By
Aaron Cowman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Free admission an attempt to draw a bigger audience, director says
Tonight's UA Wind Symphony and Campus Band concert marks the final performance for the two groups this semester with a free show - a new aspect for this year's concerts.
"We just changed that this year," said associate director of University of Arizona bands Jay Rees. "We just wanted everyone to come. We figured we would take a bit of a loss and get a bigger audience."
Rees, who will conduct for much of the program, also directs all of
the athletic bands. He said that the concert is comprised of a variety
of different pieces.
"One of the big highlights of the performance is the premiere of 'Prelude
and Allegro for Wind Symphony' which is composed by (UA music graduate student) James Wiznerowicz," he said.
He added that "Symphonic Scenario" from "South Pacific" will be a "big highlight."
"'Satiric Dances' by Norman Dello Joio will also be a hit," Rees said. "It is
kind of a tongue-in-cheek satire on more serious pieces."
The Campus Band will perform Jaimie Texidor's "Amparito Roca Dmitri,"
Shostakovich's "Waltz no.2 from Jazz Suite no.2," Jan van der Roost's "Canterbury Chorale," Clifton Williams' "Concertino for Percussion and Band" and Robert Jager's "Third Suite."
The majority of the music presented will be classical, but Rees has programmed a varied repertoire to liven it up.
"What I try to do with the program is make it really diverse so that there
is something for everybody," he said.
The main difference between the two groups is the focus of the performers, Rees said.
"The majority of Wind Symphony is music majors," Rees said. "Campus Band is a group that is open to all students. There are no auditions. Anyone
with an instrument that wants to play can."
Wind Symphony and Concert Band will close out the year with this show, and Rees said that they should continue to do well.
"They are doing well," Rees said. "They are really strong groups."
Aaron Cowman can be reached at catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu.
INFOBOX: The UA Wind Symphony and Campus Band show begins tonight at 7:30 in Crowder Hall in the Fine Arts Complex and runs about 90 minutes long. Admission is free.
