UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform its final program of the 2016-17 year at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at Eisenhower Auditorium. The repertoire will include a memorial tribute to Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky, who passed away in 2016, and Pulitzer composer William Bolcom's "Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band," commissioned in part by the Penn State concert bands and featuring faculty saxophone professor David B. Stambler. A co-winner of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble's 2016-17 Concerto Competition, Ian Adams, will also perform as euphonium soloist in Ron Nelson's "Night Song."
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is conducted by director of concert bands Dennis Glocke. He is assisted by graduate wind conducting student Brett Penshorn.
Ticket prices are $12 for general admission and $4 for students. Buy tickets in advance for School of Music concerts in Eisenhower Auditorium and save 40 percent. There is no limit on the number of tickets that may be purcased. Purchases made the the day of the concert are not eligible for the discount. Tickets are available at any Arts Ticket Center location, by phone at 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX, or online at the Penn State Arts Ticket Center.
This event will also be available via live-stream video at the Penn State School of Music website.
Program
Funeral Music for Queen Mary — Steven Stucky* (Brett Penshorn, conductor)
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Band — William Bolcom* (David B. Stambler, soprano saxophone)
Parade (from Pacific Celebration Suite) — Roger Nixon
Night Song — Ron Nelson (Ian Adams, euphonium)
Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber — Paul Hindemith, transcribed by Keith Wilson
*This year marks the 100th awarding of the Pulitzer Prizes. The first Pulitzer Prize for music was awarded in 1943 to William Schuman. Penn State School of Music faculty, students and ensembles will be performing a variety of works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composers during the 2016-17 season. Steven Stucky won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 for his "Second Concerto for Orchestra." In 1988, William Bolcom won the prize for "12 New Etudes for Piano."
Adams is a sophomore euphonium performance major, studying in the studio of School of Music professor Velvet Brown. In addition to participating in multiple ensembles in the School of Music, he also performs in the Hollidaysburg Community Band. After graduation, he plans to pursue a master's degree in euphonium performance. Ian is the son of Duane Adams and Jane Carothers, of Altoona.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the premier wind/percussion ensemble in the School of Music. This highly select 40-member ensemble is comprised of the finest wind and percussion instrumentalists on campus. It performs a variety of repertoire ranging from chamber music to literature that utilizes the full ensemble. It concertizes extensively both on and off campus and is open to all students, regardless of major, by audition.