Arts and Entertainment

Symphonic Band, SWE perform at Eisenhower

University Park, Pa. -- The Penn State Symphonic Band and the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) performed their first concerts of the fall semester on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 10, in Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park campus.

The Symphonic Band is a select band that performs challenging works from the concert band repertory. Members of the 80-piece ensemble are selected by audition during the first week of classes each semester.

SWE is the premier wind/percussion ensemble in the School of Music. This highly select, 40-member ensemble represents the finest wind and percussion instrumentalists on campus. The ensemble will perform at this year's Penn State President's Concert in February at the Strathmore Music Center near Washington, D.C. The President's Concert, a joint production of the Penn State President's Office, the School of Music, and the Alumni Association, has been held at major concert venues including Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Last year's concert was held in Carnegie Hall.

Dennis Glocke, conductor of both ensembles, said he likes to have Sunday afternoon concerts whenever possible to enable out-of-town families to come see their students perform. While many members of both bands are studying music, the ensembles are open to all Penn State students, regardless of major. Auditions are held during the first week of each semester. For more information about these and other ensembles in the School of Music, visit https://music.psu.edu/about/ensembles.html online.

For photos from Sunday's performance, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2339 online.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform at this year's Penn State President's Concert at the Strathmore Music Center near Washington, D.C. For more photos, click on the image above. Credit: Annemarie Mountz / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 18, 2010