The West Virginia University Wind Symphony, under the direction of John Hendricks, III , will perform a winter concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center.

The concert is part of the activities involved in the annual WVU High School Invitational Honors Band event at the Creative Arts Center, Feb. 15-17.

Appearing as guest conductors will be William Berz, professor of music at the Mason Gross School of the Arts of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Barry W. Bernhardt, director of university bands at Southeast Missouri State University; and John Paul Lynch, Sr., who was director of bands at Martinsburg High School in West Virginia for 25 years before retiring in 2005.

The program will featureOrpheus Overtureby Jacques Offenbach;Childrens March: Over the Hills and Far Awayby Percy Grainger;Metroplex: Three Postcards from Manhattanby Robert Sheldon;La Fiesta Mexicana (Movement III Carnival)by H. Owen Reed;Platte River Runby Larry MacTaggart;Canterbury Choraleby Jan Van der Roost;Equusby Eric Whitacre; andThe Pathfinder of Panamaby John Philip Sousa.

Offenbach was the most famous composer of light opera in his day, producing more than 90 works for the stage within a span of 25 years. His overture toOrpheus in the Underworldis well-known throughout the world.

Childrens March: Over the Hills and Far Awaywas scored for band by Grainger in 1919 from one of his piano solo compositions.

A musical portrait of Manhattans cityscape,Metroplex: Three Postcards from Manhattanopens with a vision of the New York City skyline, evoking looming buildings and concrete canyons.

ReedsLa Fiesta Mexicanais subtitledA Mexican Folk Song Symphony for Concert Band,and was written after the composer spent a year in Mexico composing and studying folk music.

Platte River Runis an original work for concert band, commissioned by the Fremont (Nebraska) High School Band.

Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost was inspired to write theCanterbury Choraleafter a visit to the magnificent cathedral of the English city of Canterbury. WhitacresEquusis virtuosic in many ways representing everything from a simple horse gallop to a full-scale stampede.

The Pathfinder of Panama,written in celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal, was first performed by the Sousa Band at the 1915 Panama-Pacific exposition held in San Francisco, Calif.

For tickets to the WVU Wind Symphony Concert, visit the Mountainlair or CAC Box Office or call 304-293-SHOW.