University Wind Symphony musicians will perform and conduct a classical repertoire in honor of the recently deceased mother of two musicians.

The annual spring concert, titled “Classic and Noteworthy,” will be held on Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Glen J. Hemberger, director of bands and professor of music will conduct the symphony.

“The wind symphony is a large concert band comprised of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and is a by-audition-only ensemble of the finest musicians at Southeastern,” said Hemberger. “We are dedicating the concert to Georgia Mannino, the mother of two former members of the Wind Symphony and a 1972 graduate of Southeastern, who was a Northshore music educator until her death from breast cancer in January 2014.”

The concert will include pieces such as “American Overture for Band” by Joseph Willcox Jenkins, “Canzona” by Peter Mennin, “Second Suite in F” by Gustav Holst and “An American Elegy” by Frank Ticheli.  

According to Hemberger, the performance will feature music that has entered into the most-renown selection for band.  

Additionally Rebecca Harris, senior music education major, will conduct “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” by John Barnes Chance.  

“This has been an extraordinary spring semester for the students of our wind symphony.  Not more than two weeks ago they performed another full-length concert at the Columbia Theatre, along with the St. Amant High School Band,” said Kenneth Boulton, interim head of the department of Fine and Performing Arts. “This concert was in conjunction with a week-long residency by Dr. David Maslanka, one of this country’s foremost composers of music for wind band.”

Although a featured selection of “Symphony No. 4,” will present a challenge for the symphony, it will be performed in honor of Maslanka, who visited Southeastern earlier during the semester.

“Dr. Maslanka visited the university in early April, and we are performing this work in honor of his visit,” said Hemberger. “The piece is highly challenging for all members of the ensemble.”

The Wind Symphony performances have featured other guest artists such as John Bruce Yeh of the Chicago Symphony, Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic, Eric Ruske former  Cleveland Orchestra musician, Scott A. Hartman of Yale University, Cameron Gates of the United States Marine Band and Brian Bowman of the University of North Texas.

Admission to the concert is free for students with a valid identification. General admission for adults will be $10 and $5 for faculty and seniors.

“Dr. Hemberger’s programming never ceases to inspire and engage the audience, and this concert will be no different,” said Boulton.