The Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park campus. The ensemble's program includes a performance by 2017-18 Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition co-winner Andy Hunt, and Warren Benson's "The Leaves are Falling." The ensemble is conducted by Penn State director of bands Dennis Glocke.
Tickets may be bought in advance for School of Music concerts in Eisenhower Auditorium at a 40 percent savings. There is no limit on the number. Purchases made the the day of the concert are not eligible. Tickets are available at any Arts Ticket Center location, by phone at 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX, or online at Penn State Arts Ticket Center. This concert is also available on livestream at the Penn State School of Music.
A native of Greensboro, NC, Andy Hunt received his bachelor’s degree in music education with minors in Spanish and psychology, from Stetson University, Florida, in 2014. While at Stetson, he received numerous talent scholarships and served as president of Stetson’s chapter of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. He received his master’s degree in clarinet performance from Ball State University, Indiana, where he was the clarinet studio teaching assistant and performed with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra’s Outreach Woodwind Quintet, the Ball State Wind Ensemble, the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, the New Music Ensemble, and numerous chamber groups. He also was invited to perform Carl Nielsen’s "Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 57" with the Eastern and Central Indiana Symphony Orchestra.
In May 2017, Andy earned a Professional Performance Certificate in clarinet from Penn State, participating in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and in chamber music. He also performed on the Graduate Recognition Recital in January 2017. In addition, he has performed with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, State College Choral Society’s performance of the Mozart Requiem, and the Little German Band of State College. Returning to Penn State for a second year, he is currently pursuing a Professional Performance Certificate in clarinet pedagogy and literature, studying with Penn State clarinet professor Anthony J. Costa.
After graduation, Andy plans to pursue teaching and administrative positions in music and eventually become a clarinet professor at the collegiate level. His professional affiliations include the International Clarinet Association, the National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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.