AUBURN - The Auburn University Symphonic Band will perform in concert on Friday, April 18, at 8 p.m. in the Opelika Performing Arts Center in conjunction with this weekend’s Alabama All-State Band Festival at AU.

A select group of 51 musicians conducted by Rick Good, director of bands and associate professor of music at AU, the Symphonic Band is the premier performing ensemble in the AU Band program.

The concert will feature a variety of traditional and contemporary works. The program will open with “Wild Nights!” by Frank Ticheli, followed by Jules Massenet’s “Phèdre,” inspired by one of the most powerful and haunting stories in classical mythology.

Other selections on the program will include “March,” from Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith; “Fantasy for Trumpet,” featuring AU assistant professor of trumpet, Ramon Vasquez; Karl King’s “Cyrus the Great,” conducted by associate director of bands, Corey Spurlin; and Eric Whitaker’s “Lux Aurumque,” an a cappella vocal work transcribed for wind band.

The concert will conclude with John Mackey’s “Strange Humors,” featuring a djembe, the most common African drum known to the western world. The djembe is a large, single-headed drum with a goblet shape that is meant to be played with bare hands. The djembe originated in West Africa and is an integral part of the region’s musical tradition and culture.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Contact: Rick Good, (334) 844-3178 (goodric@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)