Carnegie Hall trip details settled, tickets on sale

Auditions have been completed, music is distributed and the Purdue Symphonic Band is well into preparation for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Carnegie Hall. In 2005, the Symphonic Band was selected to be one of two showcase ensembles at the New York Wind Band Festival sponsored by World Projects, and it band will perform on the famed Carnegie Hall stage at 8 p.m. Monday, March 27.

Tickets are now on sale at $20 a piece from the Carnegie Hall Box Office. Those interested in attending the concert should go to the Carnegie Hall website www.carnegiehall.org . You may purchase online by finding the desired event in the calendar and clicking "Buy Tickets". Those living in New York can stop by the Carnegie Hall Box Office Box Office, located at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue , or call CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800

The Symphonic Band will depart for New York City on Friday, March 24. During the day Saturday, March 25 members of the band will visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will take a dinner cruise around the island of Manhattan, stopping for an up-close look at the Statue of Liberty. Sunday, the band will attend the smash hit Broadway musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", and will have dinner at Planet Hollywood in Times Square . Monday, students will have free time during the day to see the sites of Midtown including Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art and of course shop in Times Square and on Park Avenue!

Monday evening's Carnegie Hall concert will feature the Purdue Symphonic Band as well as the Wind Ensemble form Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia

"The Symphonic Band's program is an exciting collection of old and new band works," says director Jay Gephart. It opens with a piece by Samuel Hazo entitled "Exultate." The work was originally commissioned by Dr. Edward Kocher, Dean of Duquesne University's School of Music, for the Presidential Installation Ceremonies for the university's incoming president, Dr. Charles Dougherty. Hazo says, "'Exultate' was written to be music for a celebration." "The Purdue Symphonic Band performing in Carnegie Hall is a celebration indeed," Gephart adds.

The rest of the program includes "Awayday" by Adam Gorb, a beautiful setting by Mark Camphouse entitled "Fantasia on Black Is The Color of My True Love's Hair," and "Pantomine" by Phillip Sparke. This work features Purdue faculty member Bill Kisinger as guest soloist. "Pantomime" was composed for euphonium with brass band accompaniment and has become a favorite with euphonium soloists all over the world. The wind band accompaniment was arranged by Sparke in 1994. Bill Kisinger is an accomplished trombone and euphonium player having performed with groups all over the world. Gephart says "Kisinger's fiery technique and beautiful lyricism will capture the character of the piece with great skill."

The program will also feature favorites from the band medium which include Spoon River by Percy Grainger, On the Campus March, by John Philip Sousa, and finally Dance Diabolique by Joseph Hellmesberger, transcribed by Tohur Takahashki. Hellmesberger was born into a Viennese musical family, eventually becoming a virtuoso violinist as well as a conductor and composer. He was eventually appointed musical director of the Vienna Philharmonic. Hellmesberger wrote a variety of dances, including Dance Diabolique. This piece was beautifully performed by the Vienna Philharmonic at the New Year's Concert of 2002, conducted by Seiji Ozawa. It is an exciting piece with an energetic waltz at its height. The Phrygian mode results in a diabolic atmosphere.

For those with questions about the Carnegie Hall concert, please contact Professor Jay Gephart at jsgephart@purdue.edu , or call him at 765-494-7886. Donors interested in making a gift to support the Carnegie Hall trip should contact Professor Gephart using the same information listed above.