Wind Ensemble Kicks Off Concert Season This Week

Conducted by Tim Oliver, director of bands in the Department of Music, the performance focuses on classics and collaboration.

This concert features two guest conductors: Selim Giray, associate professor of music and director of orchestral studies, and Don Trott, professor of music and director of choral activities.

Giray will lead the wind ensemble in a performance of the orchestral transcription "March and Procession of Bacchus" by Leo Delibes. Trott will conduct a classical arrangement from the Brahms masterwork "A German Requiem" called "Blessed Are They."

Also, saxophone professor Adam Estes will collaborate with the wind ensemble on a baritone saxophone and chamber winds work titled "Polarities."

The Ole Miss Bands and Estes helped commission the new composition by Jorge Machain, an emerging composer.

"This performance will be the Mississippi premiere of 'Polarities,'" Estes said.

"Machain's composition features angular melodic writing, colorful instrumentation, polytonality and groove, which is enhanced by a diverse battery of percussion instruments and piano."

The concert begins with Ron Nelson's "Rocky Point Holiday" and closes with one of John Philip Sousa's famous marches, "Hands Across the Sea." This performance celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Sousa piece, which was published in 1899.

This event is free and open to the public. For assistance related to a disability or more details about events, contact the Department of Music at 662-915-7268.

Top: The UM Wind Ensemble, conducted by Tim Oliver, concludes a performance at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Photo by HG Biggs/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services