Vocalist Tish Oney to join Furman Jazz Ensemble for Nov. 4 concert

Tish Oney

NOVEMBER 2, 2011
by Tina Underwood, Media Relations

GREENVILLE, S.C.—The Furman University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos will perform with local jazz vocalist Tish Oney in a concert Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

Directed by Furman saxophone professor Matt Olson, the concert features music from the “Great American Songbook” as part of Oney’s “Big Band Excursion” show. The concert is open to the public. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door.

New to Greenville, Oney has sung professionally for several years in a variety of genres, including opera, oratorio, solo recitals, choral music, jazz, cabaret, pop and music theatre. As a lyric soprano she has appeared as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Rome Festival Opera Institute in Italy, and has given numerous solo voice recitals throughout the U.S. and Europe. Recognized as a specialist in jazz, baroque and contemporary vocal music, Oney has premiered several new works by more than twenty composers including a cycle of three art songs written especially for her by American composer Fred Thayer.

She has served on the voice faculty at six universities and colleges in the U.S. and has provided guest teaching at several others. In 2008 she presented her dissertation research at the NATS Conference (National Association of Teachers of Singing) in Nashville.

As jazz vocalist, pianist, arranger and artistic director for several nationally touring jazz shows including “The Peggy Lee Project” and “Tish Oney’s Big Band Excursion,” Oney maintains an active touring and recording career and has gained worldwide attention in print, radio and TV media. Oney’s latest CD, Sweet Youth, was released in September 2011 on the Blujazz label, and is currently receiving international airplay on jazz and adult standard radio. Her second CD, Dear Peg, earned international recognition in WHLI Radio’s Top 50 Releases of 2009. In 2009, Oney was included in international jazz critic Scott Yanow’s book, The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide.

For more information about Oney’s career, go to www.tishoney.com. For more information about the event, contact Matt Olson in the music department, 864-294-3284.