Get jazzed for a live performance of jazz and contemporary music by George Stevens Academy’s ensemble Upright Expressions at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center on Friday, June 13 (6 – 7 pm). This audition-based ensemble re-forms each school year and develops a unique set of jazz and contemporary music for a variety of performances including at the Maine State High School Jazz Festival, Maine Maritime Academy, Haystack, Tinder Hearth, and the Deer Isle Jazz Festival.
This year, the ensemble consists of Bailey Townsend on bass, Ansel Tenney on keys and vibes, Fred Coit on trumpet and flugel, Owen Norgang on tenor sax, Eddie Crownover on drums, and Herschel Bach on keys and synthesizer. Upright Expression is directed by GSA Music Director, Phelan Gallagher. See below for more information about this year’s performers.
Attendees are welcome to enjoy this free concert inside the Hutchins Education Center or outside on their own lawn chairs. Donations are always welcome.
Learn more about where to find GSA music on their website.
This performance is part of our Music at the Museum series.
Upright Expressions Members
Herschel Bach has been playing the piano and keys since he was five years old. He studied with Holly Weinberg, playing classical piano for 10 years, but has gotten into playing jazz in the past year or so. Herschel has always enjoyed improvisation and loves playing his own original pieces. He lives in Surry, Maine, with his family and also enjoys baking and hanging out with his three cats.
Owen Norgang, the tenor sax player for Upright Expression, taught himself to play on a borrowed instrument three years ago. Since then, he has received instruction from many local musicians including Matt Donovan and Phelan Gallagher. Owen spends his time outside of school working on a local farm and playing folk music with his family and friends.
Ansel Tenney is a senior at George Stevens Academy and a resident of Sedgwick. He has been studying piano for over 10 years under multiple teachers, most recently including Scott Cleveland and Phelan Gallagher. He has performed in three award-winning jazz combos while at GSA, most recently Nine8, which opened for Arturo O'Farrill at the previous Deer Isle jazz fest last summer. While not playing music, Ansel loves to sail and create art and this fall he will be attending The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island.
Bailey Townsend is a junior at George Stevens Academy. Bailey has attended the All-State Jazz Festival for the past two years, playing electric and upright bass. She lives in Blue Hill, Maine, and is also an avid runner.
Fred Coit is a GSA senior from Brooksville, Maine. He has studied trumpet with Mark Tipton. Outside of music he is an avid soccer player with Acadia Fire and he runs track for GSA. This fall he is planning to attend college to study architecture.
Eddie Crownover is originally from California. He began his musical journey when he started to take drum lessons at eight years old. He later picked up the guitar and a few other instruments. He loves to make weird and experimental music. He has been in a few bands like The Don Patrol, The Damn Girls, and finally Upright Expression. He lives in Penobscot, Maine, and loves to hike up Blue Hill Mountain.
Phelan Gallagher studied Jazz saxophone at Loyola University New Orleans and received his Master's degree in music education from Hunter College in New York City. Phelan enjoys improvising and creating original music on various instruments including flutes, drums, keys, and synthesizers. He has performed across the US, Brazil, and Europe. He lives in Surry, Maine, with his family and can often be found making trails and field recording in the woods.