Akron Life May 2023

EDUCATION

by Alexandra Sobczak

New Gig Akron jazz performers revamp a jazz studies program.

photo provided by Theron Brown

From Blu Jazz in Akron to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Theron Brown and Chris Coles have been wowing audiences with piano and saxophone performances, respectively. Now, they’re bringing that experience and expertise to The University of Akron’s School of Music. Since August 2022, they’ve teamed up to head the jazz studies program as full-time professors.

Teaching music courses as well as leading efforts such as the university’s Jazz Fest, the program’s co-directors have been reaching out to both students and the Akron community. Connecting with other musicians, artists and com munity members is the backbone of the program, and they plan to carry that through as it expands to more students. “Working with each other to create synergy and collabo ration,” Coles says, “that’s the hallmark of the way we want to teach.”

There are now 25 students in the Jazz Ensemble, which is much more than a typical ensemble of 15. The ensem ble performs in both on- and off-campus concerts. “The students here are abso lutely amazing,” Coles says. “They have really rallied around this ensemble.” They plan to limit the mem bership of the ensemble in future semesters, creating additional ensembles and a small group with various focuses so more students can participate.

OCTAVE JUMP A revamp of the jazz studies program was much needed. The director of the program retiring and the impact of the pandemic led to a major decline in the number of students involved. “We’ve already been able to build it up,” Brown says, adding that although there aren’t any jazz studies majors yet, they’ve recruited music education majors and students in various other majors to take classes and join the Jazz Ensemble Coles directs.

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akronlife.com | MAY 2023