A Celebration of Jazz-Moawad Style

April 10, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - John Moawad is someone who has impacted many lives. He took jazz to a place most had never seen. Considered by many to be the dean of jazz educators on the West Coast, the Central Washington University professor emeritus of music served as the head of CWU's widely respected jazz studies program from 1970-1998. In fact, the success of Central's music department and its premiere jazz studies program is largely due to John's inspiration and energy.

"John would inspire you to reach levels of excellence you never would have thought you could reach," says Chris Bruya, CWU director of jazz studies and Central alumnus (B.A. '83 & M.A. '85). "Knowing how to create a great sounding band was his specialty and his teaching style was truly hands on. He would get right in there and show you how to play it right, instead of just telling you. He really taught us how to teach the concepts of what it takes to make the band sound good." Today, many of Moawad's former students are professional musicians, public school band directors and college music professors all across the U.S.

An award-winning music teacher, jazz mentor and clinician, Moawad has touched the lives of future musicians in ways they never thought possible. Inspired by his passion for jazz, his student performers, who often referred to him as coach, put CWU on the map for jazz education and superior performance standards. Those standards continue today, as does the legacy Moawad initiated nearly four decades ago.

Moawad even influenced non-music majors through his history of jazz class. As Bruya explains, "That one class changed their lives forever. Many are now life-long jazz fans because they became so inspired by the passion John showed for the music."

Today Central continues to build on the John Moawad legacy. To thank him for all his hard work and tireless dedication to music, Central presents the second John Moawad Jazz Scholarship Concert on April 15, 2007 in the CWU Music Building Concert Hall at 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit the John Moawad Jazz Scholarship Endowment, which provides scholarships for CWU jazz students. Tickets are $35 for reserved, $25 for general and students with ID are $5. Visit http://www.cwu.edu/~cah/jmjscholarship07.html or call 509-963-1301 for tickets and information.

The concert features CWU Vocal Jazz I & CWU Jazz Band I as well as guest artists Gary Hobbs (1971-'74), Bruce Babad (BM '90) and Kristina Ploeger-Tapper (BM '96). Following the concert, take part in a reception and jam session in the new CWU Student Union and Recreation Center. Bring your horn and join in the excitement.

Contact: Catherine Scarlett, scarletc@cwu.edu or 509-963-3083