University Bands Give Final Concerts of the Season

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The 2012 University of Arkansas Wind Symphony

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Campus Band and Symphonic Band will give their final concerts of the season Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1 at the Walton Arts Center. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Baum-Walker Concert Hall. Admission is $10 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and $1 for students. They may also be seen via webcast at http://bands.uark.edu. The broadcast will begin approximately five minutes before the performance. The concerts are presented as part of the Joy Pratt Markham Series.

The bands will be conducted by Assistant Director of Bands Benjamin Chamberlain, Director of Athletic Bands Christopher Knighten, Director of Concert Bands W. Dale Warren and graduate conducting students Alex Badour, Wes King, Michael Moon and Michael Post, all with the department of music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

“We hope the campus and community will join us for our season finale,” said Warren. “The students have worked very hard all year, and they’ve prepared some impressive pieces of music. We’re also looking forward to the performances by our guest flute artists Ronda Mains and Catalina Ortega.”

The Concert Band and Wind Symphony will perform on April 30. Selections for the Concert Band include works by Timothy Mahr, J.S. Bach, Ron Nelson and William Schuman. The Wind Symphony’s program will include works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Eric Whitacre, Warren Benson and Leonard Bernstein, as well as a piece by D.J. Sparr featuring Mains, chair of the department of music, on flute.

The May 1 concert includes the Campus and Symphonic Bands. The Campus Band will play scores by Richard Saucedo, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Fisher Full, Henry Fillmore, and David Holsinger. The concert will feature Ortega, a music instructor, on flute in a piece by Clifton Taylor. The Symphonic Band’s selections include works by Paul Dukas, Dana Wilson, Carter Pann and Vincent Persichetti.

The program for each night is as follows:

Monday, April 30 

UA Concert Band conducted by Chamberlain, King and Post  
Fantasia in G by Timothy Mahr 
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J. S. Bach
Morning Alleluias for the Winter Solstice by Ron Nelson
Chester by William Schuman

—Intermission— 

UA Wind Symphony conducted by Warren and King
Festive Overture, Opus 96 by Dmitri Shostakovich
The Seal Lullaby by Erick Whitacre
The Passing Bell  by Warren Benson
Precious Metal: A Concerto for Flute and Winds by D. J. Sparr, featuring Ronda Mains, flute
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein

Tuesday, May 1

UA Campus Band conducted by Warren, Badour, King and Moon
Triumphant Fanfare by Richard Saucedo
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughn Williams
Introit  by Fisher Full
Americans We by Henry Fillmore
The Lark in the Clear Air by Clifton Taylor, featuring Catalina Ortega, flute
Scootin’ on Hardrock by David Holsinger

—Intermission— 

UA Symphonic Band conducted by Knighten and Chamberlain
Fanfare from “La Peri” by Paul Dukas
Shortcut Home by Dana Wilson
Hold this Boy and Listen by Carter Pann
Symphony No. 6 for Band by Vincent Persichetti