Symphonic Band Concert
Dec 4, 2009, 7:30 PMMcCready Hall, Taylor Meade Performing Arts Building
Pacific University's Symphonic Band will be presenting their fall semester concert concert.
On Friday, December 4, the Pacific University Symphonic Band will present a special concert featuring eight different conductors and a percussion soloist. Seven of the conductors are students enrolled in a conducting class taught by Director of Bands Dr. Michael Burch-Pesses, and will make their conducting debut that evening.
The conducting students have rehearsed with the band over the past several weeks, and are very excited to conduct in concert.
“Very few conducting students have the opportunity to conduct a public performance as undergraduates,” said Dr. Burch-Pesses, “but our conducting program allows them to gain this much-needed practical experience. They immerse themselves in score study to learn their respective pieces before their first rehearsal, and then have the nerve-wracking but joyful experience of actually making music.
"I’m proud of all of them and so pleased that Pacific University can offer this experience.”
The student conductors will present overtures and marches, folk songs and dramatic pieces, including “Elegy for a Young American,” a work describing the emotions of America following the death of John F. Kennedy; Percy Grainger’s “Irish Tune from County Derry,” and Henry Fillmore’s march “Americans We.”
The concert will conclude with “Pizzazz,” featuring percussionist Marcel Bailey in his final performance with the band before graduating with a degree in music education. Burch-Pesses explained, “Marcel has been the percussion section leader for almost four years, and is a superb player on bells, snare drum, vibes, drum set, and all the other equipment in the section. I couldn’t let him graduate without featuring him as a soloist.” After graduating Bailey plans to earn a master’s degree in teaching and become a high school band director.
All are invited to attend at 7:30 p.m. in McCready Hall. Tickets will be available at the door for $7 general admission and $5 for seniors, students, and faculty and staff of the University.
Posted by Helen Bair (bair6173@pacificu.edu) on Aug 27, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Edited by Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento (kans2166@pacificu.edu) on Nov 23, 2009 at 1:10 PM
