The Lee University Wind Ensemble will give a concert Thursday
The Lee University Wind Ensemble will present a concert on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center. Winona Holsinger, director of instrumental projects at Lee, will conduct the performance, which will feature works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Philip Sousa, and Pierre LaPlante, among others.
Joining associate conductor Ms. Holsinger on the podium will be two current graduate conductors, Timothy Linley and Daven Haskett. Also conducting will be undergraduate students Valerie Nuzzolo, McKenzie Stephens, Christine Thompson and Christine Thompson. Community band member, Mr. George Olin, will also be guest conducting a number.
Jack Stamp wrote his piece, “Gavorkna Fanfare,” in the early 1900s at the request of well-respected band conductor Eugene Corporon, at that time on the band staff of Michigan State University.
“At The Strongholds of En Gedi” by Dr. David R. Holsinger is a commissioning project proposal, designed to implement an American Wind Music curriculum in secondary school systems, and was made possible by a grant from the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program.
"Pastime with Good Company,” by Rod Wiffin, also known as "The King's Ballad" is an English folk song written by King Henry VIII in the beginning of the 16th century, shortly after his coronation. It is regarded as the most famous of his compositions, and it became a popular song in England and other European countries during the Renaissance. Conducting this instrumental transcription tonight is Christina Thompson, a senior from Jonesborough, Tennessee, studying music education with an emphasis in clarinet.
Also to be performed are “Anthem for Winds and Percussion” by Claude T. Smith, “Air for Band” by Frank Erickson, “English Folksong Suite” by Ralph Vaughan Wiliams, “Washington Post March” by John Phillip Sousa, “American River Songs” by Pierre LaPlante, and “The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron” by David R. Holsinger. This second work by Holsinger is inspired by both the biblical story when almost 350,000 men came together, armed for battle, determined to make David king over all, and the “Athletic Festival March” by Sergei Prokofiev.
Under the direction of renowned composer and national band clinician Dr. David Holsinger, the Wind Ensemble is committed to the highest level of performance of instrumental ensemble literature for winds and percussion. The Wind Ensemble is a non-traveling organization that performs for special concerts on the Lee University campus.
Ms. Holsinger currently serves in the Lee University School of Music, where she teaches Fundamentals of Conducting, Music Survey, and serves as Instrumental Inventory and Instrumental Music Library manager.
The concert will be open to the public, free of charge. For more information, contact the Lee University School of Music at 614-8240 or music@leeuniversity.edu.