Yevich Concert Features Joseph Boga Octet, sponsored by Wenzels
On Sunday, March 13, the 8thAnnual Gene Yevich Memorial Concert, sponsored by Dave and Janet Wenzel, features The Joseph Boga Octet. The event takes place at The University of Scranton’s Houlihan McLean Center and admission is free, through the generous sponsorship of Dave and Janet Wenzel.
Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present the 8th Annual Gene Yevich Memorial Concert on Sunday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. This year’s concert, honoring the late Gene Yevich who served as fire chief for the city of Scranton during the Wenzel administration, features The Joseph Boga Octet, led by Yevich’s grandson. The performance is sponsored by former Scranton Mayor Dave Wenzel and his wife, Janet. Admission is free, the concert is open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.
In addition to trumpeter Joseph Boga, the ensemble includes Will Reardon Anderson (alto sax), Xavier Del Castillo (tenor sax), Rob Edwards (trombone), Anthony Orji (bass clarinet), Nate Sparks (piano), Mat Muntz (bass), and Paul Wells (drums). The group recently finished a week long run at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Gene Yevich, who passed away in 2005, served with the Scranton Fire Department for decades before retiring in 1989. He was a popular and talented local musician, and had many close connections to the University. He was married for almost 50 years to the former Julia Pucher, with whom he had three children, University graduates Michael Yevich and Cynthia Yevich, and Cheryl Yevich Boga, who serves as Director of Performance Music at The University of Scranton. His grandchildren are Joseph Boga, a 2014 graduate of The Juilliard School, who returns to the University regularly to perform and lead clinics and masterclasses for student musicians, and Magdalyn Boga, who earned a master’s degree from the University and is a member of the University’s History Department faculty and Performance Music staff.
Joseph Boga has performed in a diverse assortment of venues, both in the U.S. and abroad, with an impressive array of both established and emerging artists. He performs regularly with James Langton and the New York All-Star Big Band, Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, Professor Adrian Cunningham and His Old School, The Kyle Athayde Dance Party; and has also performed with The Wycliffe Gordon Septet and Big Band, Loren Schoenberg and The National Jazz Museum in Harlem All-Stars, Dandy Wellington and his Band, Svetlana and The Delancy Five, Double Down Swing, and many others. He has performed with ensembles backing featured singers such as Michael Feinstein, Mitch Winehouse, Cyrille Aimee, Charenee Wade, Nellie McKay, Jane Monheit, Martina DaSilva, and others. He also appears in the recently released award-winning documentary film “Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band.”
Classically, Boga has appeared as a soloist with a number of ensembles, is a member of the legendary four trumpet group The New York Trumpet Ensemble, and has performed with a variety of brass quintets and orchestras in the New York tri-state area. He will be performing Louis Andriessen’s opera “De Materie” in March with The International Contemporary Ensemble, conducted by Peter Rundel.
For additional information, email music@scranton.edu or visit www.scranton.edu/music.
