Symphonic Band to Perform in Raley Chapel April 20

The OBU Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Jim Hansford, professor of music and director of bands, will present its annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 20, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium.

The 50-member ensemble will perform a variety of compositions including works from the standard wind band repertoire, contemporary band literature, sacred works, and a patriotic piece. The evening's presentation will include nine works ranging from a beautiful setting of America the Beautiful to a new composition, Vesuvius, celebrating the powerful and dramatic eruption of the volcano that destroyed Pompeii in A.D. 79.

Additional program numbers include October by Eric Whitacre, Sketches on a Tudor Psalm by Fisher Tull, Salvation is Created by Pavel Tschesnokoff, In Memoriam by Mark Camphouse, Grace Praeludium by W. Francis McBeth, and Irish Tune from County Derry and Shepherd's Hey by Percy Grainger.

This final concert of the year will recognize eight graduating seniors: Derek Ferguson, trombone, music major from Dallas; Jamin Garoutte, saxophone, music major from Fort Wayne, Indiana; Suzanne Krausse, horn, biology major from Guthrie; Chris McCoy, trombone, music major from San Jose, California; Davin McDow, trumpet, chemistry major from Shawnee; Jason Nickels, bass clarinet, music major from Broken Arrow; Carrie Perkins, trumpet, chemistry major from Hooker; and Beth Weckel, horn, music major from Deming, New Mexico.

"The most stressful part of this final concert of the year is having to say goodbye to all these outstanding senior band members," said Hansford. "They have provided immense leadership and musical inspiration to our band program for the past four years and will be sincerely missed."

The 2004 edition of the Symphonic Band includes members from 12 states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Over 50 percent of the band is music majors and the balance of the membership comes from majors across the campus ranging from chemistry and computer science to cross-cultural ministry and nursing. The symphonic band, the oldest musical ensemble on the OBU campus and has been in existence for over 70 years.

Hansford has served as the conductor of the ensemble since 1990. He has degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of North Texas where he studied conducting with Anshel Brusilow and trombone with Leon Brown. He served as senior editor of a textbook published in 2002, "The Instrumental Resource for Church and School." Hansford has served as conductor of the Baptist All-State Symphonic Band since 1992 and has traveled with the group across the United States and internationally to England and Canada. He stays active as an adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician in public schools and churches and is a regular adjudicator for Director Choice Festivals out of Lubbock, Texas.

The public is invited to the Tuesday evening concert and there is not admission charge.