UNK Symphonic Band director, 308.865.8497
The University of Nebraska at Kearney Symphonic Band will fill the Fine Arts Recital Hall with music from around the world on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m.
The band, which is conducted by Dr. Gary Davis, will play a variety of nationalistic music from countries around the globe. Countries represented in the performance include Russia, Ireland and France, as well as many others.
“Because of the inherent nature of nationalistic music, the concert will be a collage of sound,” Dr. Davis said. “This is all really just fun music that the audience will enjoy.”
Pieces slated for performance include “Russian Folk Dances,” selections of “Scenes from ‘The Louvre,’” “Ireland,” “American Overture for Band,” selections from “Viva Mexico,” “A Scottish Rhapsody,” “Armenian Dances” and “Amparito Roca,” a Spanish piece.
Dr. Davis said that although there would be many highlights to the performance, the “American Overture for Band” will really captivate audiences.
“The piece is one of the really great American works from the mid-20 th century,” he said. “Around the 1950’s, bands were beginning to be accepted as major mediums for music. Everybody from around the world loved this music. It has a very Western-American feel.”
The performance will differ from most Symphonic Band concerts in that there are no featured soloists, he said. Instead, the work of the entire group will be showcased through pieces such as “Armenian Dances.”
“There are really just two speeds in ‘Armenian Dances,’” he said. “Fast and faster. The dances will make people want to put on their dance shoes.”
Dr. Davis said the focus on music from around the world makes the performance similar to guests from around the world who speak at UNK.
“This is very much an example of cultural diversity through music,” he said.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Symphonic Band Student List, by Hometown
In-State Symphonic Band Members
Archer
Amy Neel
Jody Neel
Atkinson
Rebecca Osborne
Aurora
Ashley Lawton
Axtell
Heather Colling
Beatrice
Troy Ehmke
Mark Nelson
Bellevue
Kara Dacey
Adam Hotchkiss
Corrina Wright
Chadron
Jonathan Dailey
David City
Leah Bartek
Gibbon
Brandon Bohn
Amy Smallcomb
Gothenburg
Elizabeth Bevard
Grand Island
Mackenzie Cochran
Adam Eschliman
Ray Zeleski
Gretna
Bethany Chandler
Hartington
Sheila Pinkelman
Hastings
Andrew O’Brien
Holdrege
Kimberly Anderson
Russell Crawford
Brooke Scripter
Kearney
Abby Bittman
Anthony Ford, II
Stacy Laue
Paul Niedbalski
Amber Reiken
Jessica Shupe
Katherine Sizer
Lexington
Dayvid Cardenas
McCook
Tyler Cobb
Shawn Pfanstiel
North Platte
James Conley
Omaha
Kelci Fulton
Melissa Hobbs
Andrew Jacobitz
Katherine Musick
Pickrell
Laura Goracke
Phillips
Evan Smith
David Ziola
Plattsmouth
Jennifer Chaloupka
Wayne
Joseph Brumm
Weeping Water
Casey Webster
Wood River
Sarah Uhrich
West Point
Phillip Erb
Out-of-State Symphonic Band Members
Mountain Home, AR
Wesley Pendergrass
Cedar Rapids, IA
Corey Marz
Honolulu, HI
Erin Parrish
New Lisbon, WI
Nathaniel Ruetten
Japan
Mari Nakamura
Asami Otsuka
Chihiro Shinoda
Kazuya Yoshino
