Wind Ensemble will perform Russian music, with American premiere
The Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble will perform a concert entirely of Russian compositions in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.
It is free and open to the public.
Alexander Nyankin
The ensemble, under the direction of Margaret Underwood, WCU director of bands and associate professor of music, along with the Fortress Brass Quintet, will present a program titled “Za Náshoo Dróozhboo,” or in English, “To Our Friendship.” For the performance, the ensemble will be joined by the internationally-recognized conductor Alexander Nyankin from Moscow, Russia.
Nyankin is the director of the Russian National Symphonic Band. He also is a professor of trombone at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, deputy concertmaster of the Russian National Orchestra and a soloist with Academic Concert Orchestra of Radio and Television of Russia.
The concert will include the American premiere of the recently rediscovered 1830 work, “Symphony for Band” by Alexander Alyabyev (1787-1851), a Russian composer and a soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. Other works on the program include pieces by Shostakovich, Scriabin and Tchaikovsky.
For more information, contact the School of Music at 828-227-7242.
