University Bands Close Spring Concert Season with Two Days of Performances

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Bands Program will close the spring 2014 concert season with two days of performances at Bentonville High School’s Arend Arts Center. The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13, and the Wind Symphony and Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 14.

Three of the concerts will feature the works of Carter Pann, who will be serving as composer in residence April 12-14. Pann will also perform with the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony.

Pann’s music has been performed by many ensembles around the world including the London Symphony, Berlin-Stockholm-Finnish Radio Symphonies, Seattle Symphony and National Symphony of Ireland. His work has earned five composer awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and his Piano Concerto, recorded by the Czech State Philharmonic of Brono, was nominated for the “Classical Composition of the Year” GRAMMY in 2001.

Christopher Knighten, director of bands, conducts the Wind Ensemble. W. Dale Warren, senior wind conductor and professor of music, conducts the Wind Symphony. Benjamin Chamberlain, associate director of bands, conducts the Symphonic Band and Jamal Duncan, assistant director of bands, conducts the Concert Band. Selected pieces will be conducted by John R. Graham, director of bands at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; graduate conductors Staci Hatmaker, Joel Head, Chase Jones and Austin Jay; and undergraduate conductor Whitney Campbell.

The concerts are presented by the department of music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences as part of the Joy Pratt Markham Series. The public is invited and admission is free.

The programs are as follows:

Sunday Concerts 

Symphonic Band, Chamberlain, conductor 

• Military Escort March by Harold Bennett
• Sunflower Slow Drag by Scott Joplin
• Hold This Boy and Listen by Carter Pann
• Ginger Marmalade by Warren Benson, Austin Jay, conductor
• Nightmare, Movement III – “Unreturned Salute” by Xander Navarro, Whitney Campbell, conductor
• Landkjenning (Land Sighting) by Edvard Greig

Wind Ensemble, Knighten, conductor

• Festfanfare by Alfred Uhl
• Four Short Pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, Joel Head, conductor
• The Three Embraces by Carter Pann, Pann on piano
• Toccata Marziale by Ralph Vaughn Williams, Staci Hatmaker, conductor
• Sound the Bells by John Williams

Monday Concerts

Concert Band, Duncan, conductor

• Melodious Thunk by David Biedenbender
• Bridgewater Breeze by Adam Gorb
• 3 O’Clock Mix by Jonathan Newman, Chase Jones Conductor
• The Machine Awakes by Steven Bryant

Wind Symphony

• Four Scottish Dances by Sir Malcolm Arnold arr. by Paynter
• An Unending Legacy by Barry Milner, John R. Graham, conductor
• George Washington Bridge by William Schuman, Joel Head, conductor
• First Movement from Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 by Evard Greig, Johan Boates on piano
• Richard and Renee by Carter Pann, Pann on piano