Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance will open its fall season with a Faculty Artist Series concert by pianist Dr. Jay DeWire on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public. This event will also be livestreamed; click the red 'Join Stream' button on this page to join the livestream.DeWire will perform music by Debussy and Rachmaninoff. In some of Debussy’s published piano music, the programmatic titles appear at the end of the piece (rather than at the beginning, as is standard); and, in the spirit of this idiosyncrasy, the titles of Debussy’s works performed in the first half will be revealed as each piece concludes.In the second half, DeWire will perform three of Rachmaninoff’s “Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39” (Nos., 1, 3, and 8): picture-etudes whose programmatic elements were withheld by the composer. The recital will conclude with Rachmaninoff’s “Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36” (revised version), wherein the Russian composer grapples with the legacies of Beethoven, Liszt, and Brahms, while putting his own definitive and virtuosic stamp on this classic genre.DeWire has performed across the United States as a soloist, collaborator and member of the West Shore Piano Trio. Highlights include two performances as a soloist with the Prince George’s Philharmonic and concerts in Chautauqua, Los Angeles, and New Mexico with the West Shore Piano Trio. He has appeared in several competitions, received an honorable mention at the Washington, D.C., Beethoven Competition and was a finalist in the American Musicological Society (Mid-Atlantic Chapter) Writing Competition. DeWire has also received numerous prizes, including the Brander Wyatt Morrison Prize and a Dean of Faculty Fellowship at the University of Virginia. He is an assistant professor at FSU whose teaching interests include piano, pedagogy and music history.

Randy Brecker and Tod Dickow with Charged Particles in Residency at FSUThe Frostburg State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, with support from the FSU Foundation, is excited to welcome Randy Brecker (jazz trumpet) and Tod Dickow with Charged Particles to Western Maryland. This residency will include several educational sessions and two special performances at Loft 129 in Cumberland, MD.Loft 129 in Cumberland, MD, will present Randy Brecker with Tod Dickow and Charged Particles in concert on Monday, September 15, for two special shows, 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are available online at loft129.org; advance tickets $40, at the door $45.FSU will host several clinics and educational sessions during their residency; all are free and open to the public. Monday, Sept. 15, 1pm, Q&A session, and 2pm, clinic with FSU Jazz Orchestra, both in Performing Arts Center room 213. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10am, educational session with Allegany County Public Schools students (also open to the public) in Performing Arts Center Pealer Recital Hall.Jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for over six decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament/Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely dan, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. His is well-known for his work with his brother and saxophonist, Michael, in The Brecker Brothers from the 1974-2007. During that time, they released six albums and garnered seven Grammy nominations. Mr. Brecker has worked with an endless list of jazz musicians following his early work with the Horace Silver Quintet.Formed in the early 1990s, and taking its name from a Chick Corea composition, California-based Charged Particles crosses stylistic boundaries and blends diverse traditions to create engaging new sounds. In 2011, the third generation of the band was born in California. The west coast trio began with Murray Low firing up the keyboards and Jason Muscat on electric bass. When Jason joined the touring band “Tainted Love”, Aaron Germain took over blazing on the electric bass. Founding member, John Krosnick anchors the band on the drums.San Francisco based jazz saxophonist Tod Dickow performs in a wide variety of setting ranging from big bands to small combos adding a dynamic voice as an accomplished soloist and accompanist. He has performed at major venues including The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Kool Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s and SFjazz. Mr. Dickow has performed alongside well-known artists including Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra Jr. and more. He keeps Michael Brecker’s music and spirit alive.

Randy Brecker and Tod Dickow with Charged Particles in Residency at FSUThe Frostburg State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, with support from the FSU Foundation, is excited to welcome Randy Brecker (jazz trumpet) and Tod Dickow with Charged Particles to Western Maryland. This residency will include several educational sessions and two special performances at Loft 129 in Cumberland, MD.Loft 129 in Cumberland, MD, will present Randy Brecker with Tod Dickow and Charged Particles in concert on Monday, September 15, for two special shows, 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are available online at loft129.org; advance tickets $40, at the door $45.FSU will host several clinics and educational sessions during their residency; all are free and open to the public. Monday, Sept. 15, 1pm, Q&A session, and 2pm, clinic with FSU Jazz Orchestra, both in Performing Arts Center room 213. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10am, educational session with Allegany County Public Schools students (also open to the public) in Performing Arts Center Pealer Recital Hall.Jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for over six decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament/Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely dan, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. His is well-known for his work with his brother and saxophonist, Michael, in The Brecker Brothers from the 1974-2007. During that time, they released six albums and garnered seven Grammy nominations. Mr. Brecker has worked with an endless list of jazz musicians following his early work with the Horace Silver Quintet.Formed in the early 1990s, and taking its name from a Chick Corea composition, California-based Charged Particles crosses stylistic boundaries and blends diverse traditions to create engaging new sounds. In 2011, the third generation of the band was born in California. The west coast trio began with Murray Low firing up the keyboards and Jason Muscat on electric bass. When Jason joined the touring band “Tainted Love”, Aaron Germain took over blazing on the electric bass. Founding member, John Krosnick anchors the band on the drums.San Francisco based jazz saxophonist Tod Dickow performs in a wide variety of setting ranging from big bands to small combos adding a dynamic voice as an accomplished soloist and accompanist. He has performed at major venues including The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Kool Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s and SFjazz. Mr. Dickow has performed alongside well-known artists including Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra Jr. and more. He keeps Michael Brecker’s music and spirit alive.

Heartfelt Bluegrass, Folk and Country“In his crafty way, O’Brien writes songs whose music invites us in warmly, wrapping us comfortably in sound before unveiling the lyrics that often reveal our shortcomings or sometimes celebrate the bonds we share with others.” (Folk Alley)The FSU Appalachian Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with an uplifting performance from multiple Grammy Award-winning bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien and vocalist and mandolin player Jan Fabricius. Since 2015, this husband-and-wife team have performed together nationally and internationally, both as a duo and as part of the Tim O’Brien Band. Their heartfelt music reveals the power of their deep collaboration, and they light up the stage with the warmth of acoustic roots that is both original and traditional.A Wheeling, W.Va., native now based in Nashville, O’Brien first emerged as a singer, instrumentalist and songwriter with the iconic bluegrass group Hot Rize. He has since released numerable rootsy classics and written songs for legendary artists like Garth Brooks and The Chicks, collaborated with legends like Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, Dan Auerbach, Sturgill Simpson and Steve Martin, and appeared at festivals including Western Maryland’s own DelFest. Raised in Kansas, Fabricius performed from an early age. Although her music with O’Brien started informally around their home, she soon found herself singing and playing mandolin with him both in the recording studio and on stage, resulting in a musical partnership that serves as a beautiful narrative of their life together.Following the show, Chuck Dicken, WFWM-FM station director, will host a lively and interactive conversation with the artists and audience members.The performance of Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius is presented by CES in partnership with Folklore and Folklife Programming at FSU.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Fine Musicians from the U.S. Armed ForcesSince 1922, the “Pershing’s Own” musical institution has maintained a tradition of excellence as the premier musical organization of the U.S. Army. Known for their inspirational and exceptional musicianship, these ensembles perform at significant national and international events and promote global goodwill while showcasing the talent of their trained soldiers.The Brass Quintet, founded in 1972, and the Woodwind Quintet, founded in 1996, are frequently called upon in support of high-level military and civilian events at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and beyond.CES is supported in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

PIANIST MATTHEW PALUMBO IN GUEST ARTIST RECITALFrostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance will present pianist Matthew Palumbo in a Guest Artist Series concert on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:30 pm in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public. It will also be livestreamed, click the red 'Join Stream' button on this page to join the livestream.Mr. Palumbo will be performing Bach’s rhapsodic and adventurous “Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, BWV 903”; Beethoven’s early masterpiece, the “Sonata Op. 10, No. 3 in D major”; and Alexander Scriabin’s epic “Sonata Op. 23 “States of the Soul””.Accomplished pianist and teacher, Matthew J. Palumbo made his solo debut with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra at age thirteen as the winner of the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival. He performed across the United States and Europe in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Benaroya Hall, Friedberg Hall, and in 2015 was the Maryland Artist representative for the Music Teachers National Association where he performed more locally in Strathmore, Goodwin, Griswald, Katzen, Peters, Linehan, numerous others, and appeared on concert series such as First and Franklin, Cathedral Concert Series, Sound and Serenity, An Die Musik, Prince George’s Artist Series, and others.Mr. Palumbo is in high demand as a teacher, judge, adjudicator, and master clinician throughout the Baltimore-D.C. Metro region. Most recently, he has been a judge for the E. R. Davis, Hartman, Doris Chase, and Gottlieb competitions, and is currently the chairperson for the MTAGB Collegiate Scholarship competition in coordination with Steinway and Sons. He’s an active board member of the Maryland State Music Teachers Association, an associate professor at College of Baltimore County, and was co-director and faculty at the Leon Fleisher Academy in 2022. His students have received numerous awards and have been accepted with highest scholarships to Peabody, University of Maryland, Towson, Howard, Susquehanna, and others, and performed in venues such as Weill Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

New Orleans Jazz, Blues and Ragtime“Musically, Tuba Skinny mine a rich seam of traditional jazz and blues from the '20s and '30s. And, while it's evident the band treasures the sense of history evoked by these vintage tunes, the players' natural exuberance makes the music feel irresistibly alive.” (Sydney Morning Herald)Tuba Skinny brings a joyful, rambunctious performance of music that encompasses the influences of Depression-era blues, jug band, spirituals, string band music, ragtime and New Orleans R&B. For over a decade, Tuba Skinny has toured the world and amassed a devoted and diverse following of music lovers.Featuring Shaye Cohn on cornet, Barnabus Jones on trombone, Todd Burdick on tuba, Craig Flory on clarinet, Gregory Sherman on guitar/vocals, Max Bien-Kahn on banjo, Robin Rapuzzi on washboard and Erika Lewis on vocals/bass drum, the band interprets traditional jazz and creatively incorporates many musical influences. The result is a true reflection of Americana, encompassing the full genealogy of popular American music from an early 20th century perspective.Following the show, Chuck Dicken, WFWM-FM station director, will lead a lively and interactive conversation between audience members and Tuba Skinny, who will discuss how their distinct style reflects the spirit of Americana.The engagement of Tuba Skinny is made possible through the Jazz Touring Network program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

A Yuletide Celebration of Celtic Music and DanceKilts and tartan abound in a joyous musical celebration of ancient Gaelic carols, lively Irish tunes and heartwarming seasonal melodies. Join U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely and an ensemble of acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical holiday journey through Scotland and Ireland. Delight in the stirring sounds of the fiddle, Highland pipes, harp, percussion, bouzouki, bass, guitar piano, harmonium and a fleet-footed percussive dancer.Heely is an award-winning Irish fiddler, singer and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Irish fiddle legend and National Heritage Fellow Liz Carroll declared him to be “one powerhouse of a fiddler.” This high-energy group has performed in venues including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, Hylton Performing Arts Center and at events such as the Garrett County Celtic Festival, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the Virginia Scottish Games and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland.Presented by Rhythm of the Arts.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Masterworks of Dvořák, Haydn, Ballard and PerkinsonCelebrate the Valentine’s Day holiday with a stirring musical performance that explores the profound connections between history, culture and the human experience.The lyrical beauty of Antonin Dvořák’s “Wind Serenade” captures the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit and calls to mind traditions of the Bohemian/Czech people. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Sinfonietta No. 1,” with its bold, expressive themes, blends classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Lewis W. Ballard’s “Incident at Wounded Knee” offers a moving reflection on Native American culture and explores themes of resistance, justice and resilience. The concert concludes with Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that exemplifies music’s power to inspire hope and unity.Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s influence and reputation have reached far beyond Western Maryland. Under the baton of Elizabeth Schulze, MSO has become a first-class orchestra of exceptional artistic quality.Prior to the show, at 6:30 p.m., MSO Music Director Schulze will discuss the selections that will be performed and reveal insight on how each composer’s work connects to and expresses their heritage.The presentation of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and by the FSU Foundation, Inc. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

A Colorful Spectacle of West African Dance, Music and Acrobatics“…The members of this troupe are fabulous performers. They’ve been handpicked to represent their country from a culture that genuinely prizes music and dance.” (The Chicago Reader)Formed in Paris in 1952 by distinguished Guinean choreographer Keita Fodéba, Les Ballets Africains has since toured to world-wide acclaim. As the national dance company of the Republic of Guinea, the 35-member troupe embodies the authenticity of African dance, incorporating traditional instruments, intense polyrhythms and colorful costumes. Their performances transcend boundaries, promoting a legacy of cultural pride that bridges the gap between nations through the universal language of dance.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.