Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Grace College Wind Ensemble is growing by leaps and bounds, according to director Dr. James Chandler.
Now in its fourth year, the band has attracted a solid core of community players as well as college players.
The band performs Thursday in Rodeheaver Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. with guest soloist Mark Eifler.
Chandler was founder and director, for eight years, of the Evansville Symphonic Band, a professional group presenting a series of concerts each summer.
"Within the band's personnel was a group of soloists that developed their own following and were very much a part of the band's success," Chandler said. "Such a person is Mark Eifler. His ability to perform both concert selections and jazz is just astonishing."
Eifler, a trombonist with the Evansville Symphonic Band, will be featured during the "Morceau Symphonique" by Alexander Guilmat and "Sunrise Lady" by Bruce Jonston.
Once again, the band will perform a wide variety of music.
From "Light Calvary" by Franz von Supp to "The Blues!" by Sammy Nestico, there will be something for everyone.
The percussion section will be featured in Peter O'Gorman's "Fire," featuring professional musician Douglas Lauglin of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
"Christmas in the Round" is a medley of traditional holiday favorites arranged in a prism or theater-in-the-round setting by Robert W. Smith. Beginning with the full band, the medley progresses through the ensemble featuring the percussion, flute, clarinet, saxophone, double reed, trumpet, horn and low brass sections. Traditional, contemporary, humorous and stately, each choir brings a unique facet to this holiday prism.
Other selections include "Second Suite in F" by Gustav Holst and "Pageant" by Vincent Persichetti.
Instrumentation of the wind ensemble includes all woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The size of the group is limited to about 40 players.
This year's wind ensemble musicians include:
Piccolo - Lisa Wilson, Ligonier.*
Flute - Julie Hobert, France; Kim Smith, Ohio; Lisa Wilson, Ligonier*; Stefanie Foegley, Warsaw*; Chana Spite, Warsaw*; and Emy Krebs, Fairland.
Oboe - Erica Pickart, Winona Lake,* and Misty Hathaway, Pierceton.*
Bassoon _ Mariana Roll, Fort Wayne.**
Clarinet - Michele Murto, Goshen*; Ronald Klawitter, Syracuse*; Jill Dimatteo, Ohio; Luke Lusk, Warsaw*; Suzanne Faber, Illinois; Katie Wheeler, Washington; Emily Nayrocker, Warsaw*; and Kaitlin Essick, Warsaw.*
Bass clarinet - Joy Huizinga, Illinois.
Alto saxophone - Benjamin Essick, Warsaw,* and Melissa Roth, Huntington.
Tenor saxophone - Gail Adams, Warsaw.*
Baritone saxophone - Michael Miller, Michigan.
Trumpet - Carus Shaffer, Winona Lake; David Artrip, Ohio; Luke Kelley, Ohio; Meghan Shaffer, Winona Lake*; and Elizabeth Cole, Winona Lake.*
French horn - Joshua Murray, Walton; Yvonne Otero, Warsaw*; Naomi Cole, Winona Lake*; and Megan Rollins, Albion.*
Trombone - Kevin Becker, Ohio; Daniel Sandlian, Wyoming; and Philip Eherenman, Warsaw.**
Baritone - Gary McDaniel, Mentone*; Robert Holada, Warsaw*; and Megan Walter, Colorado.
Tuba - Russell Coon, Goshen.*
Percussion - Dan Carlson, Wolf Lake*; Ian Bender, Albion*; Devin Livingston, Maryland; and Douglas Lauglin, Fort Wayne.**
* community players
** professional players
