ongoing tradition hosted by and the in the , Holidays at Hendricks celebrates the sounds of the season and is anchored by the and its director , associate professor of applied music and performance and assistant director of choral activities in the Setnor School.

The student-centered concert features performances from:

• Íű±ŹĂĆ Symphony Orchestra, directed by James Tapia, associate professor of applied music and performance in the Setnor School;
• The international award-winning Íű±ŹĂĆ Singers, under the direction of John Warren, professor of applied music and performance and director of choral activities in the Setnor School;
• Crouse Chorale and Setnor Sonority, directed by Wendy Moy, assistant professor of music education in the Setnor School and the School of Education, and Peppie Calvar, respectively;
• Student organists and University organist Anne Laver on the Hendricks Chapel organ;
• Íű±ŹĂĆ’s big band, the Morton Schiff Jazz Ensemble, directed by John Coggiola, associate professor and chair of music education in the Setnor School and the School of Education; and
• The World Premiere of “Quem Vidistis Pastores” from Christmas Cantata, by Peppie Calvar.

Public parking is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis in Irving Garage and the Hillside lot. Those who require accessible parking or would like more information about the event may call Hendricks Chapel at 315.443.2901 or email chapel@syr.edu.

Communication Access Realtime Translation and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided at in-person concerts. Captioning will be provided at the virtual concert. Doors to Hendricks Chapel will open 30 minutes prior to each concert start time.

For more information, visit . Hendricks Chapel will also post regular updates about the event through its ,ÌęÌęČčČÔ»ćÌęÌę±èČčČ”±đČő.

The Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts will host the 2022 (SCI) Region II Conference Nov. 4-6.

SCI is an organization that is dedicated to the promotion of composition, performance, understanding and dissemination of new and contemporary music. The conference is a celebration of contemporary composition, featuring the works of 40 composers from both the local region and across the country. Region II encompasses New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

The conference includes six concerts that are open to the public, with music spanning the solo, chamber, electronic, multimedia, choral and orchestral mediums. The concerts will be held on the Íű±ŹĂĆ campus as well as in the Syracuse community in partnership with the Society for New Music and Symphoria, the orchestra of Central New York.

The concerts feature visiting performers as well as Setnor students, faculty, staff and alumni. Composer Nilo Alcala G’09 is a featured guest artist, with three of his choral works programmed on the final Nov. 6 concert. Alcala will also give a pre-concert talk.

The is as follows. Tickets are not required unless noted.

• Friday, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. Society for New Music, Park Central Presbyterian Church, 504 E. Fayette St., Syracuse. . Music by Paul Richards, Wenbin Lyu, Sami Seif, Jiyoun Chung, Charles Peck, Paul Novak, Octavio Vazquez.
• Saturday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m. Mixed Chamber and Electronic Music, Shemin Auditorium, Shaffer Art Building. Music by Cecilia Suhr, Brittany Green, Devin Cholodenko, Manual Sosa, Neil Flory, Jamie Leigh Sampson, Filipe Leitao.
• Saturday, Nov. 5, 2:30 p.m. Mixed Chamber and Electronic Music, Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Music by Andrew Martin Smith, Ivette Rodriguez, Paul David Thomas, Matthew Jaskot, Andrew Walters, Natalie Draper, Mark Zanter, William Vollinger.

• Saturday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Symphoria, Oncenter Crouse Hinds Concert Theater, 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. . Music by Giacomo Rossini, Dinah Bianchi, Samuel Barber, Ralph Vaughan Williams.

• Sunday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m. Mixed Chamber and Electronic Music, Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College. Music by Paul Leary, Beth Wiemann, Robert McClure, Eric Heumann, Hubert Howe, Sam Parnin, Sierra Wojtczack, Gregory Wanamaker, Ed Martin.
• Sunday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. Music and Message: New Choral Works, Hendricks Chapel. Music by Patrick Vu, Megan DiGeorgio, Carrie Magin, Anuj Bhutani, Michael Rickelton and guest composer Nilo Alcala. Alcala will give a pre-concert talk at 3 p.m.