Lee University’s Wind Ensemble
Lee University’s Wind Ensemble, featuring 35 students and eight community members, will conclude the 2024-2025 concert season with its “American Bandmasters Association Legends” concert on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.
The performance will be conducted by Dr. Josh Pace, director of bands at Lee, and will highlight works by Edwin Franko Goldman, Percy Grainger, David Holsinger, David Maslanka, and John Phillip Sousa.
“Wind Ensemble has been a highlight of my Lee University experience for the past four years,” said David Freeman, a senior computer science and history double major at Lee. “Being in an ensemble has given me the opportunity to grow as a musician and as a person. The Wind Ensemble has been one of the most memorable communities I’ve been a part of at Lee.”
The concert seeks to highlight influential members of the American Bandmasters Association Legends who have greatly influenced the progress of band music, such as Goldman, Holsinger, and Sousa. In addition, legendary pieces such as “Lincolnshire Posy” by Grainger and the three-movement “Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble” by Maslanka will be featured.
“I have been in the ensemble for all eight of my semesters at Lee, so it has become synonymous with my Lee experience,” says Nathan Moss, a senior music major with an emphasis in saxophone. “The belief that our excellence is an act of worship to God has been a strong principle of the Wind Ensemble since its founding, and it is fulfilling to be able to be a part of it. We look forward to performing this concert, because it showcases a lot of fun, challenging music.”
In addition to serving as director of bands, Dr. Pace is an assistant professor of music education and conductor of Lee’s Wind Ensemble. He also teaches courses in music education, including conducting, methods courses, and supervising student teachers. Prior to Lee, Dr. Pace was the band and orchestra director at Omaha Northwest High School, where he taught Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Keyboard, and Guitar. He also served as a Graduate Assistant to the University of Florida Band Department while completing his doctoral studies in instrumental conducting.
The Lee University Wind Ensemble is committed to the highest level of performance of instrumental ensemble literature for winds and percussion and performs for special concerts on Lee’s campus throughout the year.
The concert is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will be available at leeu.live/.
The Conn Center is at the center of the Lee University campus, on the corner of 11th and Parker streets.
For more information, contact Lee’s School of Music at 614-8240 or email music@leeuniversity.edu.