(Posted April 16, 2012)

A poster for the April 21 concert designed by Juniata freshman and Wind Symphony member Bridget Canning.
A poster for the April 21 concert designed by Juniata freshman and Wind Symphony member Bridget Canning.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Wind Symphony and Concert Band, as well as smaller instrumental ensembles, will combine to perform a spring concert that includes the world premiere of the composition "Ridge and Valley," by Gabriel Gould, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 21, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter center for the Performing Arts.

Admission is $5 for adults. Children under age 18 and students with a Juniata College ID are admitted free.

At intermission, James Latten, associate professor of music and director of Juniata's instrumental music programs, will preside over a ceremony honoring 71 Juniata graduates who participated in the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band. Four current students who took part in the band this year will be present at the ceremony.

The Wind Symphony opens the concert with the world premiere of "Ridge and Valley." The piece, written especially for the Wind Symphony, is a musical tribute to the rolling landscape where Juniata College is located. The composition creates interesting juxtapositions as sections of the ensemble play off each other. In addition, the composition also musically quotes Juniata's alma mater.

Gabriel Gould is a freelance composer living in the Huntingdon area who has completed commissions for the Pioneer Saxophone Quartet, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Omaha, the Ann Arbor Symphony and the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. He earned a bachelor's degree from Bard College and earned graduate degrees in music from the University of Michigan.

At intermission, James Latten, associate professor of music and director of Juniata's instrumental music programs, will preside over a ceremony honoring 71 Juniata graduates who participated in the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band. Four current students who took part in the band this year will be present at the ceremony.

Next, the ensemble will play "First Suite for Military Band," by Gustav Holst. Holst, best known today for his symphony "The Planets," also is celebrated for his two suites for military bands, still played by smaller ensembles today.

The next selection is "Blessed Are They," a selection from Johannes Brahms' "German Requiem."

A solo performance featuring trumpet soloist Judith Saxton and the Juniata Honors Brass Quintet will be the next featured section on the composition "Concertino for Trumpet," by Ennio Porrino.

Saxton is trumpet artist faculty and coordinator for brass at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2010, she was a principal with the St. Louis Symphony and this year plays with the New York Women's Ensemble. She has performed as a soloist all over the world and was principal with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the Wichita and Key West Symphonies.

The Juniata Honors Brass Quintet is: trumpets: Katie Downey, a junior from Warren, Pa., and Caroline White, a senior from Chambersburg, Pa.; horn: Alexa Zimbicki, a senior from Shippensburg, Pa.; trombone: Aric Koestler, a junior from Palmyra, Pa.; and tuba: Joe Plumer, a sophomore from Edgewood, Md.

After intermission and the presenting of the alumni plaque, the wind symphony and Juniata Concert Band will combine to perform three ambitious selections.

"Amparito Roca" is one of the most popular pieces of Spanish music for small ensembles. Written in 1925 by Mexican composer Jaime Texidor, the piece is named after one of Texidor's music students. The Juniata students will be anxious to please the conductor of the piece. Tom Kepple, president of Juniata, will be guest conductor for the Texidor composition.

Next the ensemble will continue the Latin theme by performing "Bolero," by Maurice Ravel. The famous composition, instantly recognizable for its use in the film comedy "10," slowly builds in intensity.

The concert will close with a rendition of the song "America the Beautiful."

The personnel for the concert is as follows:
Wind Symphony

Flute: Alex Debrecht, a freshman from Southbury, Conn.; Katelyn Hilands, a sophomore from Johnstown, Pa.; Ellen King, a senior from Manchester, Conn.; Jin Lee, a sophomore from Broomall, Pa.; and Tori Rehr, a sophomore from Wernersville, Pa.

Oboe: Bridget Canning, a freshman from Centre Hall, Pa., and Robert Draham, a sophomore from Port Republic, Md.

Bassoon: Hannah Hostak, a freshman from Centennial, Colo., and Lynn Pavlovic, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa.

B Flat Clarinet: Colin Brislawn, a sophomore from Tumwater, Wash.; Megan Burger, a junior from Bellefonte, Pa.; Leandra Glumac, a sophomore from Munhall, Pa.; Amanda Mercado, a sophomore from Houston, Texas; and Nancy Vooys, a junior from Mount Holly Spring, Pa.

Bass Clarinet: Fallon Shaffer, a senior from Alum Bank, Pa.

Contrabass Clarinet: Brennan Cornelius, a junior from Orbisonia, Pa.

Alto Saxophone: John Coda, a freshman from Shady Grove, Pa.; Kyle Kister, a freshman from Somerset, Pa.; and Tyler NeuCollins, a senior from, Solon, Iowa.

Tenor Saxophone: Brian Gilbert, a freshman from Stroudsburg, Pa.

Baritone Saxophone: Roman Acri, a sophomore from Harrisburg, Pa., and Chris Cueto, a freshman from Hagerstown, Md.

Horn: Dave Dunlap, a community member from Huntingdon; Jill Keeney, biology professor at Juniata; Stephanie Schmid, a junior, from Ellicott City, Md.; and Alexa Zimbicki, a senior from Shippensburg, Pa.

Trumpet: Peter Defnet, a freshman from Pottstown, Pa.; Katie Downey, a junior from Warren, Pa.; Melissa King, a junior from Newtown, Conn.; Brandon Leckemby, a sophomore from Somerset, Pa.; Olivia Moody, a junior from Covington, Vt.; and Caroline White, a junior from Chambersburg, Pa.

Trombone: Aric Koestler, a sophomore from Palmyra, Pa., and Kelsey Molseed, a sophomore from Allentown, Pa.

Euphonium: Nicole Kiss, a sophomore from Huntingdon, Pa.

Tuba: Bill Croissant, a community member from Huntingdon, Pa.

Piano: Patrick Rea, a freshman from Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Concert Band

Flute: Vickie Arthur, a sophomore from Lancaster, Pa.; Rebecca Brumbaugh, a freshman from Hilton, N.Y.; Martha Carpenter, a sophomore from Trumansburg, N.Y.; Anshu Chawla, a sophomore from Fairport, N.Y.; Sara Cooper, a freshman from Danville, Pa.; Ashlee Fultz, a sophomore from Huntingdon; Alex Hansen, a freshman from Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Michelle Hoover, a freshman from Lincoln University, Pa. Allison Lutz, a freshman from Lewistown, Pa.; Shannon Manley, a freshman from Elizabeth, Pa.; Elena Popchock, a junior from Newport, Pa.; Natasha Rosler, a freshman from Bloomsburg, Pa.; and Alyssa Stevens, a community member from Saltillo, Pa.

Oboe: Stephanie Finamore, a sophomore, from Altoona, Pa.; Candice Kerestan, a sophomore from Huntingdon; and Alexa Laudenslager, a sophomore from Halifax, Pa.

Bassoon: Allison Brown, a freshman from Monroeville, Pa.

Clarinet: Hannah DeLashmutt, a freshman from Brooklyn, Conn.

B Flat Clarinet: Megan Burger, a junior from Bellefonte, Pa.; Hannah DeLashmutt, a freshman from Brooklyn, Conn.; Allison DiVito, a senior from Bedford, Pa.; Larissa Fox, a freshman from Milford, Pa.; Rachel Gingrich, a sophomore from Freeburg, Pa.; Corey Houck, a freshman from New Holland, Pa.; and Felicia Segelken, a junior from Delhi, N.Y.

Bass Clarinet: Samantha Harrison, a sophomore from Northfield, Mass., and Amanda Peretin, a senior from Sidman, Pa.

Alto Saxophone: Rebecca Carr, a freshman from Morrisdale, Pa.; Dominic Doganiero, a sophomore from Wellsboro, Pa. Morgan Knepp, a freshman from Everett, Pa.; Sarah Lipiecki, a sophomore from Haddonfield, N.J.; Briana Maddalena, a sophomore from Buffalo Mills, Pa.; Xiangyu Mao, an international student from China; Brad Ness, a freshman from New Milford, Conn.; Barrett Richard, a junior from Harrisburg, Pa.; Jared Richard, a junior from Harrisburg, Pa.; Michelle Vistnes, a freshman from Rockville, Md.; and Jason Ward, a freshman from Hawk Run, Pa.

Tenor Saxophone: Melissa Ensor, a sophomore from Westminster, Md.; Brian Gilbert, a freshman from Stroudsburg, Pa.; and Aaron Womer, a sophomore from Sherman's Dale, Pa.

Baritone Saxophone: Avery Fordham, a sophomore from Clarks Summit, Pa.

Horn: Cindy Brockett, a community member from Huntingdon, and David Dunlap, a community member from Huntingdon.

Trumpet: Scott Benfer, a freshman from New Berlin, Pa.; Ethan Cree, a freshman from Fallentimber, Pa.; Bill Crownover, a community member from Mount Union, Pa.; Katie Downey, a junior from Warren, Pa.; Elizabeth Faust, a freshman from Thurmont, Md.; Nate Fischer, a sophomore from Ringwood, N.J.; Jonathan Partsch, a freshman from Salix, Pa.; Alex Sickler, a sophomore from Edwardsville, Pa.; Mitch Stanton, a freshman from Westminster, Md.; Nick Stoliaroff, a junior, from Gaithersburg, Md.; and Doug Wennick, a community member from Huntingdon.

Trombone: David Paul, a freshman from Mercer, Pa.

Euphonium: Will Lupold, a freshman from Elizabethtown, Pa.; Lindsay Reedy, a community member from Huntingdon; Lance Sanderson, a freshman from Mount Wolf, Pa.

Tuba: John Kovalchik, a community member from Pine Grove Mills, Pa., and Katie Schroeder, a freshman from Kempton, Pa.

Percussion: Patrick Rea, a freshman from Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.