The Aeolians The Aeolians & Jason Max Ferdinand

• Mark Hayes (b. 1953):
• 1 Forever Music 05:17
• Charlie Chaplin (1889 - 1977):
• 2 Smile (Arr. C. Dent for Choir) 04:29
• Ken Burton (b. 1970):
• 3 The Promised Land 06:18
• Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883):
• 4 Tannhäuser, WWV 70: Pilgrim's Chorus (Arr. W. Dawson for Choir) 05:40
• Cedric Dent:
• 5 Examine Me 03:34
• Evelyn Simpson-Curenton (b. 1953):
• 6 My Soul Hath Found Refuge in Thee 05:29
• Nathaniel Dett (1882 - 1943):
• 7 The Chariot Jubilee 14:01
• Anonymous:
• 8 The Gospel Train (Arr. K. Burton for Choir) 01:42
• 9 We Shall Overcome (Arr. R. Gibson for Choir) 06:30
• Susan LaBarr (b. 1981):
• 10 We Remember Them 07:11
• Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941):
• 11 Shout for Joy (Version for Choir & Orchestra) 13:31
• James Mulholland:
• 12 When I Lay Me Down to Sleep (Version for Choir & Orchestra) 04:37
• Total Runtime 01:18:19

Info for The Aeolians

"This recording project was captured mere days before the semester was abruptly altered. This recording would not have happened if it were scheduled three days later! That thought is sobering and makes me cherish even more this compilation. History is teeming with inspiring stories where, in the midst of a tragedy, humanity has risen to levels of heroism that are simply beyond our day-to-day imagination. This phenomenon is in full effect as I write during this two-headed pandemic: COVID19 + racial tensions. These two viruses are literally killing humanity. Both are crippling. Although lingering emotions of fear, uncertainty, and anguish are constant, compassion is on full display during these times of hardship. How moving it is to see tributes being paid to medical workers who are facing this silent killer head on! It brought tears to my eyes to see a community in Italy curating their own concert as they stood in windows and doorways playing instruments and singing. Seeing persons of all varying ethnic backgrounds in the streets protesting for racial equality is a beautiful thing. Music is a reflection of society. For some listeners, it can be a sobering reminder of calamity. In contrast, some people find consolation in music and feed their being with its rhythm and beat. Whenever they feel despondent, they can plug into music to help alleviate their sorrow. If you are reading this, you are a key conduit in making sure this art form reaches the masses. Because music consolidates humanity, it is cause for optimism. Through our programming we can bring hope to so many in need. You, our audience, should be provoked, challenged, and leave with optimism - the type of optimism that Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King possessed. We, the Aeolians, are no longer satisfied with solely displaying musical prowess. Coupling hope with mastery could be the combination that produces uncompromising societal transformation. We have programmed this music hoping to appeal to the mind, but not leaving the heart untouched." (Jason Max Ferdinand)

The Aeolians
Jason Max Ferdinand, conductor

Jason Max Ferdinand
is an Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Oakwood University where he conducts the Aeolians of Oakwood University and the University Chorale, Voices. He also conducts the string ensemble and teaches theory and advance choral conducting. A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Ferdinand received his Bachelor of Arts degree in piano from the Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) (1999), the Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from Morgan State University (2001), and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a minor in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Maryland (2015).

As a doctoral student, Dr. Ferdinand was privileged to have studied under the heedful eyes of Dr. Edward MaClary who is a protégé of the late Robert Shaw and also studied and collaborated with Helmuth Rilling, Margaret Hillis and Robert Page. During his time at the university, he served as co-director for the University Choir and was an assistant conductor for the Chamber Singers and the Maryland Chorus. In addition, he taught undergraduate conducting classes. In the summer of 2006, Ferdinand was selected to lead the Summer Choral and Orchestral Festival Program at the University of Maryland. Jim Ross, a former pupil of Kurt Masur and Leonard Bernstein served as his orchestral conducting teacher.

Under Dr. Ferdinand’s baton, the Aeolians of Oakwood University have graced stages the world over. Their repertoire of choral music which ranges from the Baroque era to the 21st century has been sought after and performed at venues throughout the USA, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Poland, Romania, Great Britain, Russia, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Hungary. Capping off a successful 2011 – 2012 Concert Series which saw the Aeolians visiting Moscow, Russia as part of the Russia-US Bilateral Presidential Commission on development of cooperation between Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, they made their inaugural entrance at the 7th World Choir Games held in Cincinnati, USA, resulting in the choir earning gold medals in all three categories of entrance and the overall championship for the Spiritual category.

In October 2015, Ferdinand made his debut at Carnegie Hall conducting the Aeolians, the Altino Brothers Concert Chorale and the Beyond Boundaries Symphony Orchestra. Later that month, Ferdinand directed the Aeolians as they accompanied the world acclaimed soprano, Kathleen Battle at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in her, “Underground Railroad: A spiritual Journey” Concert Series. In January 2016, Ferdinand directed the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as they accompanied the Aeolians in a collaborated annual Martin Luther King Jr. tribute at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ferdinand maintains an active schedule as a presenter, adjudicator and guest conductor for high schools, collegiate, and church choirs throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. He is a former board member of the Alabama American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and a current member of the national ACDA. He continues to actively compose and to mentor up-and-becoming composers. His greatest passion is watching those who he has mentored as conductors and composers, become conductors and composers in their own right.

The Aeolians of Oakwood University
established in 1946, performs choral music repertoire from the Baroque era to the 21st century, under the direction of Jason Max Ferdinand. In 2017, they won the Choir of the World award at the LLangollen International Musical Festival. In 2018, they won three gold medals at the 10th World Choir Games and the championship in both the University Choirs and the Spirituals categories. In 2019, they became the first HBCU choir to be selected from blind auditions to perform at the National ACDA Conference.

Booklet for The Aeolians