The SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble, which has delighted audiences on state, national and international tours since 1999, will perform at eight high schools throughout New York State during its spring tour.
High school musicians will have the opportunity to work with 44 of the School of Music’s finest wind, brass and percussion students that comprise the ensemble, whose repertoire spans all genres and style periods. Joint concerts, workshops and “side-by-side” performances – where high school students sit alongside college musicians – will be held on the March 10-13 tour, under the direction of Dr. Paula Holcomb.
For the spring tour, the ensemble will showcase outstanding works selected from Leonard Bernstein's “Profanation” from Jeremiah Symphony No. 1; “Passage” by Scott Lindroth; “Colonial Song” by Percy Grainger, “Circus Polka” by Igor Stravinsky; “Scherzo alla Marcia” from Symphony No. 8 by Ralph Vaughn Williams; and “Sensemayá” by Silvestre Revueltas.
Accompanying the ensemble as soloists on the tour will be Alex Jokipii and Geoffrey Hardcastle, co-chairs of the School of Music’s trumpet studio and members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Evening concerts open to the public are scheduled at Pembroke High School on Monday, March 10, at 7 p.m.; West Genesee High School on Tuesday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m.; and Rondout High School, on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. Also on the ensemble’s itinerary are visits to Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, Williamsville South High School, Hilton High School, Niskayuna High School and Guilderland High School.
SUNY Fredonia alumni currently serving as band directors at several of the host high schools include: Cory Morrow (2000), Sweet Home High School; Ben Chafee (2000), Pembroke High School; Andrew Perry (1977), West Genesee High School; and Randy Loder (2003), Rondout High School.
The ensemble has performed at the prestigious College Band Directors National Association Regional Conference and for the New York State School Music Association and New York State School Band Directors Association.
Holcomb, who also teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting at SUNY Fredonia, has directed bands and orchestras in 42 states and formerly served as a member of the Council and Artistic Planning Conference Committee for the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, vice president of the Conductors Guild and past president of the Northeastern Division of the College Band Directors National Association.
The Wind Ensemble is one of three School of Music student groups that conduct annual spring tours.
