University of Scranton Jazz Concert to Celebrate the Life of Rev. J. A. Panuska, S.J.

The University of Scranton Jazz Ensemble will present a concert in celebration of the life of the late Rev. J. A. Panuska, S.J., the 22nd President of The University of Scranton, on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the University’s Houlihan-McLean Center (corner of Mulberry Street & Jefferson Avenue). Admission to the concert is free and open to the public, doors open at 6:40 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Joining the jazz ensemble for the performance will be trumpeter Kenny Rampton from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and legendary musician Loren Schoenberg, as well as a few alumni guest performers who were students during the Panuska years at Scranton.

“It was under the leadership and with the support of Father Panuska that most of the University’s Performance Music offerings were established, expanded, equipped, developed and housed, and it was at his insistence that all performances be offered free of charge to the community, a promise kept by every president who has followed in his footsteps,” said Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music at the University.

A full time member of Wynton Marsalis’s H’96 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 2010, Kenny Rampton also leads his own sextet, serves as the trumpet voice on Sesame Street, and performs with the Mingus Big Band. He is a diversely talented musician whose playing crosses genres: his first road gig was with the legendary Ray Charles; he toured with Matchbox Twenty; he has played with a long list of jazz and pop luminaries; he has performed on numerous Broadway shows and can be heard on a wide variety of recordings. This will be Rampton’s first time performing at Scranton. (For more information, visit kennyrampton.com)

Highly popular and critically acclaimed for his work performing, conducting, writing, broadcasting, lecturing and teaching, Grammy-Award winning Loren Schoenberg’s professional credits would require a large book to completely enumerate. Founding director and senior scholar at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Schoenberg has performed and recorded with a seemingly endless list of jazz legends; served as musical assistant and curator for Benny Goodman, musical director for Bobby Short and conducted and played with many great American big bands; spoken and performed at the White House for three administrations; served as an advisor to Ken Burns “JAZZ” documentary; authored “The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Jazz,” and much more. His many visits to The University of Scranton – whether to perform, speak or teach – have greatly enriched students and audiences alike. (For more information, visit lorenschoenberg.com)

For additional information regarding the concert, contact Performance Music at the University by calling 570-941-7624, emailing music@scranton.edu, or visiting scranton.edu/music.