USU Alumni Band Concerts Continue On the Quad
Utah State University’s Alumni Band takes the stage Sunday, July 18, on the Utah State University campus. In this case, the “stage” is the courtyard and grassy Quad east of the iconic Old Main building. Concert time is 7 p.m.
This is the band’s third performance of the 2010 summer season. The traditional outdoor concert is free and open to the public.
Alumni Band director Nicholas Morrison said Sunday’s program features three soloists — Cindy Dewey and Cory Evans of the USU Department of Music vocal/choral program and Dan Rich, principal trumpeter with the band.
Rich performs the first movement of the “Trumpet Concerto” by Josef Haydn.
“This concerto is, perhaps, the standard work for the instrument,” said Morrison. “Dan is a great player, and the audience will enjoy the combination of beauty, lyricism and technical prowess that Dan brings to this great work.”
Dewey and Evans will perform together and present selections from the popular musical “Oklahoma!”
“Our audience knows Cory and Cindy from previous performances, and the band is pleased to feature them together as an ensemble,” Morrison said. “They are great singers, but equally as important for this piece, they each have a wonderful sense of humor and character.”
In addition to soloists, the band often features guest conductors. For Sunday’s performance, Gregory J. Wheeler, assistant director of bands in the Department of Music at USU, who usually plays in the clarinet section with the Alumni Band, takes the podium for Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-Flat.”
“I was thrilled when we were able to attract Dr. Wheeler to work with our band and music education students following his retirement from Cache County Schools,” Morrison said. “He is a fine musician and a great teacher who does so much for our music education students during the year. It’s a great pleasure to have one of our own alumni join us on the faculty and to showcase his talents for our summer audience.”
For the Alumni Band’s 2010 season, all concerts are held outdoors. The performance site was selected for easy access, shade and ample nearby parking.
“There’s also plenty of space to spread out a blanket and have a picnic dinner before the concert,” Morrison said.
Amplification boosts the sound for the outdoor venue, so it isn’t necessary to sit in the front rows to hear the music.
“Bring the kids, bring a Frisbee, bring some lawn chairs or a blanket, and share a special evening with the Utah State University Summer Alumni Band,” Morrison said.
The intermission feature for this week’s performance highlights the talents of the Alumni/Student Flute Ensemble under the direction of Music Department faculty flutist Leslie Timmons.
Following Sunday’s performance, the Alumni Band has two remaining concerts slated for July 25 and Aug. 1. All performances begin at 7 p.m on the Quad.