Una Bands Presents Concert And Honor Band

Mar. 15, 2017

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@meili25.com, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Carole Maynard,UNA Department of Music FLORENCE, Ala. - UNA Bands will present the Wind Ensemble Concert Friday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m., in Norton Auditorium. The concert, titled "Connections," features UNA's premier concert ensemble as they connect old and new traditions of wind band literature. "The UNA Wind Ensemble is an auditioned group of top musicians that performs the best contemporary and traditional wind band literature available," said Dr. Lloyd Jones, director of bands at UNA. "This group of elite musicians is patterned after the United States 'President's Own' Marine Band and is UNA Bands' flagship concert organization." The concert program will include everything from traditional wind band literature from John Philip Sousa to contemporary works from Ron Nelson. UNA band members will be featured on "Carnival of Venice." Soloists include Alabama natives Hannah Jacobs of Double Springs on flute; Logan Murphree of Huntsville on clarinet; Wade Dillingham of Florence on alto saxophone; and Ben Thompson of Fairview on euphonium. This year's concert will also feature participants in the UNA Middle School Honor Band. Each spring the UNA Bands program hosts two separate honor band events for middle school and high school students. To participate, students from across the region submit applications and are selected based on their resumes. Once on campus, the students audition for placement in one of the three honor bands. Participants rehearse approximately eight hours over two days, and present a concert conducted by outstanding regional conductors and music educators. "The UNA Middle School Honor Band attracts more than 350 applicants, of which 270 are invited to participate in the three bands," said Jones. "These outstanding young student-musicians will amaze the audience with the amount of music they are able to learn and the level of expertise they exhibit with such limited rehearsal time. " The UNA Middle School Honor Band will take place March 23 and 24. The UNA High School Honor Band will take place April 27-29. For more information about UNA Honor Bands or to register a student, visit meili25.com/universitybands. Admission for the "Connections" concert is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for retired and active military personnel (with ID) and children 10 and under. Tickets are available at meili25.com/music, at the Lindsey Theatre Box Office (MWF, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and at the door. For more information: Carole Maynard at (256)765-5122 or cmmaynard@meili25.com