MASON CITY – The Drake University Wind Symphony, Robert Meunier, conductor, will appear in concert on Thursday, February 28, 2012 at the North Iowa Community Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The concert will include wind music ranging from chamber pieces from the late-nineteenth century to contemporary band repertoire. The program will include Charles Gounod’s Petite Symphony, Ernst Toch’s Spiel, and Leonard Bernstein’s Profanation, as well as works by Yo Goto, Nancy Galbraith, Vincent Persichetti, and Percy Grainger.
Drake’s Wind Symphony is comprised of the finest wind and percussion students at the university and dedicated to performing the highest quality literature for band, ranging from chamber wind works to the contemporary band repertoire. Since its inception in 1998, the Wind Symphony has developed a national reputation for musical excellence. The ensemble has thrice given invited performances for the North Central Division of the College Band Director’s National Association (2000/2008/2012). It has also performed for the North American Saxophone Alliance (2005), Iowa Bandmasters Association (1999/2006/2012), South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, and toured extensively throughout the Midwest. It has released six compact discs, including Angels and Demons (2001), Homage (2003), Impressions (2005), Reflections (2007), Collage (2009) and Windscapes (2011) through Mark Custom Recording. These have received accolades from composers and critics alike, including Band World’s Ira Novoselsky, who has called Drake’s Wind Symphony “…one of the Midwest’s premier wind orchestras,” and stated: “…the Drake University Wind Symphony gives the utmost attention to every musical detail & nuance.” Impressions, Reflection, and Collage have received Grammy Nomination Eligibility status from the Grammy Nomination Committee in both the Best Classical Music and Best Orchestral Performance categories.
The concert, hosted by the NIACC Instrumental Music Department, is free of charge and open to the public.
