Band, Jazz Ensembles Perform Music for Many Tastes
Alma College's concert band and jazz ensembles will perform music for a variety of tastes — from jazz classics by Duke Ellington and Sammy Nestico to Scottish folk dances and Latin big band — in their annual spring concerts April 2 and 3 in the Remick Heritage Center.
Tickets for each concert are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and up, and free for Alma College staff, students, and youth 18 and under. Seating is reserved. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
Jazz musicians
Kiltie Wind Ensemble
From Latin big band to Scottish folk dance, diverse styles of music will be featured in the Kiltie Wind Ensemble’s concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2nd.
The program features “La Fiesta Mexicana,” “Four Scottish Dances,” “The Footlifter” and a premiere piece titled “Impromptu,” composed by Alma alumnus Justin Rito. Dave Zerbe directs the 92-member concert band.
“This year’s ensemble is an outstanding group of young women and men,” says Zerbe. “They have worked hard to bring the music to life, and I think the audience will agree that they have achieved that goal.”
“This is the biggest the band has ever been; the stage will be full,” says Petoskey junior Mitch Hebert, principal timpanist for "La Fiesta Mexicana."
Mount Pleasant sophomore trumpeter Carrie Frame is eager to play the four diverse movements of “Four Scottish Dances.”
“The first two are pretty intense, the third is fast and light like a jig, and the last is slow, pretty and melodic," she says.
The Alma College Jazz Ensemble performs at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3rd and then hosts the 15th annual High School Jazz Festival on Friday, April 15th.
The Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Carlos Melendez, will present a varied program, including music by the Yellowjackets, as well as classics by artists Sammy Nestico, Duke Ellington and Chris Brown.
On April 15, middle and high school jazz ensembles from around the state will join the Alma College Jazz Ensemble for performances from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Remick Heritage Center. The bands will be judged, with awards presented at the end of the day. Admission is free and open to the public.
Posted: Thu, March 24th, 2011 at 12:33AM
