News Article

Wind Ensemble to Perform in Concert, Thursday, Sept. 28

JONESBORO – The A-State Wind Ensemble will begin its 2017-2018 concert season Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Fowler Center’s Riceland Hall.

The theme of the concert is “Programmatic Tales.” Dr. Timothy Oliver, director of bands at A-State and conductor of the A-State Wind Ensemble, said, “Each of the works selected for this concert were inspired by a story or event. For example, 'Tam O’Shanter' is a poem written in 1790 by Scottish poet Robert Burns.  Composer Malcolm Arnold took this poem as inspiration for his piece with the same title.”

The concert will begin with Michael Daugherty’s “Of War and Peace.”  This work was commissioned in part by the Gamma Xi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, which is the band service sorority on campus.  Following this will be “Tam O’Shanter, Op. 51” by Malcolm Arnold, arranged by John Paynter.  The audience will then enjoy a performance of Percy Grainger’s “Walking Time” and “Handel in the Strand.”

Dr. Derek Jenkins, assistant professor of composition and music theory, is a new faculty member in the Department of Music.  He is the composer for “Eosphorus: The Morning Star,” and has been in several rehearsals with the Wind Ensemble, offering insights on his piece.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Dr. Derek Jenkins is a member of our faculty at A-State,” says Dr. Oliver. “He has a fresh compositional style that is engaging and compelling. I look forward to performing his works for many years to come.”

The ensemble will then close the program with John Philip Sousa’s “George Washington Bicentennial March.”

Tickets are $5 for the general public, and students are admitted free with their ID.  Fowler Center is at 201 Olympic Dr.

For more details, one may contact the Music Department at (870) 972-2094.

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Wind Ensemble members (sorted by city)