Tag: Northwest Wind Symphony

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NWWS Fall Concert (Oct 12) – “Potpourri of Masterpieces”

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We’ll be starting off our 2024-2025 season “Musical Mastery” with a program of musical delights including a saxophone feature.

  • Snapshots (IV. To Pull Out All the Stops) by Franklin D. Hansen was originally written for sax quartet.
  • Percy Grainger’s Hill-Song No. 2 will transport you to wind-swept Scottish moors with wild patches of heath and peat bogs.
  • Frank Ticheli’s Over the Moon takes you on a musical journey over the moon and back to Earth again.
  • Five To Go by Jack Bullock is reminiscent of the big band era of American music.
  • Barnum & Bailey’s Favorite written by Karl King, often considered the grand-daddy of circus marches, celebrates “The Greatest Show on Earth”.
  • Polka and Fugue (from the opera “Schwanda, the Bagpiper”) by Jaromir Weinberger is based off of a Czech folk tale wherein a master bagpiper melts the ice queen’s heart with his playing.
  • Irish Tune from County Derry is one of Percy Grainger’s most popular and most recognizable pieces.
  • Shepherd’s Hey also by Percy Grainger is a brisk and technically demanding dance.
  • Richard Rodger’s Sound of Music will include a number of tunes where you know the melodies (and possibly the words).

The show starts at 7 p.m. on October 12, 2024, at Corbet Theatre in Centralia. $12 general admission. Students free with paying adult.

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NW Wind Symphony winter concert, “Entrees,” Jan. 20

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Bernstein. Reed. Sousa. Del Borgo. Saucedo. If you appreciate rich harmonies, melodies both new and familiar, and high-level professional musicianship, you won’t want to miss this program:

Overture to Candide – Leonard Bernstein
Symphony No. 3 – Alfred Reed
The Corcoran Cadets – John Philip Sousa
Symphonic Paraphrase – Elliot Del Borgo
Symphonic Dances from Westside Story – Bernstein
Wind Sprints – Richard Saucedo

We’re playing them all on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., at Corbet Theatre in Centralia. $12 general admission. Students free with paying adult.

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NW Wind Symphony celebrates “La Primavera – Spring!” on April 22

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On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the NW Wind Symphony presents “Celebrate la Primavera – Spring!” a concert of lively, energetic, modern music.

The evening begins with Celebrations, a show-stopping fanfare by John Zdechlik. Grace by Brian Balmages wanders between solos as it evolves into the hymn tune “Amazing Grace.” Edward Gregson’s Celebration features each section of the band with virtuosic passages.

The second half opens with Stephen Melillo’s Godspeed featuring percussion. Pineapple Poll by Sir Charles Mackaras captures songs by Gilbert and Sullivan. Stephen Bulla’s Bond…James Bond closes the evening’s program with a nod to the silver screen’s most famous secret agent.

This show starts at 7 p.m. at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Get tickets now for $12 (general admission) at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis, or at the door the night of the event.

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NWWS celebrates the “Williams boys” on Jan. 21

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On Saturday, January 21, 2023, the NW Wind Symphony presents a concert of classical and movie music, all by composers named Williams.

Film reels.

John Williams might be the most well-known composer on the evening’s program. Listeners will enjoy music from movies like Star Wars, Raiders, Cowboys, and The Terminal.

Ralph Vaughan Williams was “not only a composer of the utmost importance for English music but also one of the great symphonists of the 20th century,” according to the R.V.W. Society. The evening’s program includes one of his most well-known pieces, English Folksong Suite. Also on the program are Flourish for Wind Band and Sea Songs.

Clifton Williams initially focused on orchestra music, but was later encouraged to compose for wind band also, which is what he’s perhaps better known for. The night’s program includes his Symphonic Dance No. 5 and Post War Prelude.

This show starts at 7 p.m. at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Get tickets for $12 (general admission) now at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis, or at the door the night of the event.

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NWWS presents “Celebrate Sousa” on Oct. 15

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If you’re longing for a taste of the good old days, look no further than the Northwest Wind Symphony’s Oct. 15 “Celebrate Sousa” concert. The evening’s program features the music of John Philip Sousa and popular music of his time, performed the way Sousa’s band would have done it.

On the first half of his roadshow concerts, Sousa featured orchestral numbers transcribed for band, such as Ferdinand Herold’s “Zampa Overture.” Sousa also programmed a band feature. On our concert, we’ll feature Dane Hurd, trumpet soloist, performing Ernst Sachse’s “Concertino in Eb,” accompanied by brass band. These band features were usually followed by a “warhorse” piece — popular music performed by many orchestras and known to the audience. For our warhorse piece, we’ll bring you Franz von Suppe’s “Jolly Robbers Overture.” 

Mixed into the repertoire of classical and popular music were Sousa’s marches, placed in between as encores. Our march encores for the first half are El Capitan, Liberty Bell, and The Thunderer — well-known and loved staples of Sousa’s now famous repertoire.

If you went out to see Sousa’s band back in the day, the second half of the concert would treat you to novelty numbers, with something unique or fun about each piece. On our October concert, Arthur Pryor’s “Whistler and His Dog” and Harry Lincoln’s “Midnight Fire Alarm” invite audience participation. Henri Kling’s “Two Little Bullfinches” features a piccolo duet, and on Sousa’s “Roosters Lay Eggs in Kansas,” you’ll find out just how many NWWS musicians can sing.

Our encore marches for the second half are the venerable “Washington Post” and Sousa’s most famous composition, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Although the march debuted in 1897, it found popularity during the Spanish-American War (1898), riding the rise of patriotic sentiment. In 1987, it became the official national march of the United States.

This show starts at 7 p.m. at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Get tickets for $12 (general admission) now at Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis, or at the door the night of the event.

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NWWS presents concert of American music on April 23

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We’re back. After a two-year pause for the pandemic, we’re proud to once again bring high-caliber live music to southwest Washington. Mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

American flag.

The program for our spring concert features American music by American composers. Some of the most well-known American composers served in and composed for military bands. We’ll begin the evening with Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed, who served in the Army during World War II. Samuel Barber also served in the Army during World War II, composing Commando March after completing his tour of duty. Claude Thomas Smith composed Festival Variations for the U.S. Air Force Band.

If military service is a cornerstone of American society, so is our entertainment industry. Suite of Old American Dances, written by Broadway composer Robert Russell Bennett, recalls dances like the cake walk, the western one-step, and the rag. Leonard Bernstein’s Selections from Westside Story brings you songs from one of Broadway’s most the popular shows of all time. Grover’s Corners and Silverado celebrate the silver screen with music reminiscent of traditional American towns of the east coast and Wild West.

We’ll close the evening with a truly beautiful arrangement of America the Beautiful and crowd favorite Stars and Stripes Forever— two pieces of music that never fail to stir love and pride for country in the hearts of Americans.

The show starts at 7 p.m. at Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus. Get tickets for $12 (general admission) now at Book n Brush in Chehalis, or at the door the night of the event.

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Fall Concert: “Hollywood”

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The Northwest Wind Symphony opens its 25th season this fall on Saturday, October 24th, at 7 p.m. in Corbet Theatre on the Centralia College campus.

To begin our Silver Anniversary Season, we’re taking you to Hollywood. From the Walt Disney studio that garnered more Oscars than any other (a total of thirty-three) to the music of John Williams, we’ll walk down memory lane. Included are works of lesser known and perhaps surprising musical luminaries such as Aaron Copland, Randy Newman, Michael Giachino, and even John Phillip Sousa (yes, he did in fact write music for the movies!).

Enjoy classic movie medleys, including music from Mary Poppins, and “Days of Wine and Roses.” Fast-forward to modern spy movie music from the Leonardo DiCaprio/Tom Hanks movie, “Catch Me If You Can,” featuring Nicklas Waroff, alto saxophonist. Experience lesser-known music of famous composers Copland and Sousa. We’ll bring the evening to a close with music from Pixar hits “The Incredibles” and “A Bug’s Life,” and of course, such a concert would not be complete without the venerable “Star Wars” theme music.

Tickets are available at the door or from Book ‘n’ Brush in Chehalis. General admission tickets are $12. Children and students are admitted free with paying adult.

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“Silver Anniversary” Concert Season

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This 2015-2016 concert season marks our 25th year! The season opener this fall will feature music of Hollywood. Winter’s concert presents music of North and South America, and in the spring, we’ll wrap up our silver year with a tribute to the English heritage of concert band music.

The NWWS has a tradition of featuring fine guest artists, and our silver season won’t disappoint. Our fall concert features Nicklas Waroff, alto saxophonist, on soundtrack music from the Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks movie, Catch Me If You Can. Jameson Bratcher, tuba, and our own Dane Hurd, trumpet, play a double header on our winter concert. Another of our own, Rich Pasko, trombone, helps close our season with the modern and funky “Downtown Diversions” on our spring concert.

Mark your calendars for October 24, February 6, and April 16th. Please see our concert repertoire page for more details on programming, or our ticket page for purchasing information.

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NWWS in Concert on April 18th – “All That Jazz – The Do-Over”

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The Northwest Wind Symphony will be presenting the “All That Jazz” concert at Corbet Theatre on April 18th at 7 p.m.

Originally planned for January, a smoke alarm in Corbet Theatre caused the cancellation of the “All That Jazz” concert. NWWS decided to move the much-anticipated jazz concert music to April. We’ve also added another piece of music, a medley of songs popularized by Louis Armstrong, including “Hello Dolly,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “What a Wonderful World.”

Tickets are available at the door or Book ‘n’ Brush for $12 general admission. Students enter free with a paying adult.

We would like to thank our devoted patrons who waited with us in January to see if the concert would go on. We look forward to presenting our jazzy repertoire for you in just a few weeks!

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Tonight’s Concert Cancellation

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Musicians and concert goers arrived for tonight’s “All Jazz” Northwest Wind Symphony concert to find three firetrucks parked outside Corbet Theatre. The hall’s fire alarm was tripped. Smoke was detected by fire department personnel, who narrowed the affected area down to somewhere backstage. The source remained unidentified, however. The fire alarm was deactivated and reset. While it did not reactivate, a warning remained on the panel, which meant that no one could be safely allowed into the building. NWWS personnel then cancelled the concert. Fire department personnel remained both inside and outside the building to escort small groups of musicians into the hall to retrieve equipment and instruments.

Tonight’s “All Jazz” music will be performed on April 18th. The April concert was to feature music of women composers. NWWS plans to reschedule the women composers’ concert for next season. We hope you’ll plan to join us April 18th for the rescheduled jazz concert. This is an exciting, energetic program with wonderful soloists, sure to please audiences of any age.

If you purchased tickets for tonight, or are a season ticket holder, we will be working to see that you are appropriately compensated. We don’t know the details of how that will work at this time, however. If you have any questions, please contact us at: secretary@northwestwindsymphony.org

We’d like to thank our local fire fighters for working to protect everyone’s safety. We want to express our gratitude to our loyal patrons and fans who turned out for tonight’s concert, and we wish to apologize for the inconvenience you may have experienced tonight.