DAVE HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Members of UA's wind symphony rehearse yesterday. The group was tentatively scheduled to perform "Holocaust Suite" for Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 29.

While many students struggle to define what is appropriate to do and say during war, Lisa Hunter, a graduate assistant who conducts UA's wind symphony, has already made that decision.

In an attempt to stay out of the way of controversy and possible protests, the wind symphony backed out of a tentatively planned performance for Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 29.

Hunter, who filled director Jay Rees' position when he left on sabbatical, has worked all semester with wind symphony students on "Holocaust Suite," a composition by Morton Gould. They were planning to perform the memorial until recent conflicts caused debate over whether the performance would be appropriate.

"People are very emotional right now," Hunter said. "(It might be) taken the wrong way."

"It was a general decision not to pursue it," she said.

But Michelle Blumenberg, director of the Hillel Foundation, believes the performance is necessary.

"It's a memorial," she said. "It's important to remember what happens in times of war · An important message of Īnever again.' Whether the war in Iraq is going on, it's still important."

People can protest anything, said Robert Hayden, a music senior and wind symphony member.

"Holocaust Suite" was written before the conflict with Iraq began. The performance was meant to take the audience through the events of the Holocaust, ending with a movement of enlightened liberation.

Derek Stewart, a biology freshman in the symphony, doesn't think the musical performance would be grounds for controversy.

"It's done tastefully and truthfully," he said.

While Hunter had the right to exercise her artistic judgment, said Maurice Sevigny, dean of the college of fine arts, he also said the arts are significant, especially during troublesome times.

"People have turned to art for balance. The arts heal," he said. "Life is not about war ÷ it's about living."

Although some don't believe a memorial performance would be controversial, the symphony has chosen to play it safe.

"It would have been nice to play," Hayden said, but added that he supports his conductor's decision. "It's her call," he said.

Music is meant to inspire, said Greg Hanson, director of bands. "If it has the potential to offend somebody, we won't do it."

Although the wind symphony will not be playing the piece for Holocaust Remembrance Day, they will be performing "Holocaust Suite" on May 6.

"Maybe the timing isn't right," Sevigny said, but "art that doesn't raise controversy can be pretty dull."