The Austin College Wind Symphony will present “Modern Folk Music” as its first performance of the 2022-2023 academic year on Wednesday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Clifford J. Grum Sanctuary of Wynne Chapel. The presentation, directed by Alan Harkey of the Austin College music faculty, is free and open to the public.
The program will include “Fanfare” from the ballet “La Péri” by Paul Dukas; “English Folk Song Suite” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, including “Seventeen Come Sunday,” “My Bonny Boy,” and “Folk Songs from Somerset.”
Selections continue with “Made for You and Me: Inspired by Woody Guthrie” by Michael Daughtery; “Shenandoah,” arranged by Omar Thomas; and “Kentucky Mountain Portraits” by Lyndol Michell and arranged by Buddy Mattell.
The Wind Symphony consists of Austin College students and members of the local community. Instruments include flute; oboe; clarinet; alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone; trumpet; French horn; trombone; euphonium; tuba; string bass; and percussion.
Many students who participate in music performance at Austin College are not completing majors or minors in music, but are continuing a love of music that may have been part of their lives for many years. Music groups at Austin College are open to all students who have the ability to pass the audition for the groups. Many non-majors participate in music for four years and find that they plan to continue music in their personal lives beyond college as well. From the A Cappella Choir to various ensembles and orchestras, to the recently established Pep Band, Austin College students have many outlets for continuing their love of music.