USM School of Music to Present Three Band Concerts

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 11:43am | By: Mike Lopinto

USM Symphonic Winds in concert

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) presents a serious of performances by the School of Music’s band area, beginning with the Symphonic Winds on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3:30 p.m. The Concert Band will perform on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., with the Wind Ensemble performing on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

All performances are in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus. Including wind band fare from across the spectrum of literature, all concerts are free and open to the public.

Dr. Tavis Higa conducts the Symphonic Winds with Dr. Colin McKenzie and graduate student Robert Pico Guzman. All are excited to share the stage with their students. They encourage audiences to come hear the band perform to support students at the first band concert of the semester.

“The band will be performing standard band works and new compositions, with music by John Williams, Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, Cait Nishimura, and Malcolm Arnold,” Higa noted. “Our program highlights cornerstone masterworks from our band repertoire, as well as newly composed pieces.”

The Concert Band, led by its conductor, Professor Eric J. Scott, will present a varied program of music covering a wide range of American works in a program called “American Tapestries.”  

Highlights include film music by Aaron Copland, our “Dean of American music,” a jazz prelude by George Gershwin, a march to honor Theodore Roosevelt titled, Rough Riders, a collection of drum and fife tunes from the American Revolution, and a lyrical work titled, Autumn Soliloquy, which will feature Dr. Galit Kaunitz, School of Music oboe professor. They will conclude with John Zdechlik’s beautiful setting of “Simple Gifts” in Chorale and Shaker Dance. Also taking the stage will be graduate conductors Robert Picco Guzman and Steven Cooler.  

“Our students have made incredible progress this semester,” said Scott. “I’m proud of their work and I know our audience will be in for a treat!”  

The final program of the series will be presented by the USM Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Catherine Rand. Entitled, "Passages," the concert will take the listener on a musical journey from Panama to Paris, through your Dreams, and finally ending in the Pines of Rome.  Also taking the stage is graduate conductor Kyle Aufderhar.

“It’s been a wonderful journey for our students musically,” added Rand. “ They have had the opportunity to work on such incredible pieces as Paris Sketches by Martin Ellerby and Respighi's Pines of Rome. I’m extremely proud of their dedication to the music and overall work for this concert series!” 

For more information, please visit usm.edu/bands