A composition by a West Virginia University alumnus will be on the program for this year’s inaugural WVU Wind Symphony concert.

The 47-member ensemble will include “Vandalia” by Matt Jackfert in its concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre in the Creative Arts Center.

Jackfert earned his undergraduate degrees in music composition and Chinese studies from WVU, then earned his master’s in music composition from the University of Texas in Austin. He’s currently a composer and radio host with West Virginia Public Broadcasting. He’ll be on hand for the Wind Symphony’s performance and will speak to a music composition class Oct. 7 as part of the College of Creative Arts Alumni-in-Residence series.

Conductors for the evening will be John Hendricks III, director of bands for WVU’s School of Music and assistant dean in the College, and Dearl J. Drury, associate director of bands.

“The WVU Wind Symphony is a select group of the finest wind and percussion performers at WVU,” said Hendricks. “Membership is earned through audition, and the Wind Symphony performs at near-professional level.”

The Oct. 6 concert’s other offerings include

“Lift-off” by Roger Zare,” a quick and energetic piece composed to celebrate the 2005 return of NASA’s space shuttle flight program following the Columbia shuttle disaster.

“Toccata,” a piece originally believed to be composed by late Renaissance and early Baroque composer Girolamo Frescobaldi, later revealed to be a musical hoax perpetrated by Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassad�.

“Avelynn’s Lullaby,” by Joel Puckett, composed to represent the composer’s energetic young daughter who, like most children, resists the nightly bedtime ritual.

“Festival,” by Clifton Williams, a staple of the wind band repertoire, designed to create a festive mood.

“Scherzo alla Marcia” from “Symphony No. 8,” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a movement composed exclusively for winds that combines a quick march with a trio section that evokes Vaughan Williams’s pastoral style.

“Sacred Harp,” by Jay Bocook, a three-movement suite based on hymn melodies taken from the early American Sacred Harp singing tradition.

“Barnum and Bailey’s Favorites,” by Karl King, a popular circus-style March composed in 1913 for the traveling circus’s band and conjuring a big-tend atmosphere.

For tickets and information, contact the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW. Admission is free for attendees who present a WVU student ID.

-WVU-

dw/09/18/15

CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304-293-3397; David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu

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