Vicki Deken
For the final concert of the 2016-2017 season, the Arizona Wind Symphony presents “That’s Entertainment!” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at the Tempe Center for the Arts (700 W. Rio Salado Parkway).
The music for this performance includes selections from Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Victory at Sea and the song “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.
Adding a bit of Irish, AWS will play “Irish Songs for Solo and Band”, arranged by Robert W. Smith. The piece consists of four traditional Irish folksongs: “Deiren De” – a warm lullaby, “A Jug of Punch” – playful and humorous, “The Beggarman” – a traditional Irish song and finally the well beloved “Danny Boy.”
Heading east, Scotland serves as the inspiration for the music of “Perthshire Majesty” by Samuel Hazo.
The AWS flute section will be featured in the “Gemeinhardt Suite,” a symphonic band suite in three movements by Robert W. Smith. This work includes a variety of flutes in the flute family – piccolo, C flutes, alto flutes and bass flute.
Tickets for the concert are $10 plus service fees; K-12 students $7; children under 6 years free. Tickets are available at the TCA Box Office or through http://tca.ticketforce.com/.
Now in its 16th season, the Arizona Wind Symphony is under the musical direction of William J. Richardson. It has grown to be a 95-piece concert band comprised of adults whose careers cover a broad range, including teaching, health care, music professionals, computer science and many more. The common thread among the band members is to present music of the highest caliber. The group is a Tempe-based non-profit organization, funded in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the City of Tempe. You can find more information at arizonawindsymphony.com. Follow the Arizona Wind Symphony on Facebook by searching for “Arizona Wind Symphony.”