The UPEI Wind Symphony will present a Symphonic Gala of “Contemporary Works for Wind Band” on Sunday, April 3 at 2:30 PM at Zion Presbyterian Church, 135 Prince Street in Charlottetown. This is the final recital of the academic year for the Wind Symphony which received much acclaim for this program in its performance in Halifax on March 12.

The recital will feature several emerging masterworks of the genre. Among the centerpieces is Magnolia Star, a programmatic work by American Steve Danyew. This piece, written using a blues scale, captures the sounds typically associated with train travel. Another work, Jug Blues & Fat Pickin’, by Don Freund, conveys music styles of Tennessee, inspired by the Memphis Jug Band (Beale Street, late 1920's) and bluegrass banjo playing. The program will begin with Fanfarria, a powerful and heroic fanfare by Spanish composer Javier Perez Garrido, and reminiscent of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. Additional works by Percy Grainger and Luke Ellard will be performed.

The UPEI Wind Symphony received the 2014 Music PEI award for Achievement in Classical Music. With performances throughout the Maritimes, partnerships with PEI school music programs, and utilizing unique performance spaces, the UPEI Wind Symphony is known as one of the region’s most respected large ensembles and features outstanding student and professional soloists.

Members of the public are invited to attend this performance. Admission is $10 for Adults; $5 for Students.