A Little Noon Music is Back until May 2023! This month will feature students from Shenandoah University Jazz and the theme is Celebrating Duke Ellington. This musical event is organized by Dr. Matthew Niess. Dr. Niess is a Washington, D.C.-based cross-over Edwards Trombone and Summit recording artist. He served in The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” for 30 years as lead trombone in the The U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble and with the The U.S. Army Brass Quintet. He is a current member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. He began his teaching career in 1986 as director of bands at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, Maryland, and has since taught at George Mason, Towson and West Chester Universities. In 2021 he became director of jazz studies and professor of trombone at Shenandoah Conservatory.