FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance proudly presents “An Evening of Jazz: Celebrating 50 Years of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.” The FSU Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Brent Weber and featuring trumpeter Dr. Donny Albrecht, will perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis in 1965. This concert, showcasing music written and inspired by Thad Jones, takes place on Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall at FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.In 1965, Jones and Lewis founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra in New York City, launching a legendary ensemble that redefined the big band genre. Beginning with three Monday night performances at the Village Vanguard in February 1966, the band’s innovative sound, driven by Jones’ harmonically rich compositions and Lewis’ dynamic leadership, captivated audiences and secured an indefinite engagement that continues today as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra—the longest-running steady gig in jazz history. Over its thirteen-year initial run, the orchestra produced fifteen albums, toured globally, including a historic 1972 Soviet Union tour, and introduced timeless works like Jones’ “A Child Is Born,” “Fingers,” “Little Pixie,” and “Tiptoe.” Featuring top-tier soloists and a “small group within the big band” approach, the ensemble blended virtuosic improvisation with sophisticated arrangements, setting a new standard for jazz orchestras.The FSU Jazz Orchestra will perform Thad Jones’ classics, including “This Bass Is Made for Walkin’,” “Quietude,” “A Child Is Born,” and “Us,” alongside other notable works such as Michael Brecker’s “Spherical,” Hank Levy’s “Decoupage,” Joey Calderazzo’s “Midnight Voyage,” and Gerry Mulligan’s “Mullenium.”Tickets are available at tickets.frostburg.edu, through the University Box Office in Lane University Center 203 (Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137, or at the door on the evening of the performance. Ticket prices are $11.73 for adults, $6.53 for seniors, military, and FSU employees (credit/debit card), and free for students and children. Cash prices are $11 for adults, $6 for seniors, military, and FSU employees, with free admission for students and children.Media Contact: FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, 301-687-4109, music@frostburg.edu

The Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance presents percussionist Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont in a Faculty Artist Series recital on Monday, November 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. If you cannot attend in-person, the recital will also be livestreamed; click the ‘JOIN STREAM' button on this page to view the live performance.The program will feature the numbers 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.LaMont is an active composer, performer (percussion), music educator and music industry/audio recording specialist. His recent compositions have been focused on the environment as well as political and philosophical issues, with the sound world inhabiting a space somewhere between minimalism and post-progressive rock (with dashes of polystylism here and there). LaMont has a DMA in music composition with a cognate in percussion from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where he studied composition with Michael Fiday, Joel Hoffman and Douglas Knehans, and percussion with James Culley and Allen Otte. He holds prior degrees in composition, percussion performance and music technology/recording, and previously studied composition and percussion at the University of Indianapolis with John Berners and Paul Berns, respectively. He is an assistant professor at FSU, where he teaches percussion lessons and ensemble, composition lessons and courses, and various courses within the music industry track.

Frostburg State University Presents Faculty Artist Series: Dr. Mark Gallagher, Dr. Brent Weber, and Dr. Jay DeWire in ConcertThe FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance proudly presents an evening of chamber music as part of its Faculty Artist Series, featuring Dr. Mark Gallagher on clarinet, Dr. Brent Weber on bassoon, and Dr. Jay DeWire on piano. The performance will take place on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public; it will also be llivestreamed, click the red 'Join Stream' button on this page to view the live performance.This captivating program showcases three works that blend classical elegance with early romantic fervor, highlighting the virtuosity and interpretive depth of the performers. Opening the program is “Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano in E-flat Major” by Archduke Rudolf. A student and patron of Beethoven, Rudolf crafted this trio with a style reminiscent of early Beethoven, infused with echoes of Mozart’s grace. Composed for clarinetist Count Ferdinand von Troyer, the work’s three completed movements—Allegro moderato, Scherzo, and Larghetto with Variations—offer a balanced interplay among the instruments, showcasing the clarinet while giving the bassoon and piano substantial roles.Next up is “Märchenbilder, Op. 113, and Five Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127” by Robert Schumann, arranged for clarinet and piano by Dr. Mark Gallagher. Schumann’s “Märchenbilder” (Fairy Tale Pictures) comprises four evocative character studies, with Dr. Gallagher’s arrangement combining the moody, nostalgic first movement and the tender, reflective fourth movement with the expressive “Five Lieder und Gesänge, Op. 127.” This unique arrangement highlights Schumann’s emotional depth, with the clarinet and piano weaving a rich tapestry of shifting moods, from melancholy to serene reverie, reflecting the poetic and fantastic essence of Schumann’s music.The program will conclude with “Grand Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano, Op. 36” by Anton Eberl. A contemporary of Mozart, Eberl was a prolific composer whose works were often mistaken for Mozart’s due to their melodic beauty and classical refinement. This late work, composed in 1806, blends classical structure with early romantic stirrings. Its four movements—Allegro con spirito, Adagio non troppo, Scherzo, and Allegretto—feature graceful melodies and innovative writing, particularly for the bassoon, showcasing Eberl’s skill and the trio’s dynamic interplay.This concert promises an evening of musical discovery, bringing together rarely performed gems by composers whose connections to Beethoven and Mozart enrich their works with historical and artistic significance. Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Weber, and Dr. DeWire, esteemed faculty members of Frostburg State University, bring their expertise and passion to this thoughtfully curated program.For more information, contact the FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at (301) 687-4109, music@frostburg.edu, or visit http://www.frostburg.edu/concerts. Join us in person or online for an unforgettable evening of chamber music.Dr. Mark Gallagher (clarinet) website: http://www.markgallagher.net/Dr. Jay DeWire (piano) bio: https://www.frostburg.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/music/faculty.php#DeWireDr. Brent Weber (bassoon) bio: https://www.frostburg.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/music/faculty.php#Weber

This holiday season, Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents “A Christmas Survival Guide,” conceived and written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudin. This intimate cabaret takes a funny (and sometimes snarky) look at the stressful holiday season. Each character, armed with a copy of “A Christmas Survival Guide,” charges into the urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. Featuring songs you know well, mashups of old classics, and new numbers created for the original production, each character learns to survive the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming.Directed by Darrell Scott Rushton, musical direction by Kelly Shreckenghast, and costumes by Rachel Saylor, the cast features Theatre students Grace Stevenson, TJ Kelly, and Gracie Ray as the engaging trio ensemble, and features student designers from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “A Christmas Survival Guide” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com.Arm yourself with laughter and kick off your holiday survival with us—join the fun December 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 6, in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theater of the Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit card; FSU students and employees, and all youth $10 cash/$10.69 credit card.

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present its Chamber Orchestra Recital on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public. The concert will be livestreamed; the link will be posted at www.frostburg.edu/concerts.The concert program will feature an arrangement by FSU music major, Nicholas Mellen ’26, of Cuban guitarist Leo Brouwer’s “Danza Caracteristica”. Adding a festive component to the concert will be the performance of the song “Last Christmas”, written by George Michael and performed by the 1980’s pop music band Wham!, and arranged by the Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ) for their newest album, “It Feels Like Christmas”.From there the orchestra dives headfirst into their celebration of symphonies with Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104 “London” in D-major”. This exciting work represents the end of a series of twelve symphonies (opus 93-104) that Haydn, while living in London, was commissioned to compose by Johann Peter Solomon.The concert concludes with the momentous “Symphony No. 1 in C major” by Ludwig van Beethoven. Premiered in the year 1800, this symphony firmly established Beethoven’s prowess as a composer of symphonic works, as well as demonstrates his genius, creativity, and humor as a composer. The placement of these two masterworks on the same concert program is aimed at highlighting the passing of the symphonic torch, from the traditions of the Classic Period to a symphonic master who played a significant role in defining the Romantic Era.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at 301-687-4109 or via email at music@frostburg.edu.

This holiday season, Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents “A Christmas Survival Guide,” conceived and written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudin. This intimate cabaret takes a funny (and sometimes snarky) look at the stressful holiday season. Each character, armed with a copy of “A Christmas Survival Guide,” charges into the urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. Featuring songs you know well, mashups of old classics, and new numbers created for the original production, each character learns to survive the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming.Directed by Darrell Scott Rushton, musical direction by Kelly Shreckenghast, and costumes by Rachel Saylor, the cast features Theatre students Grace Stevenson, TJ Kelly, and Gracie Ray as the engaging trio ensemble, and features student designers from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “A Christmas Survival Guide” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com.Arm yourself with laughter and kick off your holiday survival with us—join the fun December 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 6, in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theater of the Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit card; FSU students and employees, and all youth $10 cash/$10.69 credit card.

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present the Wind Ensemble Concert in “Dancing with the Wind,” on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. This vibrant program showcases works by Alfred Reed, Viet Cuong, David Clay Mettens and Arturo Márquez.Alfred Reed has long been known for his wonderfully colorful composing and arranging of traditional sacred and secular music, as well as his ability to take folk music and reimagine the rhythmic and harmonic language of the original to create a more colorful tapestry of sound. This will be on full display as the wind ensemble performs his settings of “Greensleeves” and “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, and his “Armenian Dances” (Part 1).The music of David Clay Mettens is wonderfully sensitive and complex, and his “Kinetic Dances”, for two scrap metal birds, is no exception. This work is inspired by an art installation by Chinese artist Xu Bing that hung in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. As the composer describes, “I was particularly struck by the contrast between the regularity and heaviness of the church’s pillars and the floating birds. Despite their immense combined weight of twelve tons, the two birds managed to ‘fly.’”Rounding out the concert program will be Viet Cuong’s “John and Jim”, which is inspired by the story of John Arthur and Jim Obergefell that paved the way for equal marriage rights for all, and “Danzón No. 2” by Grammy Award-winning composer Arturo Márquez. “Danzón No. 2” is both sensual and energetic, bringing the dance traditions of Veracruz and Mexico City to this wonderful composition.Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $11 cash/$11.73 credit card; seniors, military, FSU employees: $6 cash/$6.53 credit card; and free for students and children.For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at 301-687-4109 or via email at music@frostburg.edu.

This holiday season, Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents “A Christmas Survival Guide,” conceived and written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudin. This intimate cabaret takes a funny (and sometimes snarky) look at the stressful holiday season. Each character, armed with a copy of “A Christmas Survival Guide,” charges into the urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. Featuring songs you know well, mashups of old classics, and new numbers created for the original production, each character learns to survive the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming.Directed by Darrell Scott Rushton, musical direction by Kelly Shreckenghast, and costumes by Rachel Saylor, the cast features Theatre students Grace Stevenson, TJ Kelly, and Gracie Ray as the engaging trio ensemble, and features student designers from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “A Christmas Survival Guide” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com.Arm yourself with laughter and kick off your holiday survival with us—join the fun December 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 6, in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theater of the Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit card; FSU students and employees, and all youth $10 cash/$10.69 credit card.

This holiday season, Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents “A Christmas Survival Guide,” conceived and written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudin. This intimate cabaret takes a funny (and sometimes snarky) look at the stressful holiday season. Each character, armed with a copy of “A Christmas Survival Guide,” charges into the urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. Featuring songs you know well, mashups of old classics, and new numbers created for the original production, each character learns to survive the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming.Directed by Darrell Scott Rushton, musical direction by Kelly Shreckenghast, and costumes by Rachel Saylor, the cast features Theatre students Grace Stevenson, TJ Kelly, and Gracie Ray as the engaging trio ensemble, and features student designers from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “A Christmas Survival Guide” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com.Arm yourself with laughter and kick off your holiday survival with us—join the fun December 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 6, in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theater of the Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit card; FSU students and employees, and all youth $10 cash/$10.69 credit card.

This holiday season, Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents “A Christmas Survival Guide,” conceived and written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudin. This intimate cabaret takes a funny (and sometimes snarky) look at the stressful holiday season. Each character, armed with a copy of “A Christmas Survival Guide,” charges into the urban holiday landscape searching for the true essence of Christmas. Featuring songs you know well, mashups of old classics, and new numbers created for the original production, each character learns to survive the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming.Directed by Darrell Scott Rushton, musical direction by Kelly Shreckenghast, and costumes by Rachel Saylor, the cast features Theatre students Grace Stevenson, TJ Kelly, and Gracie Ray as the engaging trio ensemble, and features student designers from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. “A Christmas Survival Guide” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com.Arm yourself with laughter and kick off your holiday survival with us—join the fun December 3, 4, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 6, in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theater of the Pealer Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing: adults $20 cash/$21.09 credit card; FSU students and employees, and all youth $10 cash/$10.69 credit card.

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance will present its Holiday Concert, “Music for the Season,” on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. There will also be a prelude performance by the FSU Jazz Orchestra, directed by Brent Weber, at 2:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center lobby.Presenting a variety of holiday and seasonal music, performers will include the FSU Choirs, conducted by Dr. Scott Rieker, with collaborative pianist Dr. Joseph Yungen; the FSU Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Peter Lewis; FSU Percussion, Jazz, and Saxophone Ensembles; and faculty and student soloists. Join us for an uplifting start to the holiday season.Purchase tickets online at tickets.frostburg.edu; at the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon. - Fri., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), 301-687-3137; or at the door. Pricing is adults $11 cash/$11.73 credit card; seniors, military, FSU employees: $6 cash/$6.53 credit card; and free for students and children.For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu/concertsor contact the FSU Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, 301-687-4109, music@frostburg.edu.

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.This event is sponsored by Linda W. Buckel and Juanita W. Andrews in memory of George W. and Lillian T. Walker.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.

FSU Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance presents the 2026 Honor Band Festival Concert on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 2pm in the PAC Pealer Recital Hall.Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2245, or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203, (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the afternoon of the performance. Price for CREDIT/DEBIT card purchase: $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children. CASH purchase: $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children.

Vibrant Americana, Alt-Country and RootsFormed in 2007 in Brooklyn, New York, the masterful roots musicians of Yarn have since become known for their high-energy live performances, rich harmonies and tight musicianship. The band seamlessly integrates elements of country, folk and rock, resulting in a warm, resonant sound that has earned high praise from fans and critics alike and led to performances alongside luminaries like Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart and Alison Krauss. Throughout it all, they have drawn audiences into their vibrant musical web, delivering memorable songs that reverberate and linger in listeners’ hearts and souls.Immediately following the performance, WFWM station director Chuck Dicken will join the musicians for a conversation with the audience.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.