The West Virginia University Wind Symphony opens its season Tuesday, Oct. 4, with a program featuring David Gillingham’s “Galactic Empires” and Emmy award-winning composer Julie Giroux’s “La Mezquite de C�rdoba” (The Mosque at Cordoba).

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

”’La Mezquita’ captures the flavor of the Spanish, Moorish and Roman architecture of this great religious edifice,” said conductor Mitchell Arnold, who is director of orchestral activities at WVU and serving as acting director of the Wind Symphony this semester.

PROGRAM

Joseph Willcox Jenkins - American Overture
Gustav Holst - Suite No. 2 in F
David Gillingham - Galactic Empires
Percy Aldridge Grainger – Colonial Song
Walter Piston – Tunbridge Fair
Julie Giroux – La Mezquita de C�rdoba

“Giroux’s blend of music styles comes to a stunning climax filled with complex rhythms and sinuous melodies. The band is practically dancing its way through this thrilling work,” he said.

“Gillingham’s ‘Galactic Empires’ is a colorful journey to three imaginary stars, in three very different galaxies: Battlestar, Eveningstar, and Earthstar.”

Assistant director of bands and director of the WVU Marching Band, Dearl J. Drury, will conduct “Galactic Empire.”

The Wind Symphony will also present the classic “Second Suite in F” by British composer Gustav Holst, marking the 100th year since this great work’s composition.

In addition, the program includes a number of works celebrating folk music from America and Australia. Christopher Nichter will conduct Walter Piston’s “Tunbridge Fair,” a jaunty piece of Americana, as is Pittsburgh resident Joseph Willcox Jenkins’ “American Overture,” led by Arnold.

Jenkins studied composition with Thomas Canning, former professor of music and composer/artist-in-residence at WVU.

Percy Aldridge Grainger’s beautiful homage to his native Australia, “Colonial Song” completes the evening.

Arnold, who also conducts the WVU Symphony Orchestra, received a doctorate in conducting from Northwestern University and has an extensive background in new music. Before coming to WVU, he was director of orchestras at Northern Illinois University and assistant director of orchestras at Northwestern University. He has also served on the faculties at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music.

Dearl “Jay” Drury is assistant director of bands and assistant professor of music at WVU. He is also the director of the Mountaineer Marching Band, as well as director of the WVU Basketball Pep Band and assistant conductor of the WVU Wind Symphony and the WVU Concert Band. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from WVU and is currently pursuing a doctorate in performance conducting.

Christopher Nichter is assistant director of athletic bands at WVU, including the Mountaineer Marching Band. He also assists the conductors of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony in the administration and instruction of those ensembles in addition to teaching music arranging and conducting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s in conducting from WVU.

For concert tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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