PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
September 27, 2012
CONTACT: Dr. Ricky Brooks, (501) 450-5764; rickyb@uca.edu
WIND ENSEMBLE, SYMPHONIC BAND TO PERFORM OCT. 11
By Carissa Gan
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will present a joint concert in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall on Thursday, Oct. 11.
The 7.30 p.m. concert is free and open to the public.
Dr. Ricky Brooks, UCA’s director of bands, will conduct the Wind Ensemble, which will perform “Vanity Fair” by Percy Fletcher, “The Running Set” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre, “Danza #2” by Bruce Yurko, “Introduction, Theme and Variations” by Rossini and “The Black Horse Troop” by John Philip Sousa.
Senior Kevin Staggs, winner of the UCA Wind Ensemble Student Spotlight Competition in spring 2012, will perform a clarinet solo in Rossini’s piece. The UCA Student Spotlight Competition is an annual competition designed to feature some of the many talented members of the UCA Wind Ensemble.
“Seal Lullaby” features graduate student Steven Shook as the pianist.
“It’s a truly beautiful piece, and the piano part is prominent and exposed,” Brooks said.
Brantley Douglas, associate director of bands, will conduct the Symphonic Band, which will play “Rapsodia Borealis” by Soren Hylgaard, “Punchinello” by Alfred Reed, “Lassus Trombone” by Henry Fillmore, “Inglesina” by David Delle Cese and “Kaddish” by the late W. Francis McBeth.
Douglas said “Kaddish” was a tribute to McBeth, the internationally acclaimed composer who died earlier this year.
The Symphonic Band will feature Josh Bledsoe, trombone professor at UCA, as a guest soloist. Bledsoe will perform “Rapsodia Borealis,” which lasts about 20 minutes.
“Several high school students from the Central Arkansas area will be invited to perform “Lassus Trombone” with the band,” Douglas said. “That piece is a march. The audience can expect a variety in the pieces throughout the concert.”
While “Punchinello” is fun and vibrant, “Seal Lullaby” is gentler and calmer.
The Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band are composed of 50 and 65 members, respectively. The Wind Ensemble has performed locally and nationally, including the Carnegie Hall in New York, the International Music Festival in Vienna, Salzburg in Austria and the Capitol in Washington D.C.
For more information, contact Brooks at (501) 450-5764; rickyb@uca.edu.
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