幺力视频

MSU concert next week to honor U.S veterans

MSU concert next week to honor U.S veterans

Contact: Paige Watson

幺力视频鈥檚 Wind Ensemble invites all to its Tuesday [Nov. 17] evening concert honoring America鈥檚 veterans in McComas Hall. (Photo by Megan Bean)

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he 幺力视频 Wind Ensemble pays tribute Tuesday [Nov. 17] to those who served in America鈥檚 armed forces.

Free and open to all, the 7:30 p.m. concert in the university鈥檚 McComas Hall auditorium features Aaron Copland鈥檚 鈥淔anfare for the Common Man鈥 and 鈥淟et Freedom Ring,鈥 a musical treatment of 鈥淢y Country 鈥橳is of Thee鈥 by 1st Lt. Ryan J. Nowlin, assistant director of the U.S. Marine Band, also known as 鈥淭he President鈥檚 Own.鈥

MSU Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance is conductor of the ensemble.

Craig Aarhus, associate music professor and associate director of MSU Bands, said, 鈥淭his arrangement attempts to serve as a strong reminder that America would not be what it is were it not for the sacrifices of those who have gone before us.鈥

Aarhus said the program also includes:

鈥斺淎rlington (Where Giants Lay Sleeping),鈥 an original composition by Paul Murtha, chief arranger for the U.S. Army Band, also known as 鈥淧ershing鈥檚 Own.鈥澛

鈥擩ohn Williams鈥 鈥淗ymn to the Fallen鈥 from director Steven Spielberg鈥檚 1998 World War II drama 鈥淪aving Private Ryan.鈥

鈥擜 medley of actual WWII-era songs made popular by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Cliff Taylor, associate music professor and associate director of bands, will provide accompaniment for 鈥淚n the Mood,鈥 Miller鈥檚 No. 1 hit.

The evening concludes with John Philip Sousa鈥檚 famous World War I march 鈥淪olid Men to the Front鈥 and the ever-inspiring Carmen Dragon arrangement of 鈥淎merica the Beautiful.鈥澛

The wind ensemble is the MSU band program鈥檚 premier instrumental group. From a series of well-received 2008-14 European concerts, it has earned an international reputation for mastery of contemporary and traditional band literature.

Selected through competitive auditions, this year鈥檚 ensemble members represent Mississippi and seven other states, as well as a range of academic disciplines across campus. For more, visit .

Additional concert information is available from Aarhus at 662-325-2713 or CAarhus@colled.msstate.edu.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, MSU鈥檚 music department offers a bachelor鈥檚 degree in four areas of music education, as well as a bachelor of arts in music. Learn more at , and .

MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .