The New Horizons Band of Western New York will be performing a free concert on Thursday, April 16.
The event, at King Concert Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus, begins at 7:30 p.m. It is free and the public is invited to attend.
The band will be performing a program of pieces exploring various spiritual elements, including “How Sweet the Sound” by Brian Balmages based on themes from “Amazing Grace” and “Avinu Malkeinu,” a Hebrew hymn arrangement by Vince Gassi. “Tribute by Travis Cross” was written in memory of the composer’s grandfather. There is also “13 Moon” by Jodie Blackshaw, inspired by a book entitled, “13 Moons on Turtle’s Back” by Joseph Bruchac. The piece allows band members to create their own composition from the musical elements provided by Blackshaw to compose a piece inspired by the cycles of the moon and the changing seasons. Rounding out the spiritual selections is “Highlights from Jesus Christ Superstar,” by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and arranged by Robert O’Brien.
“Sea Songs” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and arranged by Robert Longfield, is a march of three sea shanties that will be conducted by SUNY Fredonia alumnus Mark Klose. Keeping with a nautical theme comes “Parade of the Tall Ships” by Jay Chattaway and conducted by SUNY Fredonia alumna Karen Boyd. It was a written for the U.S. Bicentennial and the band has chosen to honor the approaching 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by playing the song. “Medleys Gershwin!” arranged by Warren Barker and conducted by SUNY Fredonia alumnus Don Keddie, and “ABBA on Broadway” arranged by Michael Brown, add pops of Broadway and disco excitement to the program.
The band will also play “Ashokan Farewell,” composed by American folk musician Jay Ungar, which is best known as the music used in Ken Burns’ 1990 documentary series “The Civil War.”
The New Horizons Jazz Band directed by Fredonia Music Education student Alex Bowser will play “Song for My Father” by Horace Silver, “April in Paris” by Vernon Duke, and “Saving All My Love ror You” by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin. The New Horizons jazzers will be joined by Fredonia music students Evan Bonanno and Angelo Delaney on tenor sax and Maze Drum on piano.
The concert will mark the last time that its Music Director, Dr. Kate McKay, also a Professor Emeritus of Music Education at SUNY Fredonia, will conduct after 21 years of leading the band. A frog lover, Dr. McKay chose the playful “Five Good-Natured Variations on ‘Mr. Frog Went A-Courtin’” by Pierre LaPlante to conclude the program.
