Northwestern Bands to Present April 23 Concert; Jazz Ensemble to Perform in Downtown Alva April 27

April 20, 2023

Members of the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Chamber Winds and Concert Band will present their final band concert for the semester on Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m. in Herod Hall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Dr. Michael Black, director of bands and assistant professor of music, said the concert will feature a wide variety of pieces.

The Chamber Winds, a smaller auditioned wind ensemble, will play “Vesuvius” by Frank Ticheli, a difficult piece that represents the final days of Pompeii before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius; “Hymn for Peace” by Kevin Day, which represents music that he wrote to bring him peace during a difficult time in his life, and which he hopes can do the same for the audience; and “Arabian Dances” by Brian Balmages, an entertaining concert closer that makes use of middle eastern idioms and has an open drum break incorporating authentic instruments.

“This concert is bittersweet for me,” said Braylon Bradt, tuba, senior agriculture major from Alva. “As a fourth-generation Ranger Band member, I’m excited to be able to share my final concert with all of my family. My favorite piece we are playing is ‘Vesuvius.’ It’s a demanding piece but very rewarding when we play it well. It draws on all of our skills, but it’s worth it.”

The Concert Band, which includes all students involved in the band program, will play “Fanfare for Flight” by Adrian Sims, a concert opener that invokes images of an airplane taking off; “Song for Lyndsay,” a beautiful composition by Andrew Boysen as a love song for his wife featuring piano, horn and flute as soloists; and “Remembering the Remarkables” by Grace Baugher, which represents the mountains we climb in life, both figurative and literal. Specifically, it is written in homage to the women that fought for the right to vote.

“Baugher is a composer of note because the NWOSU Bands have commissioned her to write a brand new piece in honor of Donovan Reichenberger and the contributions he made to the arts,” Black said. “This new piece will have its world premiere in spring 2024.”

Reichenberger joined Northwestern’s history department in 1967. He retired from the university in December 1992 after 25 years of service.

Reichenberger and his wife of 47 years, Dorothy, were passionate patrons of the arts. They were dedicated in their attendance at Northwestern’s concerts and theatre productions. After Dorothy’s passing in 2005, Donovan established a memorial scholarship in his wife’s name to support students in the university’s vocal music program. Reichenberger’s dedication to the music and theatre programs grew with four endowed scholarships and six endowed chairs, all established to provide numerous students with a quality fine arts education. He also endowed a history scholarship. Reichenberger died Dec. 14, 2020.  

The upcoming band concert will close with “(not) Alone” by Randall Standridge. This is the second piece in a series of compositions meant to break the stigma of mental health and to open minds and conversations.

“All the band members have worked hard and are excited about this concert,” said Addyson Noyes, flute, sophomore vocal music education major from Beaver. “We have some fun and emotional pieces that could make you laugh or cry. You’ll definitely be missing something special if you don’t come!”

Black noted that the students have been rehearsing for many hours each week to prepare for this performance and are excited to show the community the progress the band has been making.

Another of the university’s bands, the jazz ensemble, will perform a concert on Thursday, April 27, at 7 p.m. on Alva's downtown square at the bandstand stage. This event is free and open to the public. 

For more information about the band program at Northwestern, contact Black at (580) 327 – 8191 or mcblack@nwosu.edu. Additional information may be found at www.nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/fine-arts/bands-and-instrumental-music.

-NW-

CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, (580) 327-8480