Celebrate an early Valentine’s Day with Todd Wright and friends

View larger image — Andy Page, left, Todd Wright, Zack Page, Rick Dilling and Keith McCutchen, not pictured, will perform an Evening of Valentine Jazz Feb. 12. Joining them will be vocalist Wendy Jones.

Posted Jan. 27, 2016 at 4:11 p.m.

BOONE—It’s a Valentine tradition at Appalachian State University – the annual Evening of Valentine Jazz with Todd Wright and friends. This year’s concert will be a pre-Valentine event held at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free.

Vocalist Wendy Jones will be a special guest for the performance. The musicians are saxophonist Wright, pianist Keith McCutchen, guitarist Andy Page, bass player Zack Page and drummer Rick Dilling.

The program includes “All the Way” by Jimmy Can Heusen and Sammy Chan, “Teach Me Tonight” by Gene De Paul and Sammy Cahn, “I Love Her” by McCartney and Lennon, “Embraceable You” by George and Ira Gershwin, “My Funny Valentine” by Richard Rogers and “Love You Madly” by Duke Ellington.

Jones earned her bachelor and master of music degrees in vocal performance from Appalachian, where she taught for eight years before beginning a full-time professional singing and acting career. She has appeared in leading roles with professional theatres from Chicago to Toyko. Her CD “Perfect Dream” was released in 2014.

Jones currently is a member of the Brevard College faculty where she teaches voice and directs the opera workshop.

Wright is director of jazz studies at Appalachian and conducts Jazz Ensemble I and teaches courses in jazz improvisation, jazz history, jazz piano and jazz tunes. He has performed with jazz greats Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Richie Cole, Bill Watrous, Buddy Baker, Peter Erskine, Benny Golson, Herb Ellis, James Williams, Billy Taylor and others.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.