For the City Times

STEVENS POINT — Blending wind instruments and percussion as well as classical and jazz sounds, the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform in concert at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Wednesday, Dec. 5.

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Michelsen Hall at the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point, under the direction of Michael Butler, assistant professor of music and director of bands.

The Wind Symphony will perform “Pageant” by Vincent Persichetti, conducted by senior music education major Jesse Frozene. “Angels in the Architecture,” by Frank Ticheli, will feature soprano soloist and senior music major Valerie Evans as well as ethereal sounds created by percussion items such as tuned crystal glasses.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform pieces that fuse classical and jazz elements. The first is a premier of a new concerto for two percussionists and wind ensemble by Adam Silverman. This will feature Brian Baldauff, UW-Stevens Point assistant professor of percussion, and guest percussionist Justin Alexander, an assistant professor of music at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The program will continue with “Divertimento for Winds & Percussion” by Roger Cichy, which in four movements pays homage to iconic American composers Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. Senior music major Benjamin Sawyer will conduct “Variations on a Shaker Melody” by Copland, and senior music major John Tengowski will perform “Gershwin Second Prelude for Piano.” The ensemble will also perform “Make Our Garden Grow” by Bernstein and “Fantasy Variations” by Donald Grantham, based on Gershwin’s prelude.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $5 for UW-Stevens Point students, faculty and youth and free the day of the concert for students with a UW-Stevens Point I.D. if not sold out. Tickets are available at the University Information and Tickets Office in the Dreyfus University Center, by calling 715-346-4100 or 800-838-3378 or at http://tickets.uwsp.edu. Tickets may be purchased at the door if available. Proceeds benefit student scholarships.