JESSE AYERS' music has been performed in Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and over 100 U.S. cities, and has twice had his music selected to represent the United States at the prestigious World Music Days festival. Much of Ayers' music is scored for large, "surround-sound" forces and explores the intersection of the spiritual and natural worlds and the redemptive intervention of a very real God in the affairs of the human race.
Maestro Christopher Wilkins: "Ayers piece a knock out"
Christopher Wilkins
Music Director, Akron Symphony Orchestra
"Jesse Ayers' The Passion of John Brown is a total knock-out. On a purely visceral level it is magnificent. The audience was overwhelmed, and their powerful response has continued unabated. I keep hearing from people how moved they were by the music, the drama, the pacing, and the haunting 'flashbacks.' There is also a feeling that it has set a new standard in works of this type, narrated symphonic works that both inspire and inform.
"Just as remarkable was the reaction of our educational audiences. At first, I was reluctant to program The Passion of John Brown in its entirety for middle schoolers, unsure whether it could hold their attention for 19 minutes. But as it turned out, they were perfectly rapt, nobody moved! They were as quiet as any adult audience. Teacher surveys have come back to us now - all ten out of ten. Read more
Ayers' work performed at international piano competition.
May 14, 2009. Jesse Ayers' Waldstein Express for 2-pianos 8-hands was performed on the opening concert of the Slobomir International Music Competition in Bijeljina, Repubic of Srpska. The work was performed by students of Professor Dubravka Jovicic, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty, Belgrade, Serbia.
There were five students who wanted to perform this piece, so to add to the humor of the piece, the fifth player meanders in as though he is a passerby, and rotates into the piece. I love the enthusiasm in this performance!
The work is based on the opening two measures of Beethoven's Sonata No. 21 in C major "Waldstein" and also briefly quotes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Bach's Prelude in C major from the WTC, plus a little Gershwin and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Ayers commissioned to compose new festival work
October 2007. Jesse Ayers has completed a commission to compose a new festival anthem for the inauguration of the new president of Malone College, Dr. Gary Streit. The work is scored for the college's combined choirs [in the aisles], organ, piano, brass quintet, timpani [in front], and surround-sound winds [along the side walls and back], and includes audience participation. Ayers has also included narration pertaining to the college's 1892 founders, J.Walter and Emma Malone. One of the narrators was the great-great grandaughter of the founders.
