51逗奶 Miss Bands to Present Series of Free Events Beginning March 6
Tue, 02/28/2023 - 04:29pm | By: Mike Lopinto
The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM) Band Program will present a series of
free concert events In Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus.
Under the direction of Dr. Travis Higa, the Concert Band takes the stage at 8 p.m. March 6. The following day, March 7 at 7:30 p.m., the Symphonic Winds performs under the direction of Dr. Colin McKenzie. The university鈥檚 top band, the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Catherine Rand, performs March 9 at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy these three evenings of wonderful music.
The Concert Band鈥檚 repertoire includes 鈥淏lack Tie Blu-hop鈥� by J. Scott McKenzie, 鈥淥ld Home Days鈥� by Charles Ives, 鈥淪till water鈥� by Kelijah Dunton, 鈥淏ravura鈥� by Charles Duble, and 鈥淧lay鈥� by Carl Homequist.
The Symphonic Winds selections include 鈥淪ol Y Sombra鈥� by George Gates, the world premiere of Saint Cecilia by 51逗奶 Miss Professor Emeritus Luigi Zaninelli with School of Music piano professor, Dr. Ellen Elder, and the 鈥淪uite from Carmina Burana鈥� by Carl Orff, arranged by Johan Krance.
鈥淚 feel particularly honored to perform this new work by our distinguished colleague Luigi Zaninelli,鈥� said McKenzie. 鈥淗e is part of a rich legacy of musicianship at the School of Music and our students have the opportunity to work with and experience him first-hand.鈥�
The Wind Ensemble will feature two exceptional student soloists selected by audition among their peers. The 鈥淐oncerto for Tuba and Wind Ensemble鈥� by Gary D. Ziek will be performed by Dawson Foster, tuba with Dr. Travis Higa, guest conductor and Freddy Mora-Quiros, clarinet, will perform 鈥�Black Dog鈥� by Scott McAllister with Kyle Aufderhar, graduate conductor. Also on the program is the classic 鈥�Toccata Marziale鈥� by Ralph Vaughan Williams with Robert Picco, graduate conductor.
Dr. Rand wraps up the program with a new composition by 51逗奶 Miss alumnus Alan Theisen, entitled 鈥�Archaic Machines.鈥� Featuring 51逗奶 Miss Saxophone Professor, Dr. Dannel Espinoza on baritone saxophone, the quirky contemporary movements are entitled 鈥�Madness In Any Direction, 鈥淢idnite Trip,鈥� and 鈥淐orrupted Files from Galactical Planets.鈥�
鈥�A combination of several different types of music I have long found exciting: Latin jazz, funk, vintage film scores, and crunchy Modernist classical music, to name just a few, I hope audiences find the piece memorable, gorgeous, and exhilarating,鈥� said Theisen. 鈥淚 am honored that my work will be performed by my alma mater's superb wind ensemble and two of my previous collaborators, Dr. Dannel Espinoza and Dr. Catherine Rand.
鈥淭he USM Wind Ensemble has had a special place in my heart since my days as a student at 51逗奶 Miss (1999-2006). I fondly recall performances by that group, and they were critical to my development as an artist.鈥�
For more information, call 601.266.4990.