BVU Band Presents Winter Concert March 12

STORM LAKE, IA (03/02/2017) (readMedia)-- The Buena Vista University (BVU) Concert Band, under the direction of Jerry Bertrand, assistant professor of music, will present its annual Winter Concert on Sunday, March 12 at 3 p.m. in Schaller Memorial Chapel on the BVU campus.

The theme for the concert is music related and written for dance. The program will open with "The Washington Post," a rousing march by John Philip Sousa. While this march was originally written for an essay contest sponsored by the newspaper of the same name, it caught on as music for the "two-step" dance that was then popular in the U.S. and Europe. Concert band work by Robert Russell Bennett, entitled "Suite of Old American Dances," will follow, with performed movements including "Cake Walk," "Schottische," "Western One-Step"' and "Wallflower Waltz." Commissioned by the Kern County Music Educators Association of Bakersfield, Cali., "Four Dance Episodes" by Gary Gilroy will feature dances that are quite varied. Also included on the program will be a performance of "Amazing Grace" by Robert W. Rumbelow. Originally written for choir, this work incorporates the traditional hymn along with music by composer Roger Ames. The piece was commissioned by the Westminister Chapel Choir and is dedicated to the children of the victims of Sept. 11, 2001.

On the lighter side of the program, the concert band will perform "Symphonic Dances" from "Fiddler on the Roof." This hit musical made its debut on Broadway in 1964. The arrangement will include a medley of dances from the musical.

This Winter Concert is free and open to the public to attend.

About Buena Vista University

Celebrating 125 years of service.

Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. BVU is an affordable option for all students and, combined with its academic programs, has led U.S. News & World Report to rank BVU as the third best value school among Midwest Regional Colleges. Visit www.bvu.edu.

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