UW News

March 15, 2011

Public concerts featured at band directors conference March 23-26

UW News

When college band directors get together for their annual conference, great music is sure to happen — and theyre coming to the UW March 23 to 26.

The UW Wind Ensemble. | Photo by UW School of Music.

The UW Wind Ensemble. | Photo by UW School of Music.

There will be free public concerts on and off campus by several excellent university wind bands, including the UWs Wind Ensemble. In fact, the Wind Ensemble will perform with the Seattle Symphony, under the baton of Gerard Schwarz, for the final concert of the week, at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26, in Benaroya Hall.

The Wind Ensemble, directed by Tim Salzman, also will perform a free concert at 2:30 p.m. that same day in Meany Hall. With Steven Morrison as guest conductor, the concert will feature UW faculty guest musicians Donna Shin, flute; Cuong Vu, trumpet; and Ko-ichiri Yamamoto, trombone. That concert also will feature the world premiere of a new work by the UWs Huck Hodge, titled from the language of shadows.

The group visiting is the nationwide College Band Directors National Association, which began in the 1930s as a committee of the Music Educators National Conference and got its own name in 1947. According to its website, members of the national organization discuss professional practices and philosophies and “are devoted to the teaching, performance, study and cultivation of music, with particular focus on the wind band medium.”

Salzman, professor of music and director of the wind ensembles for the UW School of Music, said this is the first time in 40 years that the association has met on the west coast.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for people in the Pacific Northwest to hear some of the nation’s finest collegiate bands including a ‘showcase’ concert at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, in Meany Hall featuring many UW faculty performers and composers.”

Here is the schedule of free public concerts:

Wednesday, March 23, 8 p.m., Meany Hall: Ball State University Wind Ensemble.

Thursday, March 24, Meany Hall.
2 p.m. Texas State University Wind Ensemble.
4:30 p.m. Boise State University Symphonic Winds.
8 p.m. California State University, Long Beach Wind Symphony.

Friday, March 25, Benaroya Hall.
11 a.m. The Hartt School Foot in the Door and 20-20 Ensembles.
3:30 p.m. Central Washington University Wind Ensemble.
8 p.m. University of Miami – Frost Wind Ensemble.

Saturday, March 26, Meany Hall.
10:30 a.m. Small College Intercollegiate Band.
2:30 p.m. University of Washington Wind Ensemble.
8 p.m., Benaroya Hall, University of Washington Wind Ensemble / Seattle Symphony. Tickets start at $17.

Learn more about the concerts and the association online.