This week the U of A Bands will kick off the Spring 2023 concert season with performances by the Symphonic Band and 5 p.m. Concert Band followed by upcoming concerts by the Wind Symphony, 4 p.m. Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.

Symphonic Band and 5 p.m. Concert Band
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23

The 5 p.m. Concert Band will begin their concert with Scott McAllister's Zing, an energetic work that juxtaposes fanfare-like motives with sweeping lyrical lines, conducted by Jason Reznicek. A graduate student in the Masters of Music program with an emphasis in conducting, Reznicek will also conduct the next piece, Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The 5 p.m. Concert Band will conclude their program with Chorale and Shaker Dance by John Zdechlik. The piece is based on the traditional Shaker song "The Gift to Be Simple," but uses several variations of the tune throughout the work.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Assistant Director of Bands Chase Jones, will begin their program with Bock Fanfares by Jess Langston Turner before presenting David Biedenbender's 2017 composition, Unquiet Hours. Alfred Reed's four movement Second Suite for Band will finish the evening's program.

Wind Symphony and 4 p.m. Concert Band
3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

The 4 p.m. Concert Band will be opening the spring semester with youthful pieces filled with optimism. Conducted by Reznicek, A Festival Prelude by Alfred Reed will, as its title suggests, open the evening of music. Next, from young composer Kelijah Dunton, Color in the Grey illustrates regaining child-like creativity and imagination. Lastly, the group will perform Pierre LaPlante's In the Forest of the King, a combination of French folksongs.

The Wind Symphony, led by Associate Director of Bands Jeffrey Summers, will illustrate beauty in the new year with three pieces from diverse composers. Samuel Barber's Commando March will drum in the beginning of their performance. Commando March, composed by Barber as he enlisted into the army during World War Two, was his first piece written for wind bands. Next, Omar Thomas revitalizes the American folk classic Shenandoah. To close out the first concert, the Wind Symphony will perform Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, a well-known work based on poems with Latin, German and French roots.

Wind Ensemble
7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10

On March 1 and 2, the Wind Ensemble, led by Director of Bands Chris Knighten, will hold two performances in the Kansas City area, performing at Grain Valley and Blue Springs High Schools.

The first on-campus concert of the spring season for the Wind Ensemble, however, will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, with a pre-concert talk to be held beforehand at 7 p.m. by composer Lindsay Bronnenkant. Bronnenkant will be discussing one of the pieces to be performed that evening, Tarot, an 18-minute musical journey through human archetypes and personality traits characterized in Tarot cards.

Other selections for the evening will consist of Zoom by Scott Boerma and two pieces by Percy Grainger, Duke of Marlborough Fanfare and his masterwork for wind band, Lincolnshire Posy. Also included is This Night, a beautiful setting by David Biedenbender of his original hymn. This Night will be conducted by Robert Carnochan, director of Wind Ensemble Activities, music director/conductor of the Frost Wind Ensemble and professor of conducting at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

Carnochan will be at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center again on the next day, Saturday, March 11, for the return of the U of A Conducting Symposium after a three-year hiatus. The Conducting Symposium is intended to provide instrumental music teachers, graduate students and undergraduates from any college or secondary school the opportunity to engage with guest conductors and composers in an informal, supportive setting that fosters musicianship and personal growth for each person, regardless of experience. Symposium participants and observers will receive six to seven hours of professional development hours from the Arkansas Department of Education at no cost. One hour will be awarded for attendance at the Friday night concert, and six hours will be awarded for attendance at the Saturday symposium. There is no cost for participants and observers, but registration in advance is required through bands.uark.edu.

Admission to all U of A Bands performances is free, but a ticket is required. Tickets can be reserved through the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.