The Westminster College School of Music will host a spring gala concert featuring the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and a special alumni wind ensemble performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the Will W. Orr Auditorium. 

Westminster Director of Bands Dr. Aaron D. Himes will be joined by guest conductors Dr. R. Tad Greig, conductor emeritus, and Dr. Ryan Keeling, director of choral activities at Westminster College, for the performance.  

Greig returns to the Orr stage after retiring from Westminster in 2024. He served as director of instrumental activities and professor of music for more than 30 years. He founded and conducted the Wind Ensemble and directed the Symphonic Band and the Titan Marching Band. Many of Grieg’s former students are members of the gala’s alumni wind ensemble, which he will conduct in “The Hounds of Spring” by Alfred Reed.  

Keeling will bring a choral perspective to “The Sea Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre. The piece was inspired by a choral composition and will be performed by the Symphonic Band, composed of students from a variety of majors and specializations. Under the direction of Himes, the 30-member Wind Ensemble will perform “Ragamuffins” by Danielle Fisher and “Gallimaufry” by Guy Woolfenden. The 53-member Symphonic Band will present “Sea Songs” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “Diamond Tide” by Viet Cuong.  The 66-member alumni ensemble will perform “Flourish for Glorious John” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Contre Qui, Rose” by Morten Lauridsen and “Give Us This Day” by David Maslanka. 

The concert is free and open to the public.  

For Westminster concert and recital information please visit the School of Music website at www.westminster.edu/music.  

For additional details about the concert, please contact Himes at himesad@westminster.edu. 

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By  Kristen Aleprete 
Kristen Aleprete is a staff writer in Westminster College’s Office of Marketing and Communication. 

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