Eastern’s Concert Band had its first performance of the semester Thursday.

Danielle Larson conducted the band through their first piece, “Variation Overture” composed by Clifton Williams, and its second piece, “Amazing Grace,” composed by Frank Ticheli.

After “Amazing Grace” was over, Larson welcomed Christopher Mroczek, a graduate student, to the stage.

Mroczek conducted the band through “Anthem for Winds and Percussion,” composed by Claude T. Smith; “At Morning’s First Light,” composed by David R. Gillingham; and “I Am,” commissioned by Craig Aune.

Before playing “At Morning’s First Light,” Mroczek said it was meant to “capture the arrival of the sunrise.”

After “I Am” finished, Larson walked back onto the stage to conduct the band through its last piece, “National Emblem March,” composed by E.E. Bagley.

Many audience members thought the concert went very well.

Harry Silvey, a sophomore music education major, really enjoyed “I Am.”

“I loved the clarinet solo in it,” Silvey said.

Kelley Lochow, a freshman dietetics major, liked “Amazing Grace.”

“The harmony was great, and it was very peaceful,” Lochow said.

Zac Hebeda, a freshman biology major, shared Silvey’s enjoyment of “I Am.”

“It had a great combination of singing and musical talent,” Hebeda said.

Janine Means, a freshman music education major, like Lochow, really enjoyed “Amazing Grace.”

“I thought it was prepared and played very well,” Means said.

Means, Lochow, and Hebeda all attended to support their friends.

Larson thought the concert went very well.

“I was really excited for them,” Larson said.

Mroczek shared Larson’s opinion of how the concert went.

“I believe ‘I Am’ went exceptionally well,” Mroczek said. “It was a song they struggled the most with and I believe they played it well.”

The next performance for the Eastern Concert Band will be Dec. 7.

It will be a holiday themed concert.

Erin Riedl can be reached at 581-7942 or edriedl@eiu.edu .

Chris Mroczek, a graduate student conductor leads the Eastern Illinois University Concert Band’s performance of Anthem for Winds and Percussion Thursday in the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Dvorak Concert Hall. (Danny Damiani

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