NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University's Symphonic Band is set to hold its final concert of the academic year on April 17. Scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., the event will take place in the Mary Linn Auditorium, located within the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. The concert is free of charge and open to all interested in attending.

“I’m excited for the students to get to show off fast playing and runs and skills that are more advanced than we played for our last concert,” stated Shelby Shelton, a lecturer of music at the university.

The performance will feature an array of fast-paced and engaging compositions. Among the works to be presented are Carolyn Bremer’s “Pieces of Eight,” Cait Nishimura’s “Chasing Sunlight,” Rob Wiffin’s Latin-inspired “Spider Legs,” James Curnow’s “Rhapsody for Euphonium and Concert Band,” and the challenging “Easter Monday on the White House Lawn” by John Philip Sousa.

Shelton, who is in her first year as a lecturer, conducts the Symphonic Band. This ensemble operates during the spring semester, offering a diverse selection of music literature, from modern wind pieces to popular light tunes. Open to all students at Northwest, the band presents two concerts each spring.

“I like creating a piece of art that the audience can enjoy and that the students can enjoy,” Shelton expressed. “It’s cool to see the level of achievement from day one to how far we can go. I also like exposing them to different styles and having them play music that they haven’t really seen before in high school.”

More information about musical ensembles at Northwest Missouri State University can be accessed through their official channels.