And now: a word from our friends 2026-27 Series Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Tuesday, November 17, 2026 Tuesday, March 2, 2027 Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building 11:00 AM
About the Series Welcome to the fifth season of and now: a word from our friends lecture series at the Wells School of Music. The 2026 -27 season marks the 100 th anniversary of the Criterions Jazz Ensemble. We are celebrating jazz and improvisation all season long. I created this series as a way to engage renowned artists from our region giving them a platform to cover topics most important to them. Each season is typically dedicated to one artist, featuring three lecture/interviews and a concert. Artists have included: Je remy Jordan (Pianism, Wagnerian transcription, technique), Ron Thom as (divisions of Romantic ideology, his ‘Jazz Epiphany ’, and wisdom from his long career), Bill Goodwin (conversations about his history as one of America’s best drummers), and last seas on, the wonderful Diane Monroe (the violin, Curtis, her run -in with Nina Simone, and her work with Max Roach). Because of the centennial celebration of the big band, this season brings three artists in with some connection to our current season or the state of the creative arts and education. Orrin Evans was a guest with the Criterions in 2021, he is a creative force: a composer, arranger, pianist, educator, producer et cetera. This season he was commissioned to write a new work in dedication to the Criterions for their celebration. Tim Warfield performed with the Criterions in 2023, he will be performing on this season’s festival in March, and is one of the true inspirations to young musicians in Pennsylvania. Tyshawn Sorey is, by all accounts, an artistic wonder having so many different musical outlets and creative projects. He is a composer of international renown, and a drummer that is respe cted by the world’s best musicians. His vision for the creative arts aligns with the vision of the Jazz Studies Program at the Wells Scho ol of Music. I hope you will enjoy hearing from each of these three great artists during this celebratory season. Jonathan Ragonese Director of Jazz Studies
Orrin Evans During his kaleidoscopic quarter -century as a professional jazz musician, pianist Orrin Evans has become the model of a fiercely independent artist who pushes the envelope in all directions. Evans upholds that reputation with the fifth release by his Captain Black Big Band, Walk a Mile in My Shoe, which earned the ensemble its third Grammy nomination.The title refers to a malformation of the left foot that Evans has lived with from birth, necessitating several reconstructive surgeries. But the album’s larger point is about feeling worthy, about taking ownership of the journey and doing things without wait ing for the “perfect” time. Such was the motivation to release the album on Imani Records, Evans’ own flagship label since the early 2000s. The imprint relaunched in 2018 with a more expansive mission, since releasing albums by Caleb Wheeler Curtis, Tina Raymond, Luke Carlos O’Reilly, Marianne Solivan, Thomas Marriott, Milton Suggs and others. In 2024 Evans also reconnected with Tarbaby , his venturesome and audacious trio with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Nasheet Waits – an ensemble of serious intentions and riotous humor, fervid spirit and fierce intellect, passion and purpose, all of which collides in their provocative and risk-welcoming sound. You Think This Is America (Giant Step Arts) marked the first time that the trio recorded an entire album strictly in piano trio format. Evans’ multifarious leader and collaborative projects also include the Eubanks Evans Experience, a duo pairi ng Evans with the eminent guitarist Kevin Eubanks; Lisa Fischer featuring the Orrin Evans Trio, a collaboration between the Grammy -winning vocalist ad Evans’ soulful unit with bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.; and the Brazilian-inspired project Terreno Comum . An influential educator, Evans is devoted to passing the torch to new generations. His students include the alto saxophonist and Blue Note artist Immanuel Wilkins, and the prodigious, Grammy -nominated pianist Brandon Goldberg. Evans also lends his experi ence and expertise to jazz -focused institutions as Board President of the Cape May Jazz Festival Foundation and as a board member for educational non -profit The Heart of Jazz and for the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival.
Tim Warfield Tim Warfield, Jr., a native of York, Pennsylvania, began studying the alto saxophone at age nine. He switched to tenor saxophone during his first year at William Penn Sr. High School where he participated in various musical ensembles, winning many jazz sol oist awards including second out of forty competitors at the Montreal Festival of Music in Canada. After high school, Warfield attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. for two years before leaving to lead and co-lead groups in the Central Pennsylvani a and Baltimore/Washington areas. In 1990 he was chosen to be a member of trumpeter and CBS/Sony recording artist Marlon Jordan's Quintet. In 1991 he was selected to record Tough Young Tenors on the Island/Antilles label, listed as one of the top ten recordings of the year by the New York Times. He also joined Jazz Futures, a world touring group assembled by George Wein to showcase some of the world’s brightest young stars in jazz. Also in 1991, Warfield placed third a t the Thelonious Monk International Jaz z Saxophone Competition held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Warfield has made several television appearances including the Today Show and Ted Turner's 1998 Trumpet Awards. Additionally, he has made numerous stage appearances with such names as Donald Byrd, Michelle Rosewoman, Marcus Miller, Marlon Jordan, James Williams, Christian McBride, The Harper Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Nicholas Payton, Charles Fambrough, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Terell Stafford, Stefon Harris, Orrin Evans, The Newport Millenniu m All Stars, "Papa" John Defrancesco, Joey Defrancesco , Claudio Raggazzi, Danilo Perez, and others. In 1994, he joined bassist and Verve recording artist Christian McBride’s group, where he remained a member until 1999. Warfield’s first recording, A Cool lBue, was selected as one of the top ten recordings of the year in a 1995 New York Times critic’s poll, as was his 1998 recording Gentle Warrior (featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Tarus Mateen, Clarence Penn, Terell Stafford, and Nicholas Payton), proclaiming him possibly the most powerful tenor saxophonist of his gen eration. In 1999, he was awarded "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in DownBeat Magazine’s 49th Annual Jazz Critic’s poll. In 2000, alongside crooner Loston Harris, Warfield performed at the MTV GQ Men of the Year Awards in New York City. In the fall of 1999 Warfield exclusively joined forces with New Orleans trumpeter and Warner Bros. recording artist Nicholas Payton of with whom he toured and recorded until 2005. In 2006, Warfield joined trumpeter and Maxjazz recording artist Terell Stafford's Quintet. Warfield has appeared on several GRAMMY -nominated recordings such as Stefon Harris' "The Grand Unification Theory," as well as "Dear Louis" and "Sonic Trance," both under the leadership of trumpeter Nicholas Pay ton. Tim is currently serving as a board member for the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz as well as an artist-in-residence at Messiah College in Grantham, PA.
Tyshawn Sorey Composer and multi -instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey has performed globally with his own ensembles, as well as alongside industry titans including John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, King Britt, Claire Chase, Roscoe Mitchell, and Steve Lehman, among many others. The bar is set high for Sorey’s continued evolution and success. He was named the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Music winner for his composition Adagio (for Wadada Leo Smith), after being recognized as a 2023 Pulitzer Finalist for Monochromatic Light (Afterlife). Previously, Sorey roared onto the international landscape as a 2017 MacArthur Fellow and a 2018 United States Artists Fellow. Adding to his reputation as a multi-faceted talent, Downbeat Magazine recognized Sorey with its 2023 Critics Poll Award as a Rising Star Producer, while annually placing him near the top of its Composer and Drum Set performance lists. Other recent accolades include the Pew Fellowship, the Fromm Fellowship, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Goddard Lieberson Fellowship, and the Koussevitzsky Prize. Sorey has composed works for the International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, soprano Julia Bullock, PRISM Quartet, JACK Quartet, TAK Ensemble, Brooklyn Rider, A Far Cry, cellists Seth Parker Woods and Matt Haimovitz, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, bass -baritone Davóne Tines, Alarm Will Sound, pianist Awadagin Pratt and vocal group Roomful of Teeth, pianist Sarah Rothenberg, violinist Johnny Gandelsman, and tenor Lawrence Brownlee, as well as for countless others. His music has been performed in notable venues such as the Library of Congress, the Walt Disney Co ncert Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Hollywood Bowl, the 92nd Street Y, Park Avenue Armory, the Donaueschinger Musiktage , Lucerne Festival, and Lincoln Center. His compositions are published by Edition Peters. Sorey joined the composition faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in the F all of 2020, where he maintains a vigorous touring schedule in addition to his academic duties. He was selected as a Peabody Resident at Johns Hopkins University for Fall 2023, and has taught and lectured on composition and improvisation at an impressive assortm ent of institutions, including: Columbia University, Harvard University, Darmstadter Ferienkurse, Wesleyan University, The New England Conservatory, University of Michigan, The Banff Centre, Berklee College of Music, Mills College, University of Chicago, and T he Danish Rhythmic Conservatory. In spring 2023, Sorey debuted a musical collaboration with percussion ensemble Yarn/Wire titled “Be Holding,” a multimedia adaptation of the book -length poem by Ross Gay about the beauty and cultural significance of Julius Erving’s momentous sky hook dunk during the 1980 NBA Finals. The production included perform ances by professional wordsmiths Yolanda Wisher and David A. Gaines, along with students from Girard College, and was featured in the New York Times. Sorey’s trio (featuring pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Harish Raghavan) is currently touring with Sandbox Percussion Ensemble, performing a newly commissioned piece in honor of the Max Roach Centennial titled Cogitations. In the future, Sorey plans to continue pushing boundaries, extending cultural norms, and reformulating public perceptions of modern Black/Afrodiasporic creative practice through the breadth and depth of his works.
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visitwcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Thursday, October 8, 2026 , 7:30 PM Chamber Winds Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Monday, October 19, 2026 , 5:00 PM Wilkinson Lecture Series: Dr. Steven Zohn, Temple University Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 , 7:30 PM Fall Choral Festival Concert Kimberly Adams & Ryan Kelly, directors Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building
Friday, October 23, 2026 , 7:30 PM Concert Choir & Mastersingers Concert Kimberly Adams & Ryan Kelly, directors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Sunday, October 25, 2026 , 3:00 PM Wind Ensemble Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 , 7:30 PM Vocal Honors Recital In Young Lee, director Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 , 7:00 PM West Chester Halloween Parade Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band Downtown West Cheser, PA
Sunday, November 1, 2026 , 3:00 PM Faculty Recital: Igor Resnianski, piano Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building
*Ticketsare required for this event. For weekday daytime events, please RSVP tomusicinfo@wcupa.eduto obtain a parking pass via email
Interested in supporting the Wells School of Music? Scan the QR code and choose the ‘Friends of Jazz Fund' to direct your donation toward enhancing and sustaining our jazz programs, fostering future musical talent, and ensuring the continued success of the Wells School of Music’s jazz initiatives . For further information, please call (610) 436 -2868 or visitwcufoundation.org 🙘 A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Vimeo.com/WSOM Mr.Jonathan Lightcap, Director of Recording Services and Digital Media 🙘 Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors. The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean