ISU Wind Ensemble, Concert Band to perform Feb. 27

The Idaho State University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform their first program of the semester Friday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Joseph C. and Cheryl H. Jensen Grand Concert Hall in the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center.

The Wind Ensemble is directed by Patrick Brooks, Idaho State University director of bands, and Monte Grise, associate director of bands, directs the Concert Band.

The Concert Band will be performing an arrangement of the famous "Prelude and Fugue in Bb" by Johann Sebastian Bach, "Canterbury Chorale" by Jan Van der Roost, "The Battle Pavane" by Renaissance composer Tielman Susato, and the concert-band classic "The Hebrides Suite" by Clare Grundman. The Concert Band will close its portion of the program with the fast and exciting "Whip and Spur Galop" by American composer Thomas Allen.

The Wind Ensemble will open their portion of the concert with the polychoral treat "Canzon septimi toni No. 2" for double brass choir by the Renaissance master Giovanni Gabrieli. The full ensemble will then perform two of Johannes Brahms’ most well know chorale preludes, "A Lovely Rose is Blooming," and "O God, Thou Holy God."

Shandra Helman, visiting professor of music and clarinet teacher at ISU, will be featured soloist on the "Concerto for Clarinet and Symphonic Band" by composer John Heins. Helman joined the ISU music faculty in 2008, and received her bachelor's degree in music from Lawrence University, master's degree in music from the University of Iowa, and musical arts doctoral degree from the University of Wisconson-Madison. Helman teaches applied clarinet and serves as the woodwind coordinator at ISU. She also teaches world music, aural skills, instrument pedagogy, clarinet literature and advanced music history courses.

Helman currently serves as principal clarinet in the Idaho State Civic Symphony. She currently resides in Pocatello with husband and horn player, Michael, and their two cats, Gracie and Hattie.

The Wind Ensemble also will perform "Old Wine in New Bottles" by Gordon Jacob and the colorful "Paris Sketches" by Martin Ellerby.

Admission to the concert is $6 general admission, $4 ISU faculty and staff, ISU students free, and pre-college students $2. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.

For more information on this concert or about the ISU Bands, contact Brooks at 282-3147 or visit the ISU music department’s Web page at http://www.isu.edu/music/.