Purdue News

October 9, 1998 Purdue Bands' concert will feature guest clarinetist WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Dennis Zeisler, clarinetist and director of bands at Old Dominion University, will perform with the Purdue Fall Concert Band and the Purdue Symphonic Band during a free concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center. Zeisler will perform a clarinet solo in Frank Benscriscutto's "Concertino for Clarinet." Zeisler has been director of bands, professor of clarinet and saxophone, and chairman of the Department of Music at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., for 20 years. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Michigan, where he was solo clarinet of the Symphony Band. Zeisler also has been solo clarinet of the Detroit Concert Band and clarinet soloist of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. He has performed at two International Clarinet Society Conferences, and made his New York debut in Carnegie Recital Hall in May 1974. Zeisler now performs regularly with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera, Virginia Beach Pops, Norfolk Chamber Consort and the Virginia Saxophone Quartet. Under Zeisler's direction, the Old Dominion University Wind Ensemble has developed into a premier performing ensemble and has recorded for TRN Music Publisher and Frank Erickson Publications. Purdue's Symphonic Band, directed by assistant professor of bands Jay Gephart, is the top concert ensemble at the University. All 65 members were selected by audition. The band performs four free public concerts during the school year. The Fall Concert Band, directed by Marion "Mo" Trout, assistant professor of bands, has about 100 members. This is the first of two free concerts it will present this semester. Purdue's bands department is more than 111 years old. Although Purdue has no school of music, students can participate in a wide variety of instrumental musical activities, including five concert bands, four jazz bands, a full symphony orchestra, a vocal jazz group, the largest marching band in the country, individual instrumental study, and a multitude of solo and ensemble opportunities. The department is in the midst of a $2 million fund-raising campaign that will run through Homecoming 1999. CONTACT: Amy Cox, Purdue Bands publicist, (765) 496-2697; e-mail: pubands@omni.cc.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page