Jesse Ayers' Waldstein Express for 2-pianos 8-hands performed May 2009 in Bijeljina, Repubic of Srpska by Dubravka Radovic, Jasna Jusovic, Vesna Zelenovic, Milena Vukosavljevic, Slavisa Stojanovic (all students of Prof. Dr. Dubravka Jovicic).

There were five students who wanted to perform this piece, so to add to the humor of the piece, the fifth player meanders in as though he is a passerby, and rotates into the piece.  What enthusiasm in this performance! 

The work is based on the opening two measures of Beethoven's Sonata No. 21 in C major "Waldstein" and also briefly quotes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Bach's Prelude in C major from the WTC, plus a little Gershwin and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Jesse Ayers' Prayers from the Ashes (1st movement)
performed January 2010 at Malone University.
Cynthia Skelley Wohlschlager, voice
Ralitsa Georgieva-Smith, piano
Jessica Mazza, flute
Kelcey Lauer, flute
Brian Peters, trumpet
Jordan Morrison, percussion
Jesse Ayers, conducting

Movement/song title: Deep Waters.  Text from Psalm 69.

Jesse Ayers' Prayers from the Ashes (2nd movement) performed January 2010 at Malone University.
Cynthia Skelley Wohlschlager, voice
Ralitsa Georgieva-Smith, piano
Jessica Mazza, flute
Kelcey Lauer, flute
Brian Peters, trumpet
Jordan Morrison, percussion
Jesse Ayers, conducting

Movement/song title: We Hung Our Harps.  Text from Psalm 137.

Jesse Ayers' Prayers from the Ashes (3rd movement) performed January 2010 at Malone University.
Cynthia Skelley Wohlschlager, voice
Ralitsa Georgieva-Smith, piano
Jessica Mazza, flute
Kelcey Lauer, flute
Brian Peters, trumpet
Jordan Morrison, percussion
Jesse Ayers, conducting

Movement/song title: I Waited.  Text from Psalm 40.

Jesse Ayers' Prayers from the Ashes (4th movement) performed January 2010 at Malone University.
Cynthia Skelley Wohlschlager, voice
Ralitsa Georgieva-Smith, piano
Jessica Mazza, flute
Kelcey Lauer, flute
Brian Peters, trumpet
Jordan Morrison, percussion
Jesse Ayers, conducting

Movement/song title: My Soul Thirsts.  Text from Psalm 63 & 32.

Jesse Ayers' Arise, My Soul, Arise! commissioned for the combined music ensembles of Malone University for a presidential inauguration.  The composer conducting.