The Department of Music at the University of Central Arkansas will present a joint concert by the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m., in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall.
The concert is free and open to the public.
“This is the first concert of our Campus Concert Series for UCA and the Conway community,” said Dr. Ricky Brooks, director of bands at UCA.
The Wind Ensemble program will include “Celebration Fanfare” by Steven Reineke, composer for the Cincinnati Orchestra, “Lollapalooza” by John Adams and “Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Pagannini” by James Barnes.
Graduate student James Spurlin will be featured as alto saxophone soloist on “IceFire,” composed by Brian Rhodes, band director in Paris, Texas, and a UCA graduate. Spurlin was the winner of the UCA Wind Ensemble Student Spotlight Competition. The Student Spotlight Competition, begun in 2011, is an annual competition designed to feature some of the many talented members of the UCA Wind Ensemble.
The Symphonic Band program will include “Gavorkna Fanfare” by Jack Stamp, “Children’s March” by Percy Grainger, “Pageant” by Vincent Persichetti, and “Symphonic Dance #3” by Clifton Williams. UCA’s new associate director of bands, Brantley Douglas, conducts the Symphonic Band. Prior to arriving at UCA, Douglas was director of bands at Christopher Newport University and marching band director at James Madison University.
Both the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band are composed of music majors and non-music majors. The Wind Ensemble is made of 50 people and the Symphonic Band includes about 70. Membership for both bands is decided through audition.
The UCA Wind Ensemble has performed at the International Music Festival in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, Carnegie Hall, New York City, the Capitol in Washington D.C., and several regional and state music conventions.
The UCA Wind Ensemble performs twice a semester at on campus with an additional tour in the spring. It has commissioned and premiered several works by Arkansas composer Charles Booker.
For more information, contact Brooks at (501) 450-5764 or rickyb@uca.edu.
