Area musicians invited to join Saint Mary’s Concert Band
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band, founded in 1990 as a college-community partnership ensemble, will hold its first rehearsal of the 2008-09 season from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, associate professor of music, directs both the Concert Band and the select Wind Ensemble.
The rehearsal will be held in Room 158 of Saint Yon’s Hall. All interested musicians are welcome to attend the first sight-reading informational rehearsal of the season. Advanced-level high school students and adult community musicians are welcome to join the SMU collegiate musicians to perform a wide variety of wind band music.
Auditions will be individually scheduled shortly after the first rehearsal; audition music will be provided to all players on Aug. 27. If you are interested in the ensemble but are not able to attend the first info-rehearsal, please contact Dr. Heukeshoven to make other arrangements. The Concert Band rehearses 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. The Wind Ensemble rehearses 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays.
The band’s first performance this year will be for the inauguration of SMU’s new president, Brother William Mann, on Sept. 26. The following day, the band will play in a concert shared with the SMU choirs on Saturday, Sept. 27, in Page Theater as part of the university’s Family Weekend. The concert will feature the world premiere of Marc Bernstein's “Ashkenazy Fathers,” a piece composed for concert band and jazz combo. Bernstein will be the featured soprano saxophone soloist in the jazz combo of his new work and will be in residency the week before the performance. This composition is the fifth new work commissioned by the SMU Concert Band through the generous contribution of the Sam and Helen Kaplan Foundation.
The second planned concert will be a traditional Christmas concert with small ensembles performing for the lobby party on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, at St. Cecilia Theater.
Detailed information regarding band membership auditions (held Aug. 29-Sept. 3) will be available at the first rehearsal. There are openings in most sections; brass players are especially needed this fall!
Contact Dr. Heukeshoven at (507) 457-1675 or jheukesh@smumn.edu for additional information. Please call or e-mail if you plan to attend the Aug. 27 informational rehearsal so music folders and audition materials will be available for everyone.
