Published Thursday, April 4th, 2024
The concert is free and open to the public.
Patriotism and power punctuated with exuberance prevail at the Wayne State College Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in Ramsey Theatre, located in the Peterson Fine Arts Building. The concert is free and open to the public.
It will also be livestreamed. To view the livestream, go to www.wsc.edu/watch-live. The program will be accessible by selecting the event from the Music Events list at www.wsc.edu/music.
Concertgoers will hear a hint of “Home on the Range” in the Symphonic Band’s rendition of “Heart of America,” written by James Barnes to honor the Kansas Bandmasters Association’s 50th anniversary. The ensemble follows with the stately British hymn “I Vow to Thee, My Country” by Gustav Holst, a Royal family favorite, and the thrilling yet tender “How to Train Your Dragon” by John Powell from the popular 2010 film by the same name. The Symphonic Band is conducted by Michael Genslinger, instructor of music and assistant director of bands at Wayne State.
The Wind Ensemble premieres “White on Blue” written by Texas-based composer Danielle Fisher to commemorate the reopening of Wayne State’s Peterson Fine Arts Building. Additional works include “Our Cast Aways” by Julie Giroux, a touching dedication to discarded pets and their rescuers, and “Mother of a Revolution” by Omar Thomas, written for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The group concludes with the patchwork medley “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” by Eric Whitacre, featuring rapid style changes and snippets of Vegas favorites.
For more information, contact the Wayne State Department of Music at 402-375-7359.