UPEI Wind Symphony releases 13th annual CD

The UPEI Wind Symphony has just released its 13th annual compact disc, Freebirds, a compilation of music performed during this past academic year.

Overall, this CD is an eclectic mix of a variety of contemporary works for the modern wind band. The title track, Freebirds, is a virtuosic double concerto featuring Wesley Ferreira and Jana Starling, clarinet professors at Mount Allison and Arizona State universities respectively. Works by Canadian composers are represented in John Estacio's fast paced work Frenergy, and Henry Kucharzyk's jazz-infected piece Some Assembly Required.

Among this disc's other prominent compositions are John Mackey's angry march, Xerxes, Arturo Márquez's salsa rhythmic dance, Danzón No. 2, Frank Ticheli's ethereal drama, Angels in the Architecture, and Benjanim Britten's renaissance inspired, Courtly Dances.

All selections on this disc were recorded live in front of capacity audiences at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall.

For each of the past thirteen years, the Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon, has devoted significant time and energy to the production of an annual compact disc. As a result, the Wind Symphony has amassed a collection of many of the finest works in the wind band genre. Its 2009-10 CD, Cathedrals, received the 2011 PEI Music Award for ‘Classical Recording of the Year.' In addition, the Wind Symphony's recording of Howard Cable's arrangement of O Canada was produced and distributed to all Prince Edward Island public schools in February.

CDs are available for purchase at the UPEI Bookstore in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.