Symphonic Winds and Bison Jazz Orchestra to Perform in Concert Nov. 12

OBU’s Symphonic Winds and Bison Jazz Orchestra will host a combined concert Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. The concert is free but advance ticket reservations are required in order to facilitate physical distancing.

The Symphonic Winds, under the direction of Dr. Teresa Purcell-Giles, assistant professor of music and director of bands, is OBU’s premier ensemble for wind players and percussionists. The ensemble is comprised of 45 students from 18 different majors across OBU’s campus. The group performs new and emerging music for wind band as well standard band literature.

The concert program includes an arrangement of Bach’s “Fugue No. 2” from the “Well-Tempered Clavier” and an exciting new piece titled “Anti-Fanfare” by Andrew Blair, performed by woodwind choir. The group will also perform two standard, time-tested works for brass ensemble, including Paul Dukas’ fanfare for “The Procession of La Peri,” which will be conducted by senior music education major Jake Rhodes, and Edvard Grieg’s “Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak.” A mixed wind chamber ensemble will perform “Irish Star” from Shelly Hanson’s “Dances for Winds” and Rob Smith’s “Dance Mix.”

The concert will close with the Bison Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band ensemble that studies and plays music from blues to big band charts and contemporary jazz, including bebop, funk and fusion.

Under the direction of Dr. Justin Pierce, assistant professor in instrumental music, the Bison Jazz Orchestra will perform “Georgia On My Mind” by Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael, arranged by Mike Tomaro and featuring senior alto saxophonist Alex Benito. They will also perform “Pools” by Don Grolnick, arranged by John Fedchock and featuring junior bassist Chester Brown; “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Cole Porter, arranged by Michael Buble and featuring senior vocalist Matthew Anderson; and “In the Wee Small Hours” by Bob Hilliard and David Mann, arranged by Billy Byers and featuring freshman saxophonist Devon Armstrong.