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Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band to present Gala Concert with Alumni Wind Ensemble

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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2022

The Westminster College School of Music Gala Concert featuring the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and a 60-member Alumni Wind Ensemble will be held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 7, in Will W. Orr Auditorium on Westminster’s campus.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. R. Tag Greig, professor of music and director of bands, will perform “Psalm 46,” “A Somerset Rhapsody,” “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” and a tribute to Columbine High School called “An American Elegy.”

The Wind Ensemble, also under the direction of Greig, will perform arrangements including “Dramatic Essay,” “Dancing at Stonehenge,” “KYIV 2022,” “Chaos Theory” and a piece written for heavy metal guitar and the Wind Ensemble by 2015 graduate Cody Ortz.

The Alumni Wind Ensemble will perform pieces such as “Fanfare for a Celebration,” “Concerto for Jazz Piano and Wind Ensemble” and “Praise Jerusalem.”

Along with the bands, featured guest artists will include Dr. Timothy Winfield, associate professor of music, on trumpet; Jeff Wachter, member of the School of Music faculty and adviser for the Westminster Jazzcats, on piano; and Sgt. Timothy Skero ’14 on guitar.

Skero enlisted in to the U.S. Army after graduating in 2014, later completing Basic Combat Training and graduating from the Army School of Music in 2015. During his time with the 1st Cavalry Division Band in Fort Hood, Texas, he was a member of their rock and jazz band combo as well as being the Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC) for the live sound and production section. He is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord with America’s First Corps Band in Washington state.

 Ortz specializes in symphonic orchestral compositions, jazz compositions and chamber compositions. He has composed and recorded soundtracks for several film studios, corporate films and animations, as well as orchestrated pieces for various professional orchestras, big bands and wind ensembles. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Chichester in West Sussex, England.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Wind Ensemble or the Symphonic Band, please contact Dr. Greig at greigrt@westminter.edu. For more information about the School of Music, visit www.westminster.edu/music.