Division of Music to hold “Songs of the Season” CD release party Dec. 2

The Division of Music’s “Songs of the Season” is an uplifting CD collection of traditional holiday songs spanning nearly 500 years of musical repertoire, from the Renaissance to holiday favorites of the 20th century.

It’s produced by the student-run Jacksonville University label Dolphinium Records, highlighting the impressive vocal and instrumental talents of students and faculty.

“With nearly a year of rehearsals, recording and production, this project represents a labor of love for all of us—students and faculty,” said Dr. Michael James Olson, assistant professor of music business in the College of Fine Arts.

Songs of the Season will be released Dec. 2, and a CD release event will be at 7:30 p.m. in Terry Concert Hall, featuring several live performances.

“This is a great curated set of favorites from pop standards to jazz to classical,” said Olson. “It highlights a blend of what we offer here at JU. Our accomplished music business students took the lead on this entire project, gaining rights, overseeing design, scheduling recording sessions and doing the marketing and PR.”

Student Bryan Cody, president of Dolphinium Records, said the experience has been a learning one.

“We’ve really seen how to hustle CDs, basically,” he said. “The faculty here are really strong and have helped us figure how to deal with entities like Warner/Chappell Music and the Harry Fox Agency. They are guiding us in how to essentially relaunch this label into the community and the South.”

The 10 tracks on the CD are:

1. A Most Wonderful Christmas – Jacksonville University Orchestra
2. The First Noel – Jacksonville University Brass Quintet
3. Of The Father’s Love Begotten – Jacksonville University Singers
4. O’ Tannenbaum – Jacksonville University Jazz Combo I
5. Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming – Bob Moore & Tony Steve
6. Sleigh-Ride from The Seasons, Op. 37b – Scott Watkins
7. Quintet in G Minor, Opus 56, No. 2, Andante
8. Gloria from “Missa Mater Patris” – Jacksonville University Singers
9. Variations on an Air in E Major – Scott Watkins
10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing – Bob Moore & Tony Steve

The album will be sold for $10 and will be for sale online through major distributors such as iTunes.

For more information on Dolphinium Records, visit www.dolphiniumrecords.com. For more on JU’s Music Business program, visit http://www.ju.edu/cfa/Music/Pages/Jazz-at-JU.aspx.