RC
Rebecca Coyne
  • Class of 2012
  • Naperville, IL

Augustana's Top Ensembles Ccmbine for Music Festival

2009 May 15

The musical artistry of Augustana's premier band, choir and orchestra will culminate in the Augustana Music Festival on Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Avenue). This concert brings together the Augustana Symphonic Band, Augustana Symphony Orchestra and Augustana Choir for a final showcase performance. Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.

Although the annual Music Festival is in its second decade, band director Dr. James Lambrecht still considers it one of the "newer" traditions in the band's 134-year history. He goes to three or more music performances a week in May, but still believes the festival holds a special place. "It's enjoyable. Energetic. A large packed hall," he said.

This year's concert will feature a unique pairing of the Augustana Symphony Orchestra and Augustana Choir to present Vivaldi's Gloria, a 12-movement work for orchestra and choir. The ensembles also will perform the works of composers David Maslanka, Philip Sparke and Jean Sibelius.

The Augustana Music Festival is just one of 17 performances happening during the month of May. The Augustana Symphonic Band also will perform at a special outdoor concert on the lawn of Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (3701 7th Ave, Rock Island) on Saturday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. This free public concert will feature ten student conductors who are studying music education.

From your area this includes:

Rebecca Coyne , a first year from Naperville , IL majoring in general studies .

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.