One last chance to ride like the wind

THE Southern Colleges and UTAS Wind Ensemble will give its final concert for the year at the Conservatorium Recital Hall in Hobart tomorrow night.

The ensemble is a collaborative project involving students from the Conservatorium of Music and Elizabeth, Hobart, Claremont and Rosny colleges.

College co-ordinator Les Johnston said tomorrow’s program would explore the varied tonal palette the ensemble and repertoire had to offer.

“We strive to engage not only with the adult audience but also provide an opportunity for young school-age musicians to get a glimpse inside the soundscape and to make a connection with various instruments and sections within the ensemble,” he said.

“It’s very important to us to not only make this connection with young musicians, but to also challenge and extend the musicians in the ensemble through an exciting and inspiring repertoire, which will range from Ticheli’s striking Wild Nights, to the warmth and expressiveness of John Mackey’s Sheltering Sky.”

Conductor Sean Priest said the Ticheli expressed intense feelings.

“It portrays our quest for a life punctuated by exuberance, energy and a quest for the new,” he said.

“There are explosive brass entries, woodwind flourishes, and scintillating, syncopated percussion constantly drives the work forward with surprises at every turn.

“Full Tilt by Richard Saucedo uses strong rhythmic vitality, mixed meters and effects. Percussion features throughout, along with quirky sectional themes from the woodwind and brass, a hint of jazz rhythms and melodic lines, tuba solos, and crazy horn rips.”

Also featuring Psalm for Band by Vincent Persichetti, When Jesus Wept by William Schumann, Head Rush by Jay Bocock, and Mother Earth by David Maslanka, the concert will be held in the Conservatorium Recital Hall on Sandy Bay Rd from 7pm tomorrow. Entry is free.