This article is a follow-up to a piece published by The Beacon on Monday, October 20.
After thorough advocacy efforts led by William Paterson jazz students and staff, the upcoming October 26 Jazz Room Series concert, featuring alum and Pulitzer Prize-winning drummer Dr. Tyshawn Sorey, has been relocated to the Shea Auditorium. The news comes after the original controversial change of venue to the smaller Shea Recital Hall due to low ticket sales, a seating capacity difference of 818.
In reaction to this news originally announced on October 15, students voiced their disappointment with the decision made by upper administration among peers and faculty. Taking action, they shared social media posts encouraging members of the community to purchase tickets, reshared The Beacon’s initial article on the subject, and visited the Shea Box Office to add themselves to a headcount of students planning to attend the performance.
By noon on Wednesday, 78 tickets had been sold for the show. By noon on Thursday, ticket sales reached over 100, causing the change of venue back to the Shea Auditorium.
On behalf of the jazz faculty, long-time Jazz Room Series co-producer and retired Jazz Studies Coordinator Dr. David Demsey shared with The Beacon, “We are so proud to host Tyshawn Sorey, who has accomplished the amazing feat of winning a Pulitzer Prize – a great musician, a visionary composer, and very proud to say our alumnus.”
The Beacon reached out again to Dr. Tyshawn Sorey following the news, inviting him to comment. He wrote, “[I] give the students my love for fighting the good fight! Best believe we’re extremely stoked to give this music to all of you. You all should come to the interview too, if you want to have a laugh,” as he continued to welcome “heckling” and casual interaction with the audience during the session.
Dr. Sorey is referring to the pre-show “Sittin’ In Meet-the-Artist” interview held at 2 p.m. in the Shea Recital Hall in Room 101, prior to the concert starting at 3 p.m., now resumed to be held in the Shea Auditorium. Students and faculty hope this is the last time a show will have been at risk to be held in the smaller venue, regardless of ticket sales.
