Jazz Band Finishes Semester With Concert

The Central Methodist University Jazz Band is presenting its spring concert on Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church on the Fayette CMU campus.

The 16-member Jazz Band is directed by Dr. Ron Shroyer, CMU adjunct professor and dean emeritus of the Swinney Conservatory of Music, assisted by his wife, Jo Ellen Ming Shroyer, CMU ’79.

The band’s repertoire includes “Barney’s Favorite,” arranged by Ron Shroyer; “Big Swing Face” by Phil Potts, with soloists Zack Kierstead, Josh Stettes, Curtis Lierheimer, Josh Miller, Bryan Berliner, and Kevin Helmerichs; “Blue Champagne” by Watts and Ryerson, arranged by Art Dedrick, with soloist Josh Miller;

“Corner Pocket” by Freddie Green, with soloists Libby Cueni-Smith, Lierheimer, Helmerichs, and Matt Johnson; “Flight of the Foo Bird” by Neal Hefti and arranged by David Barduhn, with soloists Matthew Johnson and Cueni-Smith; “Groove Merchant” by Jerome Richardson and arranged by Barduhn, featuring the saxophone section;

“How High the Moon” by Morgan Lewis, and arranged by Shroyer, with soloist Brendan Wiesehan; “I Can’t Sop Lovin’ You” by Don Gibson and arranged by Basie, with soloists Kierstead and Helmerichs; “The Kid from Red Bank” by Neal Hefti, with soloist Kierstead;

“Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone,” arranged by Barduhn, with soloists Johnson and Brown; “Samba Libre” by Rick Stitzel, with soloists Kierstead, Stettes, Berliner, Johnson, Helmerichs, and Wiesehan; “Stella by Starlight” by Victor Young and arranged by Shroyer, with soloists Ron Shroyer and Dr. Ryan McLouth, CMU assistant professor of music and Music Ministry Program Coordinator;

“Tuxedo Junction” by Erskine Hawkins and Bill Johnson, with soloists Alex Autry, Berliner, Brown, and Kierstead; and “Washington and Lee Swing Medley,” arranged by Shroyer.

CMU Jazz Band members include saxophones Matthew Johnson, alto (senior, music education major from Pacific), Curtis Lierheimer, alto (senior music education major from Mexico); Josh Stettes, tenor (junior music education major from Pacific): Nick Vick, tenor (freshman music education major from Columbia); and Josh Miller, baritone (senior music education major from Waynesville); trumpets Michael Brown (freshman music education major from O’Fallon);

Libby Cueni-Smith (sophomore music education major from Chillicothe); Bryan Berliner (sophomore music major from Hermann); and Alex Autry (freshman music education major from Norborne): trombones Kevin Helmerichs (senior music major from Lake Ozark); Michael Arnold (junior music education major from Marceline); and David Hutchison ’07, CMU executive director of Advancement and Alumni programs;

and rhythm section Zack Kierstead, piano (junior music major from Kirkwood); Spencer Dry, guitar (freshman music major from Benton City); Ted Spayde, bass, CMU ’70; and Brendan Wiesehan, drums and vibes (junior music education major from Villa Ridge).


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