Fredonia Wind Ensemble will be joined by alumnus in concert

The Fredonia Wind Ensemble will welcome alumnus and U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Benjamin Albright to perform as a trumpet soloist at its concert on Thursday Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. in King Concert Hall.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt.      Benjamin Albright

Staff Sgt. Albright will perform James Curnow’s “Counterpiece” and Bruce Broughton’s “Oliver’s Birthday,” while the wind ensemble will provide an evening full of wind classics and contemporary repertoire. Some of the pieces to be performed include, "Scherzo à la Britten" by John Leszczynski, "Symphonies of Wind Instruments" by Igor Stravinsky, "Geschwindmarsch by Beethoven" by Paul Hindemith, and "Music for Prague" by Karel Husa.

Albright began his musical instruction on trumpet at the age of 9. After graduating from Wilson Central High School in 1999, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from Fredonia in 2003, where he studied with Alex Jokipii, principal trumpet of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He earned his master's (2005) and doctoral (2008) degrees in Music Performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor under the instruction of William Campbell. Prior to joining "The President's Own," Albright performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colo., and the Buffalo Philharmonic. Albright performs with the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House, in the Washington, D.C., area, and across the country during the band's annual concert tour.

The Fredonia Wind Ensemble consists of the most outstanding wind and percussion players at the university. Dedicated to presenting the finest repertoire from all musical periods to its audiences, it draws from contemporary and historical wind works, orchestral transcriptions, as well as standard band literature. The size and instrumentation of the Wind Ensemble is dictated by the demands of the music being performed, thus affording a more comprehensive experience for both audience and performer.

This concert is free and open to the public, and will also be available to stream live at www.fredonia.edu/music/listen.