CULLOWHEE – The Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble will present its first concert of the fall semester at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the university’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Performing under the direction of John T. West, WCU’s director of bands, the 52-member ensemble is composed almost entirely of WCU music majors studying in the School of Music.
The program will begin with a new composition written by Michael A. Mogensen for the U.S. Air Force Band called “Aerial Fantasy.” West said the piece is “a beautiful and cinematic-sounding work inspired by the experience of flight.” Next up will be “Elegy” by John Barnes Chance. A reflective work written in memory of a high school band student, the composition will be conducted by WCU graduate assistant conductor Michael Tanguay.
Other works on the program are “D.R. III’s Honnormarsj” by Erling Mostad, “Symphony in Bb” by Paul Hindemith and “Trittico” by Vaclav Nelhybel. “Trittico” was composed in 1963 and first performed in 1964 by the University of Michigan Symphonic Band and its well-known conductor, William Revelli, West said. The piece will be presented at WCU in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of that performance in Michigan.
Admission is free for the Oct. 28 concert at WCU.
Info: School of Music (828) 227-7242.
– WCU
