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Jesse Ayers, composer

PAST PERFORMANCES


Monday, October 28, 2019, 7:30 pm
WALDSTEIN EXPRESS
SHINKANSEN (Bullet Train)
​Brent Schloneger and Raquel Teare, piano duo
Stewart Room, Malone University

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WORLD  PREMIERE
Friday, October 25, 2019, 12:30 pm
SHINKANSEN (Bullet Train)
(Commissioned by the Ohio Music Teachers Association and the National Music Teachers Association)
Brent Schloneger and Raquel Teare, piano duo
2019 OhioMTA State Conference
Franciscan Center of Lourdes University
 Sylvania, Ohio

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​Wednesday, October 23, 2019
THERE'S A STIRIN' IN THE WATER
Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
David Katz, conductor
​Bill McMurray, soloist
Saint James Cathedral, Chicago

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l-r: Jesse Ayers, David Katz, Bill McMurray, Chuck Myricks
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August 25, 2019, 7:30 pm
WALDSTEIN EXPRESS
Brent Schloneger and Raquel Teare, piano duo
Presser Recital Hall
University of Mount Union
 Alliance, Ohio

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Saturday, May 4, 2019, 10 am & 2 pm
AIN'T GOT TIME TO DIE
from "There's a Stirrin' in the Water"
The Malone University Chamber Choir
Dr. Jon Peterson, conducting
Malone University Commencement

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Sunday, April 21, 2019, 3:00 p.m.
THE  DANCING  KING
Joseph Freeman, tuba
University of Tennessee Chattanooga


Sunday, April 14, 2019, 3:00 p.m.
THE PRAYER OF ELIJAH
(Finalist, 2013 American Prize for Composition)
Malone University Symphonic Band
Dr. Otis French, solo euphonium

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April 1, 2019
WALDSTEIN EXPRESS
ARIA: PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES
Malone University Faculty April Fool's Recital

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Waldstein Express
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Please Turn Off Your Cell Phones

March 14-15-16, 2019
BENEATH SUSPICION
Marble City Opera
Lindsey Fuson, Denisha Miller Pompey
Brandon Coffer, piano; Margaret Moore, violin
Kathryn Frady Marvel, artistic director
Knoxville, Tennessee

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Denisha Miller Pompey (l), Lindsay Fuson

February 21, 2019
WALDSTEIN EXPRESS
Butler University

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December 7-8, 2018
FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
Malone University Symphonic Band
Christmas at Malone
Dr. Otis French, conducting
​Canton, Ohio

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December 8, 2018
​FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra
Sheldon Bair, conducting
​Bel Air, Maryland

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November 29, 2018
VENI EMMANUEL
Texas Woman's University Wind Symphony & Combined Choirs
Dr. Joni Jensen & Dr. Carter Biggers, directors
​Denton, Texas

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Saturday, November 3, 2018
​AKEDAH
​
AIN'T GOT TIME TO DIE 
​(from "Stirrin' In the Water")
Ohio Northern University Symphony
Travis Jürgens, conducting
​National Conference of CFAMC, Malone University

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Saturday, April 14, 2018, 7:30 pm
THERE'S A STIRRIN' IN THE WATER
​Special Judges' Citation: "Best Use of Musical Material from Another Source"
​2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Choral
​
Fountain Inn (SC) Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Michael Moore, conductor

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Thursday, March 23, 2018, 7:30 pm
HYMNS WE ALL KNEW
The Malone University Chamber Choir
Dr. Jon Peterson, conducting
Ohio Star Theater, Sugarcreek, OH

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Thursday, March 8, 2018, 7 pm
JERICHO and RAHAB
Both works finalists for the 2014 American Prize in Composition
East Texas Baptist University Symphonic Band
Mark Crim, conductor; Don Parks, narrator; Laurie Lee Cosby, soprano
​Marshall, TX

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Sunday, February 25, 2018, 7 pm
THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​
Winner, 2011 American Prize for Composition
Ohio Northern University Symphony Orchestra
Travis Jürgens, conductor
Freed Center for the Performing Arts
Ohio Northern Campus, Ada, OH

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​Sunday, February 11, 2018, 3 pm
BENEATH SUSPICION
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
Jessica Crowell, Desirée Hargrave, sopranos;
​Jessica Kapraly, piano; Joe Lautzenheizer, violin
Roscoe United Methodist, 475 High Street, Coshocton, OH

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Friday, January 12, 2018, 1 pm
GLOCKENKLÄNGEN
The 2018 (First-Ever) Indiana All-State Handbell Choir
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
First Presbyterian Church, 300 West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN

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Friday & Saturday, December 8-9, 2017, 7:30pm
​VENI EMMANUEL
Christmas at Malone
Malone University Chorale, Symphonic Band, and Orchestra
Dr. Jon Peterson & Malcolm Jones, conductors
Johnson Center, Malone University Campus, Canton, OH

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Sunday, October 8, 2017, 2 pm
THERE'S A STIRRIN' IN THE WATER
​Special Judges' Citation: "Best Use of Musical Material from Another Source"
​2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Choral
​
Fort Bend (TX) Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Dominique Røyem, conductor

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Fort Bend County, part of the greater Houston area, was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. Like so many residents of the area, most of the orchestra's staff was under mandatory evacuation. While it seemed that the concert might have to be canceled or postponed, the staff, once they were able to meet, determined that proceeding on schedule, if at all possible, was a key opportunity to serve their community by bringing encouragement and emotional healing to those whose lives have been so disrupted by the hurricane. Composers Myricks and Ayers believe the old spirituals quoted in the piece, songs that speak of faith in the face of adversity, will have special meaning for the people of Fort Bend County at this time. Conductor Røyem has affirmed this belief, "I know our community will find solace in this music." 

September 14, 2017
​BENEATH SUSPICION
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​
Opera Kansas (Wichita)
Ashley Winters, Jasmine Jackson, sopranos
Sherri Pilgreen, piano; Ashley Winters, artistic director

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April 8, 2017
​​BENEATH SUSPICION
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​​
Jessica Crowell, Desirée Hargrave, sopranos
Patrick Wickliffe, piano; Joy O'Conner, violin
Cynthia Wohlschlager, artistic director/vocal coach
Malone University Opera Theater

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March 16, 2017
​​BENEATH SUSPICION
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​​
Jessica Crowell and Desirée Hargrave, sopranos 
​Jessica Kapraly, piano, Joy O'Conner, violin
The Canton MacDowell Club
Cable Recital Hall, Canton Museum of Art

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March 8, 2017
​FLASHBAX
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Wind Ensemble 
​Carolyn Barber, conducting

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January 30, 2017
​​BENEATH SUSPICION
​
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​
Soprani Compagni
Canton, Ohio

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December 16, 2016
​FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
The Maybrook Wind Ensemble
Kevin Scott, conducting
Maybrook, NY

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December 10, 2016
FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
The Brantford Symphony Orchestra
Philip Sarabura, conducting
Sanderson Centre, Brantford, Ontario

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December 9-10, 2016
FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
The Maybrook Wind Ensemble
Kevin Scott, conducting
Middletown, NY and Cornwall, NY

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PREMIERE
THERE'S A STIRRIN' IN THE WATER
​Special Judges' Citation: "Best Use of Musical Material from Another Source"
​2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Choral
​
​November 18, 2016
The Akron Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Akron Youth Excellence in the Performing Arts Choir
Christopher Wilkins, conducting
E.J. Thomas Hall, Akron, OH

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​November 17, 2016
THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​
​​Winner, 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Composition
​Two Concerts:  7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The Windiana Concert Band
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting; Richard amRhein, narrator
University Theater, Center for the Arts, Valparaiso University

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​October 8, 2016
​​​BENEATH SUSPICION
​​
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​
Jessica Crowell and Desirée Hargrave, sopranos; 
​Jessica Kapraly, piano, Emily Williams, violin
National Conference of Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers
Mississippi College

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​October 7, 2016
​THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​​
​​Winner, 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Composition
Mississippi College Symphonic Winds
Craig Young, conducting; ​Hosea Griffith, narrating

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September 21, 2016
​​​​BENEATH SUSPICION
​​
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​
Soprani Compagni
​Handong University, South Korea

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September 10, 2016
​​​​BENEATH SUSPICION
​
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​​
Soprani Compagni
​Saint Bartholomew Catholic Church
​Columbus, Indiana

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​May 25, 2016
​THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​​
​​Winner, 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Composition
Riverbend High School Band
Aaron Noë, conducting
Fredericksburg, VA

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​April 29, 2016
​​​​​BENEATH SUSPICION
​
Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
​​
Opera Kansas
Ashley Winters & Jasmine Jackson, sopranos; 
​Sherri Pilgreen, piano; Paul Brodene Smith, artistic director
Wichita, KS

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Cast: Ashley Winters and Jasmine Jackson

​April 24, 2016
​THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​​
​​Winner, 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Composition
​Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony
Aaron Noë, conducting
Fredericksburg, VA

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February 26, 2016
​PRIVATE EYE PROWL
Luther College Concert Band at CBDNA, North Central
Iowa State University

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February 25, 2016
​PRIVATE EYE PROWL
​Windiana Concert Band
​Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
​Valapraiso, IN

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December 10, 2015
​FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
Little Rock Wind Symphony

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December 6, 2015, Chicago, IL
​VENI EMMANUEL
Saint Xavier University Chorale and Wind Ensemble
Laura Bogan, Joshua Thompson, conductors
​Chicago

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PREMIERE
​BENEATH SUSPICION
​Winner, Opera Kansas Zepick Modern Opera Composition Prize
​Finalist Honorable Mention, 2017-18 American Prize in Composition—Opera
November 13, 2015
Soprani Compagni
Indiana Wesleyan University

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Saturday, October 17, 2015
​RAHAB
Finalist, 2014 American Prize in Composition—Band
Maura Janton Cock, mezzo-soprano
Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
Valparaiso, IN

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​October 10, 2015
​RAHAB
Finalist, 2014 American Prize in Composition—Band
Cynthia Skelly Wohlschlager, mezzo-soprano
Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
​Canton, Ohio

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October 3, 2015
THE PASSION OF JOHN BROWN
​
​​​​Winner, 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Composition
Michigan Philharmonic Orchestra
Nan Washburn, conducting;  Emery Stephens, narrating

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July 16, 2015
​AKEDAH
Luther Summer Music Honors Band
Jeffrey Scott Doebler,conducting
​Luther College, Decorah, Iowa

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May 15, 2015
​JERICHO
Abington Symphony Orchestra
John Sall, conducting
​Abington, Pennsylvania

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March 29, 2015
​AKEDAH
Concordia University Irvine Wind Orchestra
Jeffrey Held, conducting
​Irvine, California

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December 13, 2014
​VENI EMMANUEL
Ohio Northern University Orchestra
Travis Jürgens, conducting
​Ada, Ohio

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December 6-7, 2014
VENI EMMANUEL
Waldorf College Christmas Concert
Joshua Thompson and Travis Beck, directors
​Forest City, Iowa

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December 6-7, 2014
​VENI EMMANUEL
Milligan College Christmas Concert
K. Brown, N. DeLong, A. Elliot, directors
​Johnson City, Tennessee

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December 6, 2014
​FANFARE AND CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS
Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra
Sheldon Bair, conducting
​Bel Air, Maryland

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December 4, 2014
​VENI EMMANUEL
Rossview High School Concert Wind Ensemble
Brock Cobb, director
​Clarksville, Tennessee

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November 24, 2014
​AKEDAH
Marietta College Wind Ensemble
Marshall Kimball, conducting
​Marietta, Ohio

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October 11, 2014
​JERICHO
​​​​Finalist, 2013 & 2014 American Prize in Composition—Band
Biola Symphony Orchestra and Paul Delgado Singers
Marlin Owen, conducting
Donte Apperwhite, narrating
​La Mirada, California

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July 17-18, 2014
​AKEDAH
Brigham Young University Idaho Symphony Band
Darrell Brown, conducting
​Jon Linford, narrating
​Rexburg, Idaho

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June 1, 2014
​FLASHBAX
WindWorks of Washington Wind Symphony
Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
​Alexandria, Virginia

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