The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Curtis Meyer reporter
The Pittsburg State Wind Ensemble performed a concert on Thursday, Sept. 30 playing several different pieces of music in a free concert open to the public.
They performed seven different pieces, with music coming from as early as the 1940s to contemporary works from 2020.
The performance Thursday night was held at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, and was an opportunity for friends and family to see what Pitt State Wind Ensemble had to offer. For some students, this was the first time they had the opportunity to play in this formal of a setting.
“Honestly, it is really nice, just hearing the room resonate, it is a lot different from just performing in an old high school auditorium like I was used to. It’s a very nice change of pace,” said Daniel Roy, freshman in music education.
Starting with the overture from “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein arranged by Clare Grundman, the concert was conducted by professor of music Andrew Chybowski. Chybowski teaches classes on music education and on conducting.
Many students were present at the performance, and voiced opinions on the show.
“ I loved it. I love going to these. I have to say my favorite piece was the last piece, I think it’s just called March, I really love the fast pieces,” said Colson Jarrett, freshman in music education.
The piece referred to was “March” by Sergei Prokofiev, a Russian composer who originally wrote the piece for Russian band, requiring that the music be transcribed as Russian bands have many different instruments that you would find in modern American wind ensemble.
Another American composer Robert Jager was also represented, who in modern times is largely unknown but was a driving force in the creation of modern wind ensemble in the 60s and 70s.
Other composers featured were younger composers, such as Daniel Dade and Katahj Copley. Also featured was Omar Thomas, who was described by Chybowski as “someone who will be studied in the next 100 years.”
The next concert in November will feature another work of Omar Thomas’ “Come Sunday,” a work inspired by Thomas’ own experiences in predominantly black churches, as well as other selections