WMU News - Concerts feature WMU and high school musicians

Concerts feature WMU and high school musicians

March 22, 2007

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's School of Music will host five performances and several special sessions during its 39th Annual Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music Thursday, March 29. The conference will begin with rehearsals at 8:30 a.m., and will conclude with a 7:30 p.m. performance by the University Symphonic Band, Western Winds and the Eric Ewazen All-Star Band.

The conference is held each year to promote the performance, understanding and composition of quality wind and percussion music. All events take place on WMU's main campus, in either Miller Auditorium or the Dalton Center, and are free and open to the public. Performances are listed below.

For additional information on rehearsals or special sessions, please contact Carl Doubleday at (269) 387-4681 or Robert Spradling at (269) 387-4703.

Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music
Thursday, March 29

10:30 a.m., Dalton Center Recital Hall
The Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music's opening performance is a chamber music concert featuring the Western Brass Quintet, the Western Wind Quintet, the Western Jazz Quintet and the University Percussion Ensemble.

1 p.m., Miller Auditorium
The East Lansing High School Symphonic Band will perform under the direction of conductor Jane Church.

2 p.m., Miller Auditorium Lobby
Led by Trent Kynaston, professor of music at WMU, the University Jazz Orchestra will give a concert.

2:45 p.m., Miller Auditorium
The Big Rapids High School Wind Symphony will perform under the direction of conductor Kent Boulton.

7:30 p.m., Miller Auditorium
The Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music will close with an evening performance featuring the Western Michigan University Symphonic Band and Western Winds, both conducted by Dr. Robert Spradling, professor of music and director of bands at WMU. Also performing will be the 120-member Eric Ewazen All-Star Band, which will represent as many as 70 Michigan high schools. The band will be composed of students who have been nominated by their band directors as outstanding performers.

Each year the Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music focuses on one guest composer and conductor whose works are featured throughout the day's events. This year's featured artist is Eric Ewazen, a prominent composer and conductor from the Juilliard School, who will be in Kalamazoo for two weeks as a visiting artist. His residency is being made possible through WMU's collaboration with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. While in Kalamazoo, he will perform and host workshops at WMU and throughout the community.

Ewazen's recorded pieces total more than 35 and have been performed by the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Summit Brass Ensemble and the American Brass Quintet. His compositions have been performed live by professional and collegiate ensembles around the world.

Media contact: Tracey Lawie, (269) 387-2309, tracey.lawie@wmich.edu

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