Jesse Ayers
News
Windiana to present Ayers' Biblical Epics Trilogy
The Windiana Concert BandThe Windiana Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, will present a program on November 17, 2011, of the three large Biblical works by composer Jesse Ayers. The works to be performed are and they gathered on Mount Carmel, Jericho, and Rahab. Mezzo-soprano Beth Ray Westlund will sing the role of Rahab.
The concert will be at the Memorial Opera House, Vaparaiso, Indiana, on Novementer 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. local time. FOR TICKETS CALL 219-548-9137.
Ayers wins 2011 American Prize for Orchestral Compostion
May 16, 2011. The American Prize has announced that Jesse Ayers' The Passion of John Brown has been named winner of the 2011 American Prize for Orchestral Composition. The American Prize is a series of national non-profit competitions in the performing arts which provides reward and recognition to the finest composers, conductors and ensembles in America. Ayers' work was commissioned by the Akron Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the 150th anniversary of abolitionist John Brown's raid on the Federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. Brown was a resident of Akron. The work was premiered October 17, 2009 — 150 years to the day of Brown's raid — by the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Wilkins conducting, and Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee Leon Bibb, narrating.
Lamont Symphony to perform Ayers 'Jericho' in Denver
Lawrence Golan, conductorThe Lamont Symphony Orchestra
May 26, 2011. The Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Golan, conducting, will perform Jesse Ayers' Jericho May 26 in Denver at the Gates Concert Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 East Iliff Avenue, 7:30 p.m. local time.
Jesse will be present at this performance.
Ayers' "Escapades" wins Dayton Ballet "New Music for New Dance"
Jesse Ayers' has been named one of the three winners nationwide of the Dayton Ballet's New Music for New Dance. The program matches three composers with three choreographers culminating in a series of world premiere ballet performances. His winning work, Mountain River Escapades, was selected by jury from a national call for scores. Ayers work will be choreographed by Susanne Payne and presented in five performances March 24-27. Click here for concert time details.
Click here for article in the Dayton Daily News.
Brantord Expositor: "Brilliant Fanfare"
Philip Sarabura, conductorBrantford Symphony Orchestra
Dec. 6, 2010. "From the brilliant opening fanfare on Joy to the World by the fresh voice of American composer Jesse Ayers, sparkling with brass and percussion...." —The Brantford (Ontario) Expositor.
"Your Fanfare is fabulous ... a great way to start off the program with lots of energy." —Philip Sarabura, Music Director, Brantford Symphony Orchestra
Jesse Ayers Awarded MacDowell Fellowship
Jesse in front of his studio at the MacDowell ColonySeptember 2010. The MacDowell Colony has announced that composer Jesse Ayers has been awarded a MacDowell Fellowship for the Fall of 2010. The fellowship includes a residency at the 450 acre wooded site in New Hampshire.
Past fellows incude Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Thornton Wilder, James Baldwin, Willa Cather, and Dubose and Dorothy Heyward.
According to the the MacDowell Colony web site, the colony's mission is to "nurture the arts by offering creative individuals of the highest talent an inspiring environment in which to produce enduring works of the imagination."
Composer John White: "Knocked out by Ayers' JERICHO"
May 2010. "We heard Jericho this morning [at the concert in Denver] and my wife and I were both knocked out by it! Great! Congratulations! We enjoyed the audience participation, but the music stands on its own, even without that. There were children there too, as young as kindergarten age, and they enjoyed it too! Your command of the instrumentation is very impressive."
—Dr. John White, composer
University of Vienna Distinguished Chair in Humanities
Professor of Music Emeritus, University of Florida
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Click to hear excerpt from JERICHO
Terry Treuden: "Ayers' JERICHO hit of the tour"
May 2010. "I have found Jericho to be one of the most effective pieces I have ever had the pleasure to conduct. There is no doubt it makes a lasting impression on the audience. Jericho was "the hit" of the program whenever we performed it. People LOVED it. The audience just kept talking about your piece after our performances." —Prof. Terry Treuden, Director of Instrumental Music, Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Wisconsin Lutheran Concert Band performs Ayers' JERICHO in 4 states
May 2010. The Concert Band of the Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under the direction of Dr. Terry Treuden, will be performing Jesse Ayers' Jericho May 7 in Milwaukee,WI; May 17 in St. Paul, MN; May 19 at Black Hills State University in North Dakota; and May 21 in Denver, CO.
The 16-minute theater-piece employs narrator, surround-sound placement of the musicians, and unorthodox audience participation.
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