Friday, October 4, 2024 @ 8:00pm – 10:00pm (EDT)

The UMD Wind Orchestra kicks off its season with a program highlighting symphonies from the wind band repertoire!

The program opens with Viet Cuong’s Deciduous, a piece written after the passing of Cuong's father that reflects the cyclical nature of loss and healing. Alan Hovhaness's Symphony No. 4 is a fusion of inspirations ranging from seventh-century Armenian religious music to the orchestral music of China's Tang Dynasty. In his fourth symphony, Arthur Meulemans sought to maintain the individual sounds of the sections of the orchestra, creating a rich and colorful mosaic. The program concludes with Leonard Bernstein's symphonic suite from the Academy Award-winning 1954 film On the Waterfront, which juxtaposes moments of tenderness with elements of cold savagery as depicted in the movie.

About University of Maryland (UMD) Wind Orchestra

The University of Maryland Wind Orchestra (UMWO) was founded in 2008 to give advanced undergraduate, MM and DMA performance students the opportunity to participate in a professional caliber ensemble with the intent of furthering their preparation as professional orchestra and chamber music performers. The Wind Orchestra rehearses on the same schedule as the UMD Symphony Orchestra, enabling the exchange of players between the two groups as dictated by repertoire demands.

https://music.umd.edu/ensembles/bands

About Michael Votta, Jr., conductor

Michael Votta, Jr. has been hailed by critics as "a conductor with the drive and ability to fully relay artistic thoughts" and praised for his "interpretations of definition, precision and most importantly, unmitigated joy." Ensembles under his direction have received critical acclaim in the United States, Europe, and Asia for their "exceptional spirit, verve and precision," their "sterling examples of innovative programming" and "the kind of artistry that is often thought to be the exclusive purview of top symphonic ensembles."

https://www.michaelvotta.com/