Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music Brings Melody Back to Marietta
Marietta, OH (10/14/2025) — If silence is golden, then the sound of music is platinum. Marietta College's Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music understands this better than anyone else, as three student ensembles have been hard at work gearing up for their 2025-26 debuts this October.
The Band Rehearsal Hall has been consistently occupied, with the Rock and Jazz Ensemble rehearsing at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays under the direction of adjunct percussion instructor Eli Chambers. The ensemble - entering its second year on campus - focuses on blending vocal and instrumental musicianship together, playing both jazz and pop rock repertoire to broaden members' horizons and bring out the best in their sounds.
"The ensemble's makeup definitely plays a part in how Professor Chambers selects material. Our guitarist graduated, and now there is a cellist in their place," said Kellen Franks '27. "But he also takes it as a way to make a song our own because our voicing is different from the original."
Riley Matchinga '27, a vocalist in the ensemble, noted the relatively relaxed atmosphere as a major part of her learning experience. Coming from a theatrical and choral background, Matchinga finds rehearsals more laid-back than what she is used to, with having fun as they learn their repertoire just as important as performing it well.
Franks, as an instrumentalist, finds value in the way the ensemble teaches him more about his musical craft and how to perform with musicians across different genres.
"I love working on a range of styles with instrumentation you don't hear as much in pop music," Franks said. "I think this ensemble has really helped me improve my knowledge of theory, too - we learn the structure behind music-making and how to improvise solos based on chord changes, which is good to know as a music major."
The Rock and Jazz Ensemble will be performing for their first audience this year on Friday, Oct. 17, at 12 p.m. in the Band Rehearsal Hall, located at 208 Third St. A parking lot adjacent to the venue can accommodate concertgoers who arrive by car.
Similarly to the Band Rehearsal Hall, room 217 in the Hermann Fine Arts Center has been full of vocalists, as the Concert Choir and Floodstage ensembles meet to workshop their repertoire. Concert Choir performs both traditional and modern arrangements utilizing four-part harmony, while Floodstage works in the world of contemporary a cappella music.
Scott Rieder, adjunct professor and choir director at Marietta High School, returned for his second year directing the ensembles, preparing them for their concert entitled "I Should Be Glad", centered around the identically titled piece arranged by Susan LaBarr.
"It talks about recognizing one's place and responding to what's going on in the world with a certain amount of understanding and perspective," Rieder said about the piece. "It says, 'Yes, the world can be a very dark place but where there is darkness, there is also light if you're willing to look for it.'"
This year's choirs, although having a higher concentration of younger members, are still making sounds consistent with previous years. Reflecting the numerous learning opportunities present for his students with less collegiate choral experience, Rieder has made it a point to cover vocal pedagogy during rehearsals.
"There's a lot of tremendous talent," he said. "I want the students, in addition to mastering their repertoire and giving a good, solid performance, to feel as though they're learning more about their voices. A lot of what I learned from a pedagogy standpoint, I learned in choir - because you get an immediate connection between concept and application during rehearsals."
"I Should Be Glad" will occur on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, located at 318 Front St. Doors will open for guests at 6:30 p.m., and although there is limited parking onsite, guests are also welcome to park along Front St.
While October already provides plenty of music for community members, the remainder of the semester will debut two other ensembles, as well as welcome the Rock and Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Floodstage back to their respective concert spaces. To learn more about the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music and its upcoming events, contact Department Chair Merewyn Weinkauf at mb001@marietta.edu, or visit marietta.edu/music-department.
About Marietta College
Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Chartered in 1835, today Marietta College serves a body of about 1,000 full-time graduate and undergraduate students. The College is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes.com, Wall Street Journal/College Pulse and other rankings. marietta.edu/rankings-success
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