Concert Band to feature student soloist, conductor

The Saint Mary’s Concert Band will present its annual early spring concert, on Sunday, March 21. This performance will begin at 3 p.m. in Page Theatre. The concert will feature two senior band members, Ryan Ballanger as guest conductor, leading the band in Hazo’s “Solas Ane,” and Kate Dullard, piccolo soloist, performing “The Bird in the Wood” by Thiere.

The band, directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, will also present composer Carl Schroeder’s “Minnesota Portraits,” a three-movement suite recently composed for the Calhoun-Isles Community Band in Minneapolis. The movements are inspired by the composer’s impressions of three Minnesota landmarks: Historic Fort Snelling, Lake Calhoun Sunrise and the Mississippi River. John Zdechlik’s famous “Chorale and Shaker Dance” is also on the program, along with works by Grainger, Creston, Shostakovich, and Surinach.

This performance is part of a year-long exploration of Minnesota-based composers. Earlier concerts this season have included the works of Frank Bencriscutto and Dan Kallman. The SMU Concert band is comprised of 60 student and Winona-area community musicians and rehearses twice weekly throughout the academic year.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

If you are interested in performing with the SMU Band next season contact the director at jheukesh@smumn.edu.