Four times per academic year, Swasey Chapel has opened its doors to students, staff, community members, and artists of the highest caliber—world leaders in musical ingenuity and innovation—as part of Denison University’s Vail Concert Series. The rich cultural community fostered inside Swasey’s walls represents the vision of the Vail Series, an organization which seeks to bring world class musicians to Denison’s campus and encourage collaboration among visiting musicians, classes, and the larger Granville community. Heading into the 2019-2020 year, Denison’s Vail Concert Series looks both forward and backwards, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the series.

Founded in 1979 under the direction of Lorraine Wales, the Vail Series was endowed by a generous gift from the late Mary and Foster McGaw in honor of Jeanne Vail, class of 1946. According to a piece written by James Hale ‘78 in memoriam after Wales’s death, “Wales was a rare combination of presenter, manager, negotiator, planner, promoter, producer, confidante, and host, all of it packaged with a very personal flourish. She did laundry for the King’s Singers, made breakfast for Maya Angelou, and stationed a Vail intern all night at the Granville Inn in case Leontyne Price needed room service.”

Beginning with Itzak Perlman as the first Vail performer, Swasey Chapel’s stage has been graced by artists such as Yo Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Sam Bush, and Bobby McFerrin. Vail embodies the mindset and goals of the liberal arts experience, as the series extends musical engagement outside of the classroom, presenting these phenomenal artists and thrilling concerts to Denison students and staff free of charge.

Michael Morris, the current Director of the Vail Series since Wales’s retirement in 2013, remarks of the anniversary, “It is entirely appropriate that we celebrate the Vail Series’ 40th birthday. There have been so many ‘Vail Series alums’ that have impacted not only the Denison campus but the arts in general, and in fact the world. The Vail Series is unique in its longevity, student interaction with artists, and the breadth of artists that are presented. We’re excited to bring back favorite artists from past years, and introduce exciting new artists in this milestone year.”

To celebrate this birthday, an exhibit outlining the cultural history of Vail at Denison has been erected in Denison’s Doane Library. It features artifacts such as former concert brochures, a performance time-line, photographs of visiting artists, and even a Denison “Culture Vulture” t-shirt, the former name of the Vail interns and staff.

As current Vail intern Adam Frost-Venrick says of working with Vail, “I’ve gotten to meet so many wonderful people, had so many wonderful conversations. My favorite moment of being involved in Vail occured my first year with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I got to ride with them on their bus to go to the after party and show them around, where they all learned my name. Vail shows the tremendous amount of prestige that Denison carries, and I believe that our students, staff, and faculty love this series, and the artists truly love being involved.”

The Vail Concert Series begins the 2019-2020 season by welcoming Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia on October 3rd. The group crosses and mixes the genres of bluegrass, Indian classical, and jazz, creating an entirely unique sound. As NPR notes of the group, “Simply the best at what they do….they’re world-class masters of the banjo, the bass fiddle and the tabla (who) conquered mere technical prowess long ago.”

The season continues with a Baker and Tarpaga Dance Project entitled “When Birds Refused to Fly” on November 1stt, Matt Haimovitz’s “A Moveable Feast” on November 21st, Brasil Guitar Duo with JIJI on February 7th, Sybarite5 on March 7th, and Roomful of Teeth on April 15th. The series brings changes this year, as Vail has expanded to include six artists and groups, rather than only four.

This exciting year also recognizes the completion of Denison’s newly erected Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts, and although the rich history of Vail will always remain in Swasey’s stage and pews, visiting artists will now occasionally grace the modernized stage of the new performing arts center.

Written by Rosa Canales ’20