W&L’s University Jazz Ensemble Presents ‘Students in the Spotlight’ The W&L community is invited to an in-person concert on April 8.

By Erica Turman
March 29, 2021

Washington and Lee University community members are invited to join the University Jazz Ensemble as student accomplishments are celebrated in a concert on April 8 at 8 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall. Tickets are not required.

The concert is only open to members of the W&L community. To be admitted, audience members will be required to check in at the designated entrance, have their temperature recorded and provide proof of daily attestation. Masking and social distancing protocols will be enforced.

The general public can view the performance live online at https://livestream.com/wlu.

Under the direction of Terry Vosbein, W&L professor of music, the Jazz Ensemble musicians are eager to share their hard work. In addition to the 18-piece big band, a jazz quartet featuring Truman Chancy ’22, Robert Masi ’21, Walker Payne ’21 and Will Morris ’23 will open the concert.

The Jazz Ensemble will premiere a new composition by saxophonist Chancy called “Popping Popcorn.” Other featured titles will include two pieces by composer Maria Schneider, who just received two Grammy awards for her jazz work.

Clarinetist Carissa Petzold ’21 will give a special performance of a 1939 composition, “Camel Hop,” written by Mary Lou Williams for Benny Goodman.

In late 2020, the Jazz Ensemble commissioned composer Christopher Rochester to write a piece entitled “B Delight” for this concert.

According to Rochester, “Jazz, funk and disco collide to create a musical canvas. I attempted to channel the idea of positivity, happiness and delight. It is an exciting composition that the band has a lot of fun playing.”