PHOTO BY SARAH PEMBERTON The Symphonic Band trombone section lays down the bass lines of the pieces for the ensemble.
The Northwestern College Symphonic Band, conducted by Timothy McGarvey, will be performing a concert at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Christ Chapel.
All 48 members of the ensemble and several guest performers will be featured in Friday’s event. The concert doesn’t have a specific theme, and McGarvey said the pieces selected will offer a wide variety for audience members. The selections include pieces from various genres and eras.
Several of the pieces will feature performances by some special guest soloists, including Tim Hillyer. Hillyer is the percussion instructor at NW, as well as an active professional performer. He will be playing a solo section in the song “Desi” by Michael Daugherty. The piece is meant to invoke the emotion and atmosphere of a nightclub from a James Bond film.
Another special performer will be Hannah McGarvey, a cellist and daughter of the director. She and NW student Rachel Nyvestold will make up a small cello section to accompany the band on certain selections throughout the evening.
Dr. McGarvey has been conducting band at NW for 25 years. He said that every concert and band he conducts comes with its own experiences and is a journey of its own.
One piece that the band will be playing is “Symphony No. 3, Movement 3 ‘For Natalie,’” by James Barnes, which McGarvey said is a “notably expressive piece.” Cello, oboe and saxophone solos give the piece an ethereal ambiance.
“It’s powerful, emotional; it speaks volumes to both the people listening and the ensemble,” McGarvey said.
French horn player Britta Wilson also said that she found “Symphony No. 3” quite moving. It’s one of her personal favorites. Wilson said she was excited for the performance because of the outstanding amounts of talent in the band this year.
Freshman tuba player Collin Ten Haken said that he is excited to be playing at the collegiate level to begin with. One of his favorite pieces selected for the concert is “American Overture for Band” by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins. It’s a piece that prominently features the brass section, so it’s little surprise he would enjoy it so much.
The ensemble will also be performing “Amazing Grace” as adapted by Robert Rumbelow, “Pacem — A Hymn for Peace” by Rober Spittal and “Sinfonia in Bb minor Op. 153” by Amilcare Ponchielli.
The music department has several performances left throughout this semester. There will be performances by the chamber orchestra, women’s choir, percussion ensemble and jazz band, as well as several senior recitals.