The Longwood Wind Symphony will return to the newly renovated Jarman Auditorium for their Fall Concert on Thursday, October 28, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. The 60-member ensemble, which includes members from almost every department in the university, is under the direction of Dr. Gordon Ring, Professor of Music at Longwood.

British and American composers will be featured on the concert. Composed in 1937, the opening work, Crown Imperial by Sir William Walton, was performed at the coronation of King George VI. Next on the program, an American composer, Anthony Suter, wrote a piece about a very British monument, Stonehenge. Dancing at Stonehenge invokes a festive tone with musical resources from a variety of sources – American jazz, Brazilian music and Renaissance music.

The final three works on the program are distinctly American. “Waltz” and “Celebration” are two sections from Aaron Copland's famous ballet, Billy the Kid, arranged for band by Philip J. Lang. Donald Grantham, a composer from the University of Texas at Austin, is the composer of Southern Harmony, a four-movement work based on hymns that were published in 1835 in William “Singing' Billy” Walker's songbook Southern Harmony. This work was the winner of the 1998 Revelli Award from the National Band Association as the best composition that year for band. Concluding the evening will be The Liberty Bell March, one of the more famous marches by the “March King,” John Philip Sousa.

“After performing concerts last year in a variety of locations because of the Jarman renovation we are really excited to be back there this year,” said Dr. Ring. “The improved acoustics and other improvements to the stage, the lighting and the seats should make a great setting for a concert.”

Admission to the concert is free and the public is invited. For more information contact the Department of Music at 434.395.2504.