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For Immediate Release
April 02, 2003
WORLD FAMOUS COMPOSER HELPS NEBRASKA
WESLEYAN BAND WITH CENTURY CELEBRATION
Alfred Reed To Conduct World Premier On April 15
LINCOLN, Neb.- When the Nebraska Wesleyan University
symphonic band celebrates its 100th anniversary this month, it will
celebrate in grand style.
"I wanted to make sure everyone got a gift,"
said Patrick Fortney, director of instrumental studies. "And
this is truly a gift."
The gift will be unwrapped and unveiled April 15
when one of the world’s finest composers comes to the Nebraska
Wesleyan University campus to premier his song, "Twelfth Night."
Alfred Reed, 82, is considered one of America’s
most prolific and frequently performed composers—right alongside
John Phillip Sousa and Johann Sebastian Bach. He has published more
than 200 works for wind band, orchestra, chorus and chamber ensembles.
He has been awarded over 80 commissions, with the most recent of
which will be "Twelfth Night," commissioned by the Nebraska
Wesleyan University Symphonic Band for celebration of its centennial.
"Twelfth Night" is a musical masque after
Shakespeare. It is only the third Shakespeare piece that Reed has
composed and the first in 27 years.
"The piece really blends the music and comedy
found in Shakespeare," Fortney said.
Fortney was able to commission Reed to do this "once
in a lifetime opportunity" based on connections they shared
at the University of Miami School of Music. It was there that Fortney
attended graduate school and worked as Reed’s assistant.
While in Lincoln, Reed will spend two days rehearsing
with Wesleyan band students. Since December, the students have worked
on the piece one page at a time as it became available.
In addition to "Twelfth Night," the April
15 concert will feature seven other Alfred Reed pieces ranging from
works he did in 1963 to current pieces. Reed assisted Fortney in
arranging the program for the 100th anniversary celebration concert.
The Music of Alfred Reed Concert begins at 7:30
p.m. in O’Donnell Auditorium, located at 50th Street and Huntington
Avenue. The concert is free and open to the public.
Larry Jones, Wesleyan’s music department chair,
said the commissioned work is one that will live on forever, noting
how bands across the world will be playing Nebraska Wesleyan’s
piece.
"Our name will appear right on the title,"
said Jones. "It will be played all over the world and taking
part in a world premier is so very exciting."
Members of the Nebraska Wesleyan University Symphonic
Band who will participate in the world premier are:
Albion
Scott Levander
Atkinson
Anne Davis
Aurora
Mary Arthur
Laura M.S. Fortney
Adam Vander Tuig
Beatrice
Carissa Loemker
Heather DeBuhr
Jessie Morris
Columbus
Megan Cimpl
Denton
Morgan BeachGeneva
Nick Schlick
Gothenburg
Molly
Grand Island
Erika Wolfe
Jared Hansen
Stephen Glade
Gretna
Eric Andres
Hartington
Josh Dowling
Holdrege
Jenny Lum
Lincoln
Megan Riegsecker
Cassie Schorzman
Christal Godemann
Erin Benham
Colleen Svoboda
Beth Williams
James Baldus
Megan Strain
Paul Ahlemeyer
Brian Hoops
Erich Schafer
Debbie DeFrain
Mike Houchin
Jim DeFrain
***
Here are a few interesting fun facts from the band’s 100 years:
* In 1903, the band started with 16 members.
* In 1950, the band tour consisted of 62 members who traveled 1,500
miles and presented 40 concerts in two weeks.
* In 1961, Wesleyan students congregated in front of television
sets in mid-November as the band performed during the half-time
show of the Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Colts football game in Chicago.
* In 1962, the Wesleyan band was invited again to perform during
the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers football game. At Wrigley
Field, the band proved to all those who watched that the Wesleyan
band earned the title, "Pride of the Plainsman."
* The band performed at Chicago Bears football games for nine consecutive
years.
* In 1969, the band went to Washington, D.C. in January for President
Nixon’s Inaugural Parade. Only one band per state was chosen
for the five-mile march.
* In 2003, Nebraska Wesleyan University commissions world famous
composer Alfred Reed for its century celebration.
***
MEDIA: Interviews will Alfred Reed will be available on Monday,
April 14 and can be arranged by calling Sara Olson at (402) 465-2185.
Click here for a photo of Alfred
Reed .
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