the WVU School of Music presents a flute ensemble performance by the Aether Quartet and a Jazz Ensembles performance in support of the NAACP.
The first of two virtual concerts this fall. This first concert features several different jazz combos that have been recorded remotely. In response to the current events, students have elected to have Black Lives Matter be the theme for this concert and will be be soliciting donations in support of our local chapter of the NAACP.
The West Virginia University Jazz program will perform a small ensembles concert on Oct. 6 in support of Black Lives Matter and The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People .
The concert, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., can be streamed at https://youtu.be/exjxRO6-iy4. The program will begin with a performance by Aether Flute Quartet, made up of WVU undergraduate students.
“We selected Black Lives Matter as the theme for our first concert because it would be a disservice to jazz to ignore its roots as a Black art form,” said student Dallan Halkias. “As a predominately white jazz program, we must acknowledge and appreciate the social and historical contexts that jazz came from, especially as a form of social justice and rebellion.
“The themes of revolution and social/racial justice are just as prevalent today, and as a jazz community we have a duty to use our musical platform to bring awareness to this movement by both honoring the Black musicians that paved the way for us and standing with Black musicians and artists that are still discriminated against today. “
The studio will play works by Black artists Duke Ellington, Tadd Dameron, McCoy Tyner and Thelonious Monk.
The concert is free to stream, but listeners are asked to make a donation to the Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP. Donations can be made by visiting http://www.morgantownnaacp.org/.
“We hope that while enjoying the works of Black artists, our audience will take time to reflect on their internalized racism and participation in a society that is actively harmful to Black people,” Halkias said. “We also hope that they will feel inspired to engage in social justice and equality initiatives in their communities.”