Last modified: Thursday, January 26, 2012
IU Jacobs School of Music Wind Ensemble to perform at national convention in Indianapolis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 26, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Wind Ensemble, from the Jacobs School of Music, has been invited to perform at the 78th Annual Convention of the American Bandmasters Association. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in Clowes Memorial Hall on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.
The concert, conducted by professor Stephen W. Pratt, director of bands and chair of the Wind Conducting Department at the Jacobs School, will include a number of works designed to highlight the virtuosity, nuance and tonal sophistication of the contemporary wind ensemble. Daniel Perantoni, Jacobs professor of tuba, will be the featured soloist, performing music of Astor Piazzolla.
"I am looking forward to performing before this auspicious and informed audience -- the distinguished members of the American Bandmasters Association," Pratt said. "It will be a tremendous occasion for all with exceedingly high anticipation of an outstanding performance by the internationally acclaimed IU Wind Ensemble."
The concert will include the services of several distinguished guest conductors who are members of the association, including Ray Cramer, retired director of bands at Indiana University; William Johnson, retired director of bands at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; John Boyd, retired director of bands at Indiana State University; Leslie Hicken, director of bands at Furman University; Steven Davis, director of bands at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Jay Bocook, composer and conductor from Furman University.
The American Bandmasters Association, founded in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman, with John Philip Sousa as honorary life president, recognizes outstanding achievement on the part of concert wind band conductors and composers. The highly selective invitational membership comprises wind band conductors and composers in the United States and Canada.
The Indiana University Wind Ensemble is one of the premier ensembles in the Jacobs School of Music. The ensemble performs the most outstanding literature of the wind band medium including music for both chamber winds and large ensemble.
The ensemble has had the opportunity to premiere many works for wind band by leading composers. It has given many performances at national and international venues, including the American Bandmasters Association national convention, the Japan Bandmasters Association convention, the College Band Directors National Association divisional and national conferences, the Music Educators National Conference and the Indiana Music Educators Association conferences, as well as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.
Recent performances include the College Band Directors National Association national convention in Ann Arbor, Mich., the Music Educators National Conference national convention in Milwaukee, Wis., and the College Band Directors National Association North Central Division convention in Normal, Ill.
