Minnesota Symphonic Winds Presents 'Classics Old and New' at St. Philip the Deacon Church

The Minnesota Symphonic Winds will premiere a new work for band at its spring concert on Sunday, April 28, at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth.  

The 3 p.m. performance will feature the 90-member Twin Cities adult band playing selections that musically depict the concert theme “Classics Old and New.” Dr. Timothy Mahr conducts. St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church is located two miles west of I-494 at 17205 County Road 6 in Plymouth.  

The concert is free and open to the public.

The Minnesota Symphonic Winds will open their program with the rousing Russlan and Ludmilla Overture, from famous Russian composer Mikhail Glinka’s 1842 opera, transcribed for band by Mark H Hindsley. The premiere of a new piece written by Minnesota composer Shirley Mier follows. Courage Shining Forth was commissioned by the Minnesota Symphonic Winds in memory of Marc Fuller, a longtime MSW trombonist who passed away tragically in 2011.  

Meir’s moving composition musically depicts Fuller’s spirit, love of music and bravery in the face of tremendous odds.   

Next, the ensemble will perform American composer Norman Dello Joio’s Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn (1963). The arranger takes the classical master’s original piece and arranges it for band, following a theme and variations setting.  Another award-winning American composer, Roger Nixon, wrote the next piece on the Minnesota Symphonic Winds’ program. His intricate, multi-metered California Jubilee (1987) conveys the rhythms and dances of the early settlers of his native state.  

The lively Menard’s Enigma March, composed by Minnesota native Curt Lawson, follows, one of the first public performances of the march. Concluding the concert will be John Williams’ Irish-flavored Symphonic Suite from FAR AND AWAY, adapted for band by Paul Lavender and originally scored for the 1992 film of the same name.

For more information regarding the Sunday, April 28 Minnesota Symphonic Winds “Classics Old and New” concert at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, or other upcoming concerts, visit the band’s website at www.mswinds.org or call Minnesota Symphonic Winds at 612-5MSWIND (612/567-9463).  

Also, find MSW on Facebook (search “Minnesota Symphonic Winds”) or on Twitter (mswinds).