FIRM ROOTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Music
Dr. James Moore, Associate Professor of Music, is the Director of Jazz Ensembles and instructor of trumpet at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Since 2011 he has served as the chairperson of the Department of Music at WV Wesleyan and has worked to build one of the most vibrant collegiate jazz programs in the region. Dr. Moore is an active member of the Pittsburgh jazz community where he is a member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and has been a member of RH Factor-the Roger Humphries quintet. In addition to his work in Pittsburgh he performs regularly with the Norman David Eleventet in Philadelphia as well as many other collaborative ventures in that city. He has performed with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ahmad Jamal, Sheryl Bailey, Tim Warfield, and the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra. Moore appeared on Bob Mintzer's GRAMMY nominated album For the Moment, released on the MCG Jazz label in 2012.
Moore is also an active clinician, having worked with many high school honors jazz ensembles throughout Pennsylvania and Western Maryland. He has presented master classes at dozens of high schools and colleges in the region. He is also a member of the Artist Faculty of the National Trumpet Competition, as well as serving on the research review board of the International Trumpet Guild. His articles on jazz trumpet pedagogy have been published by the Australian and International Trumpet Guilds.
Moore studied trumpet with Bonnie Miltenberger, Neil Stalnaker, John Swana, and Tim Hagans. He holds an MM in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and is the first recipient of the PhD in Jazz Studies from the University of Pittsburgh where his advisor was Dr. Nathan T. Davis-founder of the original Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra.
Alton Merrell is a pianist, Hammond B-3 organist, composer, and music educator whose life is dedicated to glorifying God through music performance and cultivating music talent in others. Currently, Alton is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and Jazz Studies at Youngstown State University. From the same institution, he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Classical Piano Performance graduating Cum Laude, and a Master of Music Degree in jazz piano performance. From the University of Pittsburgh, Alton earned a Ph.D. in Jazz Studies with a research focus on jazz piano performance and pedagogy.
Dr. Merrell also leads his own group "Dr. Alton Merrell & Impact" an instrumental and vocal ensemble incorporating diverse musical styles in their repertoire. The mission of the group is to create music that will minister love, hope, healing, joy, deliverance and peace to people around the world. Alton's latest award winning CD "You're The Reason" embodies this vision.
Dr. Merrell has ministered with gospel / christian artists Kim Burrell, Martha Munizzi, Donnie McClurkin, Alvin Slaughter, Maurette Brown Clark, Dorothy Norwood, Israel Houghton, LaShunn Pace, Morris Chapman, Parkes Stewart, and the late Rev. Timothy Wright. He has also been seen several times on the nationally televised Bobby Jones Gospel Show. Dr. Merrell has also performed with jazz artists: Benny Golson, Christian McBride, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Owens, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Rufus Reed, Sean Jones, and Roger Humphries. He is a current member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and has performed with, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Cleveland State Jazz Heritage Orchestra, Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, YSU All-Star Alumni Jazz Ensemble, Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and the OMEA Intercollegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble.
Dr. Merrell has received numerous honors including: Gospel Jazz Artist of the Year, American Gospel Music Award, Best New Gospel Jazz Artist & Producer, Capital Jazz Festival Competition Finalist (2008), YSU Jazz Quintet Member of the Cultural Exchange Group performing in Beijing, China (Summer 2002.) YSU Jazz Quintet Member of the Cultural Exchange Jazz Group performing in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou, China (Summer 2004) where a number of Alton's compositions and arrangements were performed. Selected to perform in a master class with world renowned jazz pianist Danillo Perez at TRI-C Jazz Festival (2002), Who's Who Among America's High School and College Students; Member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society; Featured pianist in classical and jazz genres at the Dana School of Music's Showcase Concert (1999), Tri-C Jazz Festival Special Performance Citation from city of Warren's probate judge Thomas Swift and the International Association of Jazz Educators, Recipient of Outstanding Performance award with Y.S.U. Jazz Ensemble I in Big Band Category of the 2000 Down Beat magazine student music awards, Featured soloist at the Warren City Schools General Convocation(1999), Recipient of Founces M. Luley Music Scholarship. Above all, Alton's life is dedicated to glorifying God through music performance, composition and cultivating music talent in others.