Jazz at the 'Ville Presents Chris Vadala

Office of Visual & Performing Arts, Millersville UniversityThe MU Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band will perform with special guest Chris Vadala, one of the country's foremost woodwind artists who has performed with musical legends including Ella Fitzgerald, B. B. King, and Ray Charles, on Friday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Winter Center. Vadala has performed on numerous best-selling, award-winning albums and has conducted countless musical ensembles across the nation. The Winter Center is located at 60 W. Cottage Avenue, Millersville.

Vadala's performing career has been highlighted by a long tenure as standout woodwind artist with the internationally recognized Chuck Mangione Quartet, and as a member of the award-winning Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. He has performed all over the world, from all 50 states to Switzerland, Brazil, China, Australia, and various places in between. He has also played with music greats Aretha Franklin, Henry Mancini, Dizzy Gillespie, and many more. He has performed on several albums, including five gold, two platinum, two Grammys, two Emmys, and one Golden Globe.

The MU Jazz Ensemble is comprised of 18-20 players, based on big band instrumentation. According to Dr. Keith Wiley, Associate Professor of Music at MU, it is nicely balanced, with a solid brass section of five saxophones, four trombones, and four trumpets, plus up and coming players on piano, bass, drums, and guitar. Their repertoire includes classic swing, jazz standards, and contemporary fusion styles. The MU Jazz Lab Band is an ensemble of flexible instrumentation (woodwinds, brasses, strings, piano, bass, drums, guitar) that accommodates a wide range of student experience levels.

Tickets are $10 general admission, and can be purchased online by visiting ArtsMU.com or by calling 717-871-7600. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticket Office located in the Student Memorial Center on Millersville's campus, or the Ware Center, located at 42 N. Prince Street, in Lancaster. Doors open one hour before each show for ticket sales, subject to availability. MU Student & Visiting Student (any age, any level) tickets are free with a valid ID at a ticket office location or at the door.

The Millersville University Visual and Performing Arts Season is made possible by support from Season Platinum Partner Rodgers & Associatesand Gold Season Sponsors Aussie and the Fox and Hagelgans & Veronis, and Silver Season Sponsors Clipper Magazine, The Hotel Lancaster, 12:34MicroTechnologies, and Weber Advertising. First Friday Music Stage is sponsored by Fine Living Lancaster. This season's Luminary Donors include Ann Barshinger, John & Susan Garofola, Mary Burton & Laurent Horne, Linda Holman Marcks, William McIlwaine, Peggy Neff, Mary Kearns & Jon Walker, and Paul & Judy Ware.