UW Wind Symphony Presents Fall Pops Concert Sept. 27

The University of Wyoming Wind Symphony opens the fall concert series with “To the Stars, Moon and Beyond” Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall.

Tickets cost $12 for the public, $8 for senior citizens and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the Performing Arts box office and the Wyoming Union information desk, by calling (307) 766-6666 or going online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts.

The concert will feature popular music from fanfare to folk, including Holst’s “Jupiter” from “The Planets,” Sousa marches, a throwback to the music of Glenn Miller, featuring the saxophone section, and film music by Michael Giacchino.

“It is always fun to start off our year with a pops concert,” says UW Conductor Bob Belser. “A couple of the works are from ‘The Incredibles’ and ‘Star Trek’ and are from student suggestions. They are just plain fun to perform.”

UW Associate Professor Scott Meredith also will be featured in a virtuoso trumpet competition piece from the late 19th century for soloist and brass band.

“The music is of a wide variety and is not just easy repertory -- such as ‘Jupiter,’ which is a great challenge,” Belser says. “We also strive to not just ‘get the notes’ but to play in the historical styles -- in the case of this concert Sousa, Glenn Miller and more.”

The UW Wind Symphony is the university’s premier concert band composed of wind and percussion musicians, with members from throughout the country, plus ranging from Iceland to Thailand.

The symphony has twice performed for the prestigious College Band Directors National Association and for the Wyoming Music Educators Association. The group will tour later throughout Wyoming and Colorado.

Belser is in his 24th year serving as director of bands and has led the growth of the UW band program into the now nationally acclaimed ensemble. He also serves as director of the summer concert series by the Laramie Municipal Band, as conductor of the Laramie/UW Community Band, the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music biannual European tours and also is a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Meredith has performed with the Wind Symphony several times.

“He is a joy to have as a soloist because, even though he is the star when we feature him, he is all about the music itself and the collaboration with the ensemble,” Belser says.

Meredith has performed regionally with the Wyoming Symphony, the Cheyenne Symphony and the UW Faculty Brass Quintet. Most recently, he performed the national anthem at a Colorado Rockies game.

For more information, call Belser at (307) 766-3877 or email belserrs@uwyo.edu.