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Hayes School of Music alumni ensemble members nominated for 4 Grammys

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Matt Vance ’91, baritone saxophonist in the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

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Jack Wilkins ’82, tenor saxophonist with the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

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Jay Coble ’81, trumpeter for the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

By Matt Vance
Posted Dec. 12, 2017 at 8:53 a.m.

BOONE, N.C.—The nominees for the 60th Grammy Awards were recently announced, and three alumni of Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music (HSOM) are members of an ensemble nominated for four Grammys in the Jazz and Composing/Arranging categories.

Jay Coble ’81 (trumpet), Jack Wilkins ’82 (tenor saxophone) and Matt Vance ’91 (baritone saxophone) are members of Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, an 18-piece jazz ensemble based in Tampa, Florida. The group’s most recent album release, “Whispers on the Wind” (MAMA Records, 2017), received two nominations in the Jazz category: Best Improvised Jazz Solo for the song “Can’t Remember Why,” and Best Large Jazz Ensemble. The album also received nominations in the Composing/Arranging category, including Best Instrumental Composition and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for the songs “Warped Cowboy” and “All Hat, No Saddle,” respectively.

View larger image

Matt Vance ’91, baritone saxophonist in the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

View larger image

Jack Wilkins ’82, tenor saxophonist with the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

View larger image

Jay Coble ’81, trumpeter for the jazz ensemble, Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge. Photo submitted

“Whispers on the Wind” is the ensemble’s sixth album and the third to receive Grammy nominations, following “Comet’s Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker” (MAMA Records, 2009) and “River Runs: A Concerto for Jazz Guitar, Saxophone and Orchestra” (MAMA Records, 2013).

Burlington native Coble, professor of trumpet at the University of South Florida (USF) and Yamaha Performing Artist, received his undergraduate degree in trumpet performance from Appalachian and studied with Joe Phelps, professor emeritus of music at the HSOM.

Wilkins, a native of Greensboro, is also a Yamaha Performing Artist and is the director of jazz studies at USF. He received his saxophone performance undergraduate degree from Appalachian under the tutelage of Dr. William Gora, professor emeritus of music at the HSOM. Wilkins served as director of jazz studies at the HSOM from 1986 to 1989.

Vance, a Boone native, received his undergraduate degree in saxophone performance from Appalachian’s HSOM and studied with Dr. William Gora, Jack Wilkins and Dr. Jon Beebe, professor of bassoon at the HSOM. Vance serves as woodwind product specialist/manager for Buffet Crampon USA, which is the North American distributor for France-based Buffet Crampon Group — the world’s largest producer of professional wind and brass instruments.

The winners of the 60th Grammy Awards will be announced Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, and will be broadcast live from Madison Square Garden on the CBS television network.

About the Hayes School of Music

The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation. Noted for quality instruction by national and internationally recognized faculty musicians, the school offers four undergraduate degree programs and three graduate-level programs. Learn more at https://music.appstate.edu.

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.

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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