West Chester University: New Expert Faculty Announced At Wells School Of Music

Press release from West Chester University:

Aug. 28, 2020

NEW EXPERT FACULTY ANNOUNCED AT WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The fall semester brings new expert faculty to West Chester University’s Wells School
of Music.

Nicholas Provenzale, who also serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera, has
been appointed in a new role as Director of WCU Opera Theatre, and Jonathan Ragonese, who has been a member of the saxophone faculty for three years, has replaced Marc Jacoby as the new Director of Jazz Studies.

Christopher Hanning, Dean of the Wells School of Music says, “One of the Wells School
of Music’s pride points is our expert faculty, many of whom are world-class performers
as well as teachers. I am excited for Nicholas and Jonathan to share their love for
music with our students, and I know that our students will benefit from their expertise
and performing experience.”

As the Director of Opera Theatre, Provenzale will also direct two opera productions
each year. Ragonese will direct the Criterions Jazz Ensemble, curate the annual jazz
festival, and run the summer jazz camp as the new Director of Jazz Studies.

Provenzale says, “My goals are to make the Wells School of Music a destination for
opera by attracting quality, talented students and giving them excellent training.
I also want to attract local audiences to our opera productions and to make West Chester
University a hub for opera in the region.”

Ragonese says, “Ensemble music-making is a passion of mine, and I look forward to
directing and shaping the future of the acclaimed Criterions Jazz Ensemble. I also
look forward to working with West Chester’s Music Education majors because I believe
that good teachers are one of the most important ways to positively effect music’s
future.”

Provenzale has been teaching voice since 2013, most recently at the University of
South Dakota, and has performed internationally. His full bio can be found here.

Ragonese moved to New York in 2007 to attend the Manhattan School of Music, where
he received a Bachelors in Saxophone and a Masters in Composition. His first recording,
Ardent Marigolds, was released in 2013, a duo with musical father Steve Rudolph. two men, singing, a duo album with saxophonist Tim Warfield, was released the summer of 2018. Ragonese’s full bio is found here.

This press release was produced by West Chester University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.