wind ensemble program at Cedar Ridge

The following press release was, unfortunately, sent in too late for us to put it in the paper. But it looks like it will be a great event, for those who can make it!

The Appalachian State University Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. John S. Ross will present a concert of wind band classics at Cedar Ridge High School on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 pm.  This concert will be held in the high school’s auditorium and is free to the public.

This performance is the first of seven performances on the ensemble’s tour of central North Carolina.  According to Dr. Jay Jackson, associate dean of the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian, “Touring serves several purposes.  It gives our ensembles the opportunity to showcase their abilities in venues other than our own. Tour performances allow the musicians and the ensembles to gain greater understanding of their music and performance skills through multiple performances of the same musical literature.”   Equally important, according to Jackson, is the opportunity for the School of Music to provide both an outreach to the public school music programs and showcase our program and curriculum to prospective students.

One highlight of Tuesday night’s performance will be the opportunity for the Cedar Ridge band students, under the direction of Patricia Quigley, to perform – side by side with the Wind Ensemble.  The two bands will perform Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in G minor” and John Philip Sousa’s “The Freelance March.”  Additionally, ASU faculty clarinetist, Dr. Andrea Cheeseman will perform Anton Weber’s “Concertino.”  These selections, along with others by Dmitri Shostakovich, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Wagner, and Elaine Ross complete the program.

The ensemble, according to conductor Dr. John Ross, is excited about this tour and is looking forward to the performances.   They remember, when they were high school students, similar performances being given by traveling university groups.  This is now that same opportunity for them as the performers.  We look forward to tour, the audiences, and the experience.