April 5, 2011

 

Contacts:

Department of Music, 657-2350
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — The MSU Billings Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Robertson, will present its Spring Semester concert on Thursday April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Cisel Recital Hall. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students. There is no admission charge for MSU-B faculty, staff and students. Free parking at night is available in the lot next to Cisel Recital Hall.

 

Music from previous jazz eras as well as current settings of jazz classic favorites will be performed. These include “The Jazz Police” by Gordon Goodwin, “All Blues” by Miles Davis, “Mack the Knife” by Kurt Weil and “Perdido” by Juan Tizol.

 

Soloists featured include alto saxophonist Michael Montoya from Billings and tenor saxophonist, and vocalist, Mary Ryan from Billings. Trumpet soloists include Adam Wetzel from Billings and Melody Whittman from Huntley Project, The trombone soloists are David Florian from Miles City and Kirk Visser from Shepherd. Rhythm section soloists include pianist Alyssa Conard from Shepherd, drummer Mike Spence from Shepherd, and guitarist Simon Wiesner from Laurel.

 

The members of the jazz ensemble are:

  • Lauren Clark, trombone, is a Business Finance Major from Hulett, Wyoming.
  • Alyssa Conard, piano, is a Psychology Major from Shepherd.
  • David Florian, bass trombone, is a Graduate Student Music Education Major from Miles City.
  • Dan Horton, guitar, is a Music Major from Helena.
  • Samantha Hamburg, tenor sax, is a Music Education Major from Savage.
  • Gregory Huff, baritone sax, is a Business Major from Laurel.
  • Devin Kennedy, percussion, is a Music Education Major from Billings. 
  • Steven Klippenstein, bass, is a Music Major from Billings.
  • Cory Lovec, trumpet, is a Major in Pre-Pharmacy and Chemistry from Ekalaka.
  • Michael Montoya, alto sax, is Business Marketing and Music Major from Billings.
  • Ken Pies, trumpet, is a Music Major from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  • Mary Ryan, tenor sax, is a Music Major from Laurel.
  • Jim Robertson, trombone, lives in Billings and has two dogs, who are named Ruby and Bella.
  • Michael Spence, percussion, is a Health and Human Performance Major from Shepherd.
  • Kirk Visser, trombone, is a Music Education Major from Shepherd.
  • Colin Welsh, trumpet, is an Elementary Education Major from Buffalo, Wyoming.
  • Adam Wetzel, trumpet, is a Music Education Major from Billings.
  • Simon Wiesner, guitar, is an Applied Science Major from Laurel.
  • Melody Wittman, trumpet, is a Nursing Major from Huntley Project.

For more information, contact the department of music at 657-2350.