Southeastern Wind Symphony to perform in Washington
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND - The award-winning Southeastern Louisiana University Wind Symphony – all 70 members
– will receive professional experience while performing in one of the nation’s most
prestigious performance venues as one of four selected ensembles to play in the first
annual John Philip Sousa Wind Band Festival Sunday (May 31).
Performing in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Southeastern
conductor and Director of Bands Glen J. Hemberger will be joined by Col. Larry H.
Lang, commander and conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, in leading the Wind Symphony
in a performance of Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide.” Hemberger will then
conduct a movement from Ira Hearshen’s “Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa” titled
“After the Thunderer.” The ensemble will conclude with a multi-movement work, “Star
Wars Trilogy,” by John Williams.
Prior to the performance, participants will have the opportunity to visit important
Sousa sites in Washington and will take part in a clinic with Anthony J. Maiello,
associate director and professor of music at George Mason University School of Music.
“After our performance in the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival in Chicago in
2013, we were contacted with the first opportunity to secure a performance space in
the Sousa Wind Band Festival,” explained Hemberger. “The Southeastern Wind Symphony
has earned a national reputation for programming and performance, and the festival
staff was thrilled when we accepted the invitation.”
He said this festival is involving musicians of all levels – from college to high
school to middle school – all with the opportunity of performing in one of the country’s
finest concert halls, the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“The symphony will also collaborate with one of the country’s major wind band
conductors, Col. Lang,” he added. “This is an opportunity that presents itself once
in a lifetime, and the 70 musicians and staff are honored to represent our state and
university at this major musical event.”
In addition to Southeastern, featured ensembles include the National Christian
Honor Band sponsored by Houghton College, N.Y.; Quabbin Regional High School Symphonic
Wind Ensemble of Barre, Mass.; and Chaparral Middle Wind Ensemble of Diamond Bar,
Calif.
The festival is sponsored by Music Celebrations International.
