Ken Kittell

WHEELING – Ken Kittell from West Liberty University and John Marshall Saxophone Quartet will both be featured entertainment for the Thursday Music Club at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, at The Char House on the Boulevard, 1055 E. Bethlehem Blvd.

The club welcomes everyone who has an interest in music to join The Thursday Music Club at any time by paying dues of $20 for the year. You can make your reservation to attend this performance by calling Sandy Smith at 304-242-1628 by Sunday, May 3. A delicious dinner will be served by The Char House after the entertainment for $20.

Kittell, a junior music education major at West Liberty University, quickly distinguished himself as a dedicated and versatile musician. A pianist by primary study, he also pursues percussion and voice, demonstrating both breadth and commitment to his talents. Originally from Coshocton, Ohio, Kittell has embraced the welcoming community and vibrant atmosphere at West Liberty, where he is known for his thoughtful musicianship, strong work ethic and genuine enthusiasm for learning. His interests extend beyond performance into music theory, composition and pedagogy — areas he hopes to continue exploring throughout his career. With a warm personality and a passion for sharing music with others, Kittell brings both artistry and heart to every performance – qualities that will be on full display when he performs for the Thursday Music Club this May.

Kittell will be receiving the Chris Pappas Memorial Scholarship at this luncheon.

Chris Pappas, internationally acclaimed producer and songwriter, composed and produced music for more than 200 television shows including “Survivor,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” A brilliant keyboardist, Pappas performed in Los Angeles with Billy Preston, Ringo Starr and Ray Charles. Most notably, he wrote the on-air music for a broadcast of the Academy Awards ceremonies and has arranged and conducted music for countless performers like Dionne Warwick, Billy Crystal and Willie Nelson.

Following Pappas’s passing in 2021, a music scholarship funded by donations to the Thursday Music Club was established by his sister, Christine Gronell, and his late mother, Alberta Pappas.

As a music composition and theory major at West Liberty University, Pappas began his career in his hometown of Wheeling. He credited much of his success to his outstanding college professors. The annual Chris Pappas Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a piano performance major at West Liberty University.

The quartet formed in the fall of 2025 and features four talented musicians: Zakk Wells, Alaina Holliday, Kingsley Zheng and Gianni Oliveto. Audiences can expect a diverse and engaging program highlighting a wide variety of saxophone quartet repertoire.

The ensemble performs under the direction of music educator Tracy Filben, whose distinguished career in music education spans three decades. Filben is a cum laude graduate of West Liberty University, where she earned her degree in music education, and she holds a master’s degree in secondary education from Marshall University.

Filben has taught in Marshall County Schools since 1997 and has served as director of bands at John Marshall High School since 2003. Under her leadership, the John Marshall High School Band has earned superior ratings at the Region 1 Band Festival every year since she became director, a testament to the program’s sustained excellence.

In addition to her band leadership, Filben served as theater director from 2013 to 2021. Her work with the John Marshall Steel Drum Band has garnered statewide and national recognition. The ensemble was selected as an X Honor Ensemble finalist in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025, and performed at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2018.