The Grove City College Symphonic Concert Band and Wind Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 25 in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center on Campus.
The concert features several cornerstone pieces of the wind band literature, guest appearances by faculty musicians, and culminates in a performance of a selection that tests the players and delights audiences, according to Dr. Andrew Erb, professor of Music and director of bands.
The Concert Band will open the show. Their program includes Vaughn Williams’ “Folk Song Suite,” based on songs from the Norfolk and Somerset regions of England that Erb said was one of the earliest “serious” works for band. They’ll also play selections by Holsinger, Persichetti, and Galante, and an arrangement of “Amazing Grace” featuring a violin solo by Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, chair of the Department of Music.
The concert builds to the Wind Ensemble’s performance of American composer Eric Whitacre’s energetic and impressive “Ghost Train.” “It is a challenge to play, yet a lot of fun for both performers and audience members alike,” Erb said. Student saxophone soloist Abigail Kiser and guest saxophonist Doug Butchy are featured, along with piano soloist Dr. Joseph Hasper, associate professor of Music.
The concert is free and open to the public, and a live stream will be available on the GCC music webpage.
This will be the first college performance under the newly installed band shell in Ketler Auditorium.