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Gary Schulze drove about 60 miles see the Concert Band and Wind Symphony performance.

He said his son, Nicholas, practiced at least 10 hours yesterday as part of the preparation for the Wind Symphony concert held Sunday in McAfee Gymnasium.

Eastern’s department of music presented the “Something Old, Something New” performance as part of the final event of the 2008 Eastern Illinois University Conducting Symposium.

Conductor Milton Allen gave a brief history of the music before each piece of music.

Timothy Mahr, a professor of music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, was a guest conductor at the performance. He worked with Eastern’s band and conducting students before the performance and also composed two of the pieces performed, “Hymn and Celebration” and “Endurance.”

The Concert Band, conducted by Jeffrey Steiner, commenced with “Cenotaph” and “An Original Suite for Military Band” and ended with “Hymn and Celebration”.

The Wind Symphony then performed a version of “English Folk Song Suite” and also performed the feature premiere “My Hands Are a City.”

“My Hands Are a City” was Jonathan Newman’s tribute to the 1950s beat culture.

Allen said the best way to fully take in this song was to “close your eyes and listen to the colors.”

Jonathan Newman described the title of “My Hands Are a City” as “an expression, both in thematic scope and in music material.”

Jenny Pucel, freshman elementary education major and member of the Concert Band, said she loves to hear the collection of the different pieces out together.

“There is a lot of practice and effort put into this,” she said.

Pucel said she loves coming and performing in all the shows. As a freshman, she said she enjoys working and practicing with the experienced members of the group.

The symphony performed in front of a filled crowd. With all seats full, some audience members lined up against the wall to stand and watch the performance.

Amanda Scott said she was impressed by the performance.

Scott, freshman business major, said she plans on attending all of the other shows presented by the Concert Band and the Wind Symphony.

Factbox:

Upcoming events

Wind Symphony in Concert on April 26

The Guest Artist Series, on March 19

The Children’s Concert on March 25

The Concert and University Bands Celebration Concert on April 2

Nicole Pauga can be reached at 581-7942 or nmpauga@eiu.edu.

Dr. Timothy Mahr (right), the guest conductor of EIU’s Wind Symphony Concert Sunday afternoon, laughs as he raises his newest wall decoration, a plaque awarded to him by Dr. Milton Allen (left) and the EIU Music Department. (Bryce Peake

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