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| Jazz Ensemble Alumni
Reunion Scheduled For Feb. 13-14 released: 01/27/04 |
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The West Virginia
Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble will hold its two-day Alumni Reunion on Friday, February
13 and Saturday, February 14. This will be the fourth time the past band
members have converged for this event. The weekend will be highlighted by
the Jazz Ensemble Alumni concert on the 14th at 7:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel.
 “We
had our last reunion in 2000, and it was a big success,” said Dr.
David Milburn, Wesleyan’s department chair for music and professor
of music. “Everyone wanted to come back the next year, but I thought
we should have a little time between reunions. It appears that we may have
40-50 former students returning this year.” Alumni will be coming from all points of the globe for the reunion including William ‘B. J.’ Brazier ‘79, who will be flying halfway around the earth to make the reunion. Brazier is a warrant officer in the Army and is the conductor of the 90-piece Army band in Seoul, Korea. “There is such a cross-section of alumni coming back,” commented Dr. Milburn. “Some of the alumni returning are surgeons, musicians, professors and educators. They are very accomplished people and come from all walks of life. It is gratifying to see former members of the Jazz Ensemble be successful after their time spent here.”  Milburn
expects the reunion to encompass a wide range of students from his first
jazz band such as Dr. Bill Turner ‘72, Lee Matchett ‘73, as
well as more recent graduates. The alumni band will get together Friday
night for a practice session before their concert Saturday. “The quality
of the alumni band is very good,” expressed Milburn. “I know
alumni that are coming to the reunion that still perform in military service
bands such as Pat Rockey ‘84, Chris Loftis ‘88, Kenny Rittenhouse
‘88, and Aaron Clay ‘90. Most of the pieces we play are very
popular and have been played by the alumni band at one time or another.”This year’s reunion will fall on Valentine’s Day, and according to Milburn, marital bliss has been one affect of the gathering. “During the last reunion, Phil Foti ‘73 and Becky Hodge ‘86 rekindled their friendship and decided to stay in touch with one another. Well, last summer, I went to their wedding!” “It is always an exciting time,” concluded Dr. Milburn. “It is a great opportunity for alumni to return and renew friendships, and it is a great opportunity for the current Jazz Ensemble members to meet jazz band students that have come before them.” For more information on the Jazz Ensemble Alumni Reunion, please visit the West Virginia Wesleyan College website at www.wvwc.edu. To reach Dr. David Milburn, you can e-mail him at milburn@wvwc.edu. ©Photos courtesy of Dena Smith |