N E W S

West Liberty Hosts Third Annual Tri-State Select Honor Band Festival

On December 4-6, 2008, students and educators from the region will join Guest Conductor Dr. Eddie R. Smith from Los Angeles and Division of Music faculty and students for a three-day festival of workshops, masterclasses and performances. Please visit our site for complete information: Tri-State Select Honor Band Festival website.

 

 

Marching Band Returns to West Liberty

After nearly a decade without one, the West Liberty Division of Music is reorganizing and rebuilding the Marching Band program. The group, which will be open to all students, will take the field for the first time in the Fall of 2009. If you are interested in joining the Marching Band next year, please contact our Associate Director of Bands, Jay Ware. He can be reached by email: jware@westliberty.edu or jwpercussion@yahoo.com. Scholarships are available.

New Additions to the Music Faculty: Barrick, Garcia, and Ware

Dr. Christopher Barrick will direct the Woodwind program and lead the Jazz Ensemble at West Liberty. He recently completed a Doctorate in Saxophone Performance from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and he brings experience and expertise in a number of areas, including Jazz and Multimedia Technology.

Dr. David Manuel Garcia come to us from North Carolina where he served as Minister of Music at Indian Trail United Methodist Church. He brings decades of experience in teaching, conducting and performing.

Jay Ware will be the Director of West Liberty's Marching Band. He was most recently an associate instructor in Indiana. Mr. Ware brings extensive experience in Jazz and Percussion.

Please click here to read full biographies of these individuals.

West Liberty Music Student Wins Miss Ohio 2008

Karissa Martin, a music and theater major at West Liberty State College, was recently crowned Miss Ohio and will participate in next year's Miss USA competition.

Ms. Martin had starring roles in numerous West Liberty music theater productions, including Dames at Sea.

 

 

 

Steel Band Travels to Hundred High School

The Panhandle Steel Ensemble (PSE) of West Liberty State College recently spent a day in Hundred, West Virginia giving workshops and concerts for the students and faculty of Hundred High School. The school's music teacher Amanda McPherson requested an appearance by the PSE as part of Hundred High's "Multicultural Days".

 

West Liberty's Chamber Choir Tours Italy

The West Liberty Chamber Choir performs at the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.

The Chamber Choir did something unprecedented in the Spring of 2007. Under the direction and guidance of Professor Al de Jaager, the choir flew to a foreign country for the first time in the College's history. They performed concerts in Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Assisi, Rome and Vatican City. At the last stop, they were the principle choir during the morning Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. The trip was a major success for the Chamber Choir, Professor de Jaager, and the College in general.