Alumni Band August 7: An Evening of Jazz

Utah State University’s Alumni Band offers listeners its last performance of the summer Sunday, Aug. 7, on the Quad at 7 p.m.

This summer marks the band’s 53rd season and 23rd season with Nick Morrison, music director of the Alumni Band and senior associate dean in the Caine College of the Arts. Each of the band members donates their time and talent and the band wouldn’t be able to exist without them.

“Dr. Morrison’s extraordinary musicianship combines perfectly with his caring and detailed leadership and management of the Alumni Band to preserve and continue the great tradition started by Max Dalby years ago,” said James Bankhead, former head of the Department of Music at USU, professor emeritus and past commander of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. “It is because of Nick’s dedication and devotion to the band members and the music that this great tradition continues at USU.”

Following Alumni Band tradition, professor emeritus Larry Smith will perform with his daughter, vocalist Monica Fronk, in the last concert of the summer.

“Back when I was in college, Dr. Dalby asked me to write a piece for my wife to sing with the Alumni Band,” Smith said. “That was the start of the performances. When my wife stopped singing, my daughter, Monica, started. That was in 1992 and I’ve written two arrangements for her to perform with the band every year since then.”

This year, Smith and Fronk will perform Midnight Sun by Lionel Hampton and Johnny Mercer and Route 66 by Bobby Troup.

The concert will be packed with special guests, including CCA professor Max Matzen on the trumpet and conductors Lane Weaver, director of athletic bands in the CCA, as well as Bankhead.

“I believe that passion for music is what brings myself and our audience to the Alumni Band performances,” Enrique Tellez, Alumni Band member, said. “The ensemble members as well as the community share a love for music. As a student and soon to be alumni, it comforts me to know that music in Cache Valley and at USU continues to be a lifelong art form. I’m proud to be a volunteer and advocate of music in our community and I hope to continue in the footsteps of my soon to be colleagues.”

Alumni Band performances begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Concerts are held on the USU Quad. In case of inclement weather, performances are moved to the Morgan Theatre in the Chase Fine Arts Center.

For more information, visit the CCA Box Office in room L-101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center, call 435-797-8022 or see the college’s website.

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Writer: Whitney Schulte, 435-797-9203, whitney.schulte@usu.edu