VCU jazz studies students travel to Qatar to perform in quintet

By Rachael Pawlowski
VCU Communications and Public Relations

Students from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Jazz Studies Program in the Department of Music, were selected to travel to Doha, Qatar, to perform in a jazz quintet in celebration of the VCUarts-Qatar 10th anniversary celebration.

VCU Jazz had been asked to provide music to help celebrate the anniversary of  the VCU Qatar campus, where VCU teaches fashion design, interior design and graphic design within the only fully accredited design program in the Middle East.

Students Karl Morse on guitar, Jon Gibson on tenor saxophone, David Ashby on bass and Dean Christesen on drums joined Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies Antonio Garcia on trombone and vocals on the trip.

While in Qatar, the quintet gave lessons to students in musical workshops. For the performance, each member of the unit selected music for the group to perform.

The group also played in an ensemble concert with musicians from the American School in Doha and with the house band at the Ritz Carlton.

VCU’s Jazz Studies Program provides a diverse community of students dedicated to playing and writing jazz music. VCU’s student jazz orchestras have been recognized for winning top honors in four appearances at the Notre Dame Intercollegiate Jazz Festival, appearing at the Smithsonian Institution and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festivals and producing six acclaimed recordings: “The Tattooed Bride,” “Things to Come,” “Mood Indigo,” “The World on a String,” “It Could Happen to You” and “A Joyful Noise."