The University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble will cover almost 500 miles and perform in four counties with concerts at three high schools and the Robinson Center in downtown Little Rock as part of the Arkansas Music Initiative Tour. The tour will be Wednesday and Thursday, March 1-2.

"The tour is the next step in our continued outreach to music programs across the state" said Chris Knighten, director of university bands. "Our goal is to be an accessible resource to all music students and teachers in Arkansas."

Founded in fall 2016 by the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Arkansas Music Initiative was created in response to University of Arkansas Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz's call for the university to recruit and retain more students from Arkansas.

The initiative has committed more than $1 million in scholarship support over a five-year period for in-state students planning to study music.

Current high school students in the state of Arkansas will be eligible for Arkansas Music Initiative scholarships by auditioning on campus during the spring semester of their senior year.

While on tour, the Wind Ensemble will perform at three high schools: Conway, Beebe, and White Hall. The tour will end with a featured performance at the Robinson Center in Little Rock at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2. Admission to the concert at the Robinson Center is free.

Performances on tour will feature students and faculty from the Department of Music.

For more information about auditions or the program, please visit the University of Arkansas Bands website.

About the University of Arkansas Bands: The University of Arkansas Bands Program, part of the Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, began in 1874 and is one of the oldest band programs in the country. The program has six ensembles including the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Band, and four concert bands with over 400 student members representing every college at the university.