Lenoir-Rhyne Wind Symphony concert scheduled for April 27

HICKORY, NC – In celebration of the ninety-sixth season of bands at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the Wind Symphony will present its spring concert Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in P.E. Monroe Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The 79 member LR Wind Symphony will feature one of the premier performances of Resignation— a new work by North Carolina composer, Ed Kiefer. The work is based on a hymn tune of the same name which is most commonly set to the text of Psalm 23, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. The work is in memory of David Kirby. Ph.D., who taught clarinet and saxophone at LR. Resignation begins and ends with a clarinet solo as a direct reference to Kirby’s primary instrument, the clarinet.

Also featured on the program is Rapsódia Sefaradi, a relatively new work by Brazilian composer, Alexandre Travassos. LR is proud to present one of the first North American performances of this work, which combines Middle-Eastern sounding harmonic minor melodies, Turkish Darbaka drums, Latin rhythms, and solos for several different woodwind instruments.

The performance will be conducted by Daniel Kiser, DMA, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, director of university bands, and conductor of the LR Wind Symphony; Neil Underwood, associate director of university bands and director of the Spirit of LR marching band; and Jeffrey Warner, guest conductor and United States Air Force retiree.

Other works on the program include Warner’s transcription of Franz von Suppé’s Banditenstreiche Overture (The Jolly Robbers Overture), Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, A Movement for Rosa (tribute to Rosa Parks) by Mark Camphouse, and various marches by Karl King and Thornton Boyer.

The LR Wind Symphony, the University’s flagship instrumental ensemble, is comprised of students and local musicians. New members are admitted at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters for sections with openings.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. To learn more, visit lr.edu/publicevents.