Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Florence Harkness Memorial Chapel
Format: In-Person + Virtual
Admission: Free | Open to the Public
Watch: Livestream from Harkness Chapel
Program
The Case Jazz Ensembles present an evening of swing, blues, and modern jazz featuring music by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Joe Henderson, Paul Ferguson, and guest conductor Michele Corcella, along with new music by student composers Matthew Smutney and Noah Ming.
Highlights include Corcella’s imaginative arrangements of Last Tango in Paris and Blues for New Orleans, his original work Thelonliously, Henderson’s ²Ñ´Ç’J´Ç±ð and Jinrikisha, and Ferguson’s Masks.
- CWRU Jazz Ensembles I and II
- Paul Ferguson, director of jazz studies
- Michele Corcella, guest conductor
View or download the concert program on this page.
About the Guest Conductor
is a multi-award-winning composer, arranger, and conductor. He earned his degree in Musical Studies (DAMS) at the University of Bologna, completing a thesis on Duke Ellington’s soundtracks. Internationally recognized, he has received numerous composition prizes including the Eddie Lang (2009), 2 Agosto (2009), Jazzverk (2010), Bargajazz (2012), Scrivere in Jazz (2014), SIAE Libera il Jazz (2015), and the European Jazz Composers Competition (2018).
Corcella has collaborated as composer, arranger, and conductor with artists such as Kenny Wheeler, David Liebman, and the Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna. In the classical realm, he has worked with the Altenberg Trio Wien and the Orchestra Sinfonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and since 2015 he has served as conductor of the Martini Big Band. His recent projects include a collaboration with renowned pianist and composer Enrico Pieranunzi on a tribute to John Lewis and the Modern Jazz Quartet, arranged for jazz trio and symphony orchestra and performed at major Italian jazz festivals.
A specialist in Duke Ellington’s compositional techniques, Corcella has presented lectures at the Duke Ellington International Conferences in Amsterdam (2014), New York (2016), and Birmingham (2018), as well as the International Jazz Composers’ Symposium in Tampa (2017) and Greeley, Colorado (2019). He is currently Professor of Jazz Composition at the Conservatorio Antonio Buzzolla di Adria.
About the Director
Paul Ferguson, senior instructor (CWRU), is Artistic Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and serves as trombonist and arranger for the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. A recipient of the 1995 Gil Evans Fellowship in Jazz Composition, he first met Michele Corcella when they were both finalists at the ART-EZ Jazz Composition Contest in Holland in 2012.
An Eastman School of Music graduate, Ferguson toured extensively with the Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey bands during the 1980s. Beyond his work as a composer, conductor, and educator, he is also an avid hiker and golfer.
CWRU Music 2025–26 Concert Season
The ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ Department of Music presents a wide range of concerts, recitals, and special events that showcase the talents of students, faculty, and guest artists. From classical masterworks to contemporary compositions, these performances highlight the creativity and excellence within CWRU’s vibrant music community. Open to the public, the series offers opportunities for audiences of all ages to experience inspiring live music and support the next generation of musicians and scholars.
Venue
Florence Harkness Memorial Chapel (est. 1902) is known for its Tiffany stained-glass windows, soaring arches, and exquisite woodwork. The neo-Gothic structure, located on Mather Quad at ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ (Cleveland, OH), commemorates the brief life of Florence Harkness Severance. The chapel offers a warm, intimate, and acoustically resonant space for performances and special events.
Health + Safety
University Health and Counseling Services is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our campus community. Find the latest guidelines and resources on the Respiratory Viruses page.