John Clayton & ETHEL: Reflections on Monk and Bach

TICKET PRICES
$40 | Free with a Gettysburg College ID

Friday, February 5, 2027 at 8 PM

Presented in conjunction with the Sunderman Conservatory of Music 

John Clayton 

Bassist, composer, arranger, and producer John Clayton is a busy man! He is a GRAMMY® winner with nine additional nominations and has written and/or recorded with artists such as Milt Jackson, Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Queen Latifah, YoYo Ma, and many more.  

John was the principal bassist in the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 1980 to 1984. In 1986, he co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and rekindled The Clayton Brothers Quintet. He works annually as the Big Band Director for The Jazz Cruise.  

It is John’s arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that helped propel Whitney Houston in her 1990 performance at the Super Bowl. His recordings with the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Count Basie, and others are plentiful.  

ETHEL 

For nearly three decades, the GRAMMY®-winning, fearless string quartet ETHEL has been an electrifying presence on the global stage, fusing virtuosic playing and innovation with the music of our time. The ensemble is a future-focused, pioneering musical force, with a sonic legacy of evocative storytelling and heartfelt human connection, and continues to shatter preconceived boundaries across sound and style. 

In addition to traditional recital formats, its collaborative and multimedia productions are central to ETHEL’s identity. Its performances on the world’s top stages range from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Sydney Opera House, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Ravinia Festival, Holland’s TROMP, Venice Biennale, and FIAC in Mexico.  

Composer performers—Ralph Farris (viola), Kip Jones (violin), Dorothy Lawson (cello), and Corin Lee (violin)—have been commissioned by a bevy of institutions nationally, including the NEA, and have worked with an array of legendary artists.  

This performance is made possible in part by the Majestic Theater Centennial Endowment Fund and the Lydia Ziegler Clare Fund. 

A pre-performance meal is available for purchase before John Clayton & ETHEL: Reflections on Monk and Bach. 

On Sale Dates

June 22 – Benefactor and Headliner Majestic Members

June 24 – Producer, Director, Popcorn Club, and Stagehand Members

June 26 – General Public