Student Feature: Jazz students making history

Feature Story

Story by: Hannah Werle, first-year English and Journalism major
Photography by: Olivia Rivera, third-year Graphic and Interactive Design major

The students in Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music are blazing new trails and making history along the way. At a recent concert, the jazz ensemble and one of the school’s jazz combos performed three original student compositions and one original arrangement.

Two of the songs, “Quadacity” played by the combo and “Snapdragon” played by the ensemble, were written by first-year undergraduate student, Aaron White. White made YSU history as the first freshman to compose a song performed by the ensemble.

Dave Morgan, professor of Music Composition, Bass and Jazz Combo, applauded White’s accomplishments and potential. Morgan has worked with White to improve and focus his pieces, especially “Snapdragon”, as it was White’s first time writing for an ensemble, or “big band music”.

“We’ve never presented a major ensemble piece composed by a freshman,” said Morgan. “What Aaron White did was unprecedented.”

White, a Music Composition major, plays the piano with the jazz combo and was invited to perform “Snapdragon” alongside the ensemble.

“One thing I really like about the Dana School of Music is that it doesn’t feel like opportunity is a matter of seniority. It’s just a matter of whether you’re capable,” White said. “I think that should be encouraging to anyone pursuing music at YSU.”

White said his time at YSU has already started to help him develop balanced and productive habits. He’s had to learn which ideas to develop and commit to finishing one piece of music at a time.

“White has so many ideas that we have to determine what he’s going to focus on and what he’s going to save for later,” Morgan agreed. “We talk about ways to develop a single idea rather than constantly presenting new ideas.”

Second-year graduate student and guitarist Chandler Carpenter also had an original composition performed. Carpenter composed “Real Fake Blues”, which was performed by the jazz ensemble.

This was not the first time his music was featured. In fact, Carpenter has contributed to many of the ensemble's performances over his two years as a graduate student.

Carpenter also teaches a jazz combo class as a part of his graduate assistantship.

“Carpenter is already a professional-level composer and arranger,” Morgan said. “He brings his latest piece by and I share my observations about it, which usually results in a burst of new ideas on his end.”

The opportunity to write and feature his original music is one of the reasons Carpenter chose to pursue a graduate degree and attend YSU. “One of the reasons I came to YSU is to write more big band music. You can’t really find an opportunity like this outside of a university environment,” Carpenter explained.

YSU’s opportunities are not limited to composing, as third-year Music Performance major Zachary Fleischman showcased when he and the combo performed his arrangement of “So Nice”.

To arrange a piece, Fleischman explained, is to take the melody or other major sections of a preexisting song and change, move or add to it. While Fleischman has arranged music privately, this was his first time presenting something to an audience.

Fleischman said YSU and its music programs have helped him to learn and grow as a musician. He said he wouldn’t have been able to arrange something on his own if it weren’t for the support of those around him.

“I’m surrounded by terrific musicians who’ve guided me through my music career. Even when my teachers give criticism, they provide the resources I need to fix the issues,” Fleischman said. “I am encouraged to be better and improve every day. I’ve made a lot of progress in my abilities.”

An appreciation for YSU’s music school is a widely shared sentiment. Both White and Carpenter chose to attend YSU because of the renowned Dana School of Music and its faculty.

“I’m lucky to work with so many talented and creative people. It’s really a free-flowing exchange of ideas and perspectives,” Morgan agreed. “It’s gratifying to follow these students’ careers and see the amazing opportunities they are finding.”