At age 4, Ali began piano lessons.

In fourth grade, her parents “forced” her to join band and take up the horn.

Today, Ali is first chair of her section in Eastern’s Wind Symphony.

Ali’s parents, Barbara and Warren Walton, sat and watched their daughter from the fifth row of chairs in the South Gymnasium of McAfee Gym on Friday night.

“We’re not forcing her now,” Barbara joked.

Ali and other members of the wind symphony teamed up with the Jazz Ensemble to present the first concert band event of the year, “Life in the Groove: The Influence of Jazz.”

This was the Waltons’ first time this year visiting Eastern and Ali, sophomore music performance major.

“We enjoy listening to all of the musicians,” Warren said. ” And this time, we get to meet the boyfriend.”

The Waltons said they got their daughter involved in music at an early age because they knew it would be beneficial to her in many aspects of her life. They said they had read that music helps improves math skills and felt that promoting music would help make their children well rounded.

Ali and other members of the wind symphony sat with their parents during the jazz ensemble performance.

Sam Fagaly, director of the jazz ensemble and jazz studies at Eastern, walked out from behind the baffles and snapped his fingers four times. He quickly counted “One-two, one-two” and with that, “On a Wonderful Day Like Today” began.

Jesse Farrar’s neck jutted and bounced with the beat of the bass he played.

The ensemble followed the number with “And Another Thing” by Tom Garling and “One Note Samba” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and arranged by Mike Tomara.

Soloists were featured throughout the feature.

Josh Marcus, jazz studies major, wailed on his saxophone and wiped his lips between bars of music, while Justin DeAngelo tickled the ivories.

Trombonist Scott Clements, senior jazz studies major, squeezed his eyes shut and put his entire body behind his music, arching his back and swaying with the sounds he produced.

The ensemble ended its segment with a twist on a Beatles tune.

“I had to remind them who the Beatles were,” Fagaly joked to the audience as he introduced the last piece.

Before the number started, Fagaly requested the sound technician to play a clip from the original Beatles song.

“This is a little different take on it,” Fagaly said.

After a brief intermission, the 54 members of the wind symphony took their eats.

Director Milton Allen led his band through three unique selections and an encore with a surprise ending.

The group opened with “Mangulina” by Paul Basler and “Daydream” by Timothy Mahr.

“Good evening. We’re REO Speedwagon, and we’re very glad you’re here,” joked Milton between pieces.

The third selection and feature of the Symphony’s portion was the original arrangement “After You’ve Gone.”

“Crooner” Richard Rossi, director of orchestral and choral activites, surprised the audience midway through the song when he strode out in a white suit and twirled an umbrella, singing along with the band.

Ali said she enjoyed the pieces the symphony played Friday night.

“(Allen) likes to choose pieces that he knows really well and that he knows what the composer was thinking about, and then he likes to put a new spin on stuff sometimes as well,” she said.

The musicians reshuffled and set back up to perform “Blue Shades” by Frank Ticheli, and featured soloist Magie Smith, music department faculty member, on clarinet.

“Blue Shades” was Ali’s favorite piece of the evening because of the intricacies in the music.

Ashley Tar, junior music performance major and trumpet player, said “Blue Shades” was also her favorite selection/

“It’s hard to get together; it’s technically challenging, but really fun to play,” she said.

The night ended with an encore of “Who’s Who in Navy Blue” by Sousa.

The band not only played the song, but at one point also surprised the audience by standing up and singing the lyrics, “.and in our dreams Tecumseh softly tells us, ‘We’ll be admirals, by-and-by.'”

“The conductor always does things like that,” Warren said. “He’s a little off-beat sometimes, but we enjoyed the show and the surprises.”

Milton Allen, director of bands, conducts the Wind Symphony during the Department of Music’s “Life in the Groove:The Influence of Jazz” In McAfee Gymnasium on Friday evening. The special Family Weekend performance, which also featured the Jazz Ensemblem w

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