The West Virginia University Wind Symphony, the university premier concert band, will present a free concert, titled “Bold and Brassy,” Friday, Feb. 10, featuring as special guest the United States Army Herald Trumpets, the official fanfare ensemble for the President of the United States.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center. The conductor is John Hendricks, III, director of bands at WVU, with Dearl J. Drury, assistant director of bands and director of the WVU Marching Band.

In addition, special guest conductors include: Col. Michael Colburn, conductor of “The President’s Own,” the United States Marine Band of Washington, D.C.; Jay Jacobs, associate director of bands at McNeese State University and also a WVU alumnus; and Roger Walker, band director at Frankfort High School in West Virginia and Concert Band conductor at Potomac State College, and also a WVU alumnus.

The guest conductors of this concert are also guest conductors for the 33rd Annual Invitational High School Honor Band event, featuring the top band students from West Virginia and surrounding states, currently being held at the Creative Arts Center.

The Wind Symphony program will feature:

“Festive Overture” by Dimitri Shostakovich, one of the best-known concert openers in the classical repertoire, featuring The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets;

“O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen, one of the most beautiful and popular choral pieces composed in the last 20 years. The text focuses on the great “mystery” surrounding the birth of Christ;

“Ride” by Samuel Hazo, a fast-paced work that was composed after Hazo took a high-speed car ride through the beautiful country roads surrounding Indiana, Pa.;

Variations on “America” by Charles Ives, a stylistic and harmonic variation on the popular song;

“Semper Fidelis” by John Philip Sousa, the official Sousa march of the United States Marine Corps;

“Olympic Fanfare and Theme” by award-winning film composer John Williams, the brilliant piece he wrote for the 1984 Summer Olympic games, again featuring The United States Army Trumpets;

“Kaddish” by W. Francis McBeth, based on a chant from a Jewish prayer;

“Noisy Wheels of Joy” by Eric Whitcre, a work of wild abandon, just for fun; and

“Pines of the Appian Way” (from “Pines of Rome”) by Ottorino Respighi, one of the ultimate concert finales. This work will also feature The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, founded in 1959, is patterned after traditional British “fanfare” trumpet ensembles and was formed to add splendor to official military ceremonies. A performing element of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C., the ensemble has performed for countless events of national and international significance and has been featured with orchestras from around the world.

In addition to official military duties, the Herald Trumpets has performed in the opening ceremonies for the 1980 and 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Also, the ensemble has performed at nationally and internationally televised events such as the Super Bowl, The Kennedy Center Honors, and annual holiday celebrations.

Col. Michael J. Colburn is the 27th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. During his 24 years with “The President’s Own,” Col. Colburn has served as principal euphonium, assistant director, and since July 2004, the director who is leading the Marine Band in its third century.

As Director of “The President’s Own,” Col. Colburn is music adviser to the White House. He regularly conducts the Marine Band at the Executive Mansion and at all Presidential Inaugurations. He also serves as music director of Washington, D.C.’s prestigious Gridiron Club, a position held by every Marine Band Director since John Philip Sousa, and is a member of the Alfalfa Club and the American Bandmaster’s Association.

No tickets are required for this free concert. For more information, contact the WVU Band Office at 304-293-4381.

-WVU-

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

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.