Saint Mary’s students to present jazz concert Sept. 26

WINONA, Minn. — Two Saint Mary’s University jazz groups, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, will kick off the year with a concert 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in Figliulo Recital Hall — in conjunction with SMU’s Family Weekend.

Internationally recognized jazz saxophonist Marc Bernstein — at SMU through the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation — will join students onstage.

Bernstein, born in Brooklyn, N.Y, graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1984. Inspired great saxophonists and jazz artists, Bernstein pursued a career in music. He recorded his first CD in 1985, and was a regular performer in New York City. He began playing overseas, and gained notoriety in Denmark, where he was offered a spot with Klüvers Big Band. Bernstein relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark; he left the band in 1996 to go solo, and has since released numerous CD recordings. He is on the faculty of the Danish Conservatory of Music. For more information, go to www.marcmusic.info.

The 18-piece Jazz Ensemble and six-piece Jazz Combo I will perform from 6 to 7 p.m.

Jazz Combo I will play popular selections from the swing era and contemporary jazz. Student soloists in the combo include alto saxophonist Vanessa Grams of Little Falls, guitarist Sam Courtier of Red Wing, and Tom Briese on trombone from Rochester. The big band will play favorites from big band classics as well as new selections from today’s greatest arrangers. Student soloists in the big band include Peter Waldorf of Bloomington, Ill., on trumpet along with Courtier and Briese.

A jazz combo will also perform as part of the SMU Concert Band and Choirs performance 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in Page Theatre as part of the world premiere performance of “Ashkenazi Fathers,” composed for the SMU Concert Band by Bernstein. This performance marks fifth in a series of commissions by the SMU Concert Band through the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation, which supports performances and activities led by Jewish artists and scholars that are designed to increase cultural and religious understanding at Saint Mary’s.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students or seniors and are available at the Performance Center Box Office, 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.