UPEI Wind Symphony in concert this weekend
The UPEI Wind Symphony is in concert this weekend as they head to Saint John, New Brunswick on Saturday, November 1 for a performance at Harbour View High School at 7:30 pm. The Wind Symphony will then perform the following afternoon in Summerside, PEI at Three Oaks High School at 2:00 pm. Dr. Karem J. Simon will direct the symphony who will perform an eclectic program, featuring both traditional and contemporary wind band repertoire.
"Fanfare for a Golden Sky," an intense and spirited piece by American Scott Boerma, will open the recital. This will be followed by Gustav Holst's masterpiece, "Suite in F," one of the landmark original works for wind band. Using English folk melodies, Holst's contrapuntal writing and use of instrumental colour creates a very engaging work. Soloist for this performance is fourthyear trumpet major Laura MacLeod. She will be featured in "La Virgen de la Macarena," a bull fighting song made famous by the the trumpet virtuoso Rafael Mendez.
"Passamezzo Antico" by Paul Richards, the centerpiece of this recital's program, is a contemporary work written in Renaissance style with departures into contemporary counterpoint. Richards' brilliant scoring and craftsmanship is apt to appeal to the serious listener. Spanish composer Oscar Navarro's Downey Overture will close the program. It is a virtuosic work reminiscent of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story.
The 50-member Wind Symphony has toured the Maritimes annually for the past nineteen years and is among the finest wind ensembles in the region. During the past sixteen years, the Wind Symphony has produced an annual CD featuring selected repertoire from each year's performances. Cathedrals, released in May of 2010 received the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording. In February 2011 the Wind Symphony released its O Canada CD, a project exclusively for PEI public schools. Its most recent CDs, Freebirds, Lord of the Rings, Four Horsemen and Rumpelstilzchen have been highly acclaimed.
The UPEI Wind Symphony is delighted to collaborate with the Harbour View High School Concert Bands, under the direction of Ms. Lisa Sanderson; as well as the Three Oaks High School Concert Bands, under the direction of Ms. Krista Bryson, which will open the recitals. Tickets for these performances may be acquired at the admission desks. The public is cordially invited to attend.
For more information, please contact Dr. Karem Simon at (902) 566-0702 (office), (902) 892-5993 (home), or ksimon@upei.ca
