Family Weekend Concert to feature Joseph Boga and the Scranton Ramblers  

On Saturday, Sept. 24, Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present a performance by acclaimed trumpeter Joseph Boga and the Scranton Ramblers at its annual Family Weekend Concert.  The performance, which will also include an appearance by The University of Scranton Concert Choir, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center, Mulberry Street and Jefferson Avenue, downtown Scranton.  Admission is free, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. Check the events on Performance Music’s website, scranton.edu/music, within 24 hours of the concert for a link to information regarding any venue requirements for guests, as policies regarding campus health and safety may change throughout the season. 

The concert will begin with the Concert Choir performing three standards from the Great American Songbook repertoire, two of them along with the guest ensemble, according to Performance Music Conductor and Director Cheryl Y. Boga. Boga says, “We always try to invite musicians who are part of our Performance Music ‘family’ of guest artists to perform on Family Weekend, but some years – like this one – the family designation is literal!”   

Joseph Boga is Boga’s son, a longtime friend and colleague of newly appointed Conductor and Co-Director of Performance Music Philip Kuehn, and a 2014 graduate of The Juilliard School. He has been a part of Performance Music at Scranton for more than 30 years – as a two year old he was in charge of setting up chairs and stands, and he now makes it a priority to find the time in his busy performance schedule to return regularly to share his talents as a performer, composer, conductor and educator with the university community.  

For the performance he will be joined by reedman Dan Block, trombonist Sam Chess, pianist Dalton Ridenour, bass saxophonist Jay Rattman (also an NEPA native), and drummer Paul Wells. 

Joseph is a member of the legendary ensemble Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. He has performed at numerous venues throughout the United States and abroad, and is equally at home playing in the jazz and classical genres. As a composer and arranger, he has written for brass orchestra, big band, string orchestra, choir, and various-sized jazz ensembles. 

In jazz, he leads his own small group, and - in addition to his work with the Nighthawks - performs with a variety of artists and ensembles, including David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, James Langton’s New York All-Star Big Band, Kyle Athayde Dance Party, Wycliffe Gordon, Adrian Cunningham, Gordon Webster, and many others. Classically, Boga has performed as a soloist and ensemble player with a variety of orchestras and smaller groups, including the International Contemporary Ensemble, New York Trumpet Ensemble, Garden State Philharmonic, Scranton Brass Orchestra, and Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic.  

Boga’s radio and film credits include recording and filming with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks for the second season of the hit series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” WVIA's "Keystone Edition Arts: Generations in Jazz" special with Dave Liebman and Nancy Reed, an interview and performance with Jools Holland at the Louis Armstrong House for BBC Radio’s “On The Road with Jools Holland,” recording with Wycliffe Gordon in the big band for the documentary "Mary Lou Williams, The Lady Who Swings The Band,” and playing on the soundtrack as well as appearing in the new Martin Scorcese film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which will be released in spring. 

About Performance Music at The University of Scranton

The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles. There is no major in music at the University, and all enrolled Scranton students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University Bands, University Performance Choirs, University String Orchestra & Ensembles, and Steel Drum Ensemble. Neither an audition nor enrollment fee is required for membership. A number of members of the faculty and staff, as well as alumni from the region, also perform with the groups. Each year, hundreds of students participate in the ensembles.  

For additional information on the concert, call 570-941-7624, email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music. For additional on the musicians, please visit: JOSEPH BOGA: josephboga.com, 

DAN BLOCK: juilliard.edu/music/faculty/block-dan, SAM CHESS: samchessmusic.com, DALTON Ridenour: daltonridenhour.com, JAY RATTMAN: jayrattman.com, PAUL WELLS: paulwellsdrums.com

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