Event Details

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 7:30pm

Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall, GBPAC

UNI Symphonic Band

Justin J. Mertz, conductor

UNI Concert Band

Timarie Lafoy and Emma Schmidt-Denner, conductors

CONCERT BAND

(4 minutes) 

(7 minutes)

(2 minutes)

(3 minutes) 

(4 minutes) 

INTERMISSION

SYMPHONIC BAND

(7 minutes)

(5 minutes)

I. Intrada
IV. Saltarello (Italy)
VI. Allemande (Germany)

(6 minutes)

(5 minutes)

Personnel

CONCERT BAND

Flute
Lillyann Aguilera
Aspen Armstrong
Laura Comstock
Cailyn Grabe
Caitlyn Nemechek
Bethany Peck
Karla Pickar
Annika Poeppe
Emerson Reimer
SadieRyan

Clarinet
Sadie Blomberg
Tabitha Dalle
Elivia DiTomaso
Lily Ford
Lucy Johnson
Emily Jones
Kylie Lewis
Regan Pietig
Sawyer Reimann

Bass Clarinet
Sidnie Clark

Saxophone
Laiken Geary
Bailey Heath
Greta Herbst
Ethan Hofer
Jackson Loyd
Callan Oelberg
Jacob Picken
Ella Sears
Morgan Sullivan
Jeslyn Voogd

Trumpet
Luke Abels
Carmen Bahr
Peyton Borseth
Jaden Eilers
Ian Hanks
Eadie Suhr
Morgan Westphal

Horn
Emma Brand
Ellie Matlock
Kristen Rosauer

Trombone
Joseph Ehlers
Lindsey Gerlach
Clint Heger
Celia Lowman
Brendan Millslagle
Riley Ott
Adam Schwertfeger
Jessie Then

Euphonium
Finn Coons
Sara Shannon
Easton Steffen

Tuba
Madison Bihn
Travis Dodd
Clayton Flattery
Miley Seliquini
Cayman Swartzendruber

Percussion
Sydney Adair
Noah DeVore
Jenna Gerdes
Paige Steffen
Maddie Webster

 

SYMPHONIC BAND

Flute
Kai Eilers
Katie Flaherty*
Caleb Little 
Janie Owens
Brooke Yulga

Oboe
Aveinda Rusk

Bassoon
Carter Danielson*
James Schafer

Clarinet
Elliana Minter
Mackenzie DeRonde
Riana Kraft
Meredith Moore
Gabriel Jesse*
Taylor Braun
Ada Switzer

Saxophone
Anthony Bernard
Carter Seber
Kara McGonegle*
Hope Jones
Sienna Becker
Braxton Nachtigal

Trumpet
Ale Cabello*
Blake Fullmer
Andrew Dutcher
Adan Gutierrez
Zachary Helle
Josh Neas

Horn
Al Haynie
Rori Snethen*
AJ Shively
Ian Shelton

Trombone
Noah DeVore
Camden Bennett
Brody Schoon
James Landeros*
Sam Hoffmann
Michael Shonrock

Euphonium
Riley Capper
Sara Shannon

Tuba
Logan Lubahn*
Zachary Smith

Percussion
Bradley Bodkin
Jonah O’Neal
Scott Devries
Benjamin Grim*

Librarian
Jenny Valenzuela

* denotes section leader

About the Program

Songs of Old Kentucky: 
Kentucky has a rich and unique history that dates from the 1670s when the English settlers sent explorers from Virginia to survey the frontier. As Eastern Kentucky became the starting point for many westward migrations, stout pioneers settled into the Appalachian and Cumberland Mountains, creating a wonderful array of culture that includes language, crafts and music. The Kentucky mountaineer helped to propagate a proud heritage of traditional ballads and other old Scottish and English folk songs that had been brought to America by their ancestors. 

During the early part of the 20th century, Josephine McGill and Loraine Wyman each traveled through the Cumberland Mountains and transcribed words and melodies for over 200 songs. It is in their collections that the five tunes used in this setting - “John Riley,” “The Lonesome Scenes of Winter,” “Sourwood Mountain,” “Frog Went-A-Courting,” and “Loving Hannah” - are found. Songs of Old Kentucky was written during the fall of 2005 for the Kentucky Music Educators Association District IX All-District Band, and was premiered on January 14, 2006. 

Program Note by composer

Choose Joy:
In May 2021, I was approached by Joe Glass of Salyards Middle School about a commission. It is with his permission and the permission of the family involved that I am sharing these details. He told me about Nicole Crandall, a recent graduate from the high school that Joe’s program feeds and his former student. Nicole had been battling Level 4 Glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer. She was then 20 years old and had been moved into hospice care. To celebrate her, they have asked that I create a work in her honor. In spite of this, Nicole and her family had created a motto that they used to navigate this difficult time. “Choose Joy.” 

The piece uses elements of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy along with a five note motive representing the five family members of Nicole’s immediate family. A trio is heard near the beginning, representing Nicole and her siblings; the parts have been written for the instruments they played in band (Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone). The work alternates between a rhythmic and joyful intensity and a more nostalgic and bittersweet lyrical moment in the middle. There are moments of happiness, humor, worry, pain, and determination. I hope this work serves as a fitting tribute to all of those who choose joy in times of darkness. 

Program Note by composer

Chasing Sunlight: 
Chasing Sunlight was inspired by the experience of driving west into the setting sun, as if trying to keep up with the earth's rotation to catch the last few rays of light before dusk. The steady eighth note motif throughout the piece represents this sense of urgency, while the soaring, lyrical themes depict the warmth and radiance of the sun low in the sky.

Just as the sun will always set, humans must accept the impermanence of all things in life, and make the most of every opportunity before it has passed. Chasing Sunlight also represents the ongoing pursuit of these opportunities.

Program Note by composer

Pageant was commissioned by the American Bandmaster's Association and was completed in January 1953. It is Persichetti's third work for band. It opens in slow tempo with a motive in the horn that is used throughout both sections of the piece. The slow chordal section is succeeded by a lively "parade" section introduced by the snare drum. In the final portion of the work the two principal subjects are developed simultaneously to a lively climax.

The first performance of this work took place on 7 March 1953, at the ABA Convention in Miami, Florida. It was performed by the University of Miami Band, with the composer conducting.

- Program Note by composer

Courtly Airs and Dances is a suite of Renaissance dances which were characteristic to five European countries during the 1500s. Three of the dances (Basse Dance, Pavane, and Allemande) are meant to emulate the music of Claude Gervaise by drawing on the style of his music as well as the characteristics of other compositions from that period. The festival opens with a fanfare-like Intrada followed by the Basse Danse (France), Pavane (England), Saltarello (Italy), Sarabande (Spain), and Allemande (Germany). 

The work was commissioned by the Hill Country Middle School Band from Austin, Texas, Cheryl Floyd, director.

- Program Note by composer

Chant and Jubilo was commissioned by Jerry Loveall for the Four States Bandmasters Convention in Texarkana, Texas, and was first performed by the Four States Bandmasters Band in January of 1962 with the composer conducting. It is a work in two connected contrasting movements. The melodic material in the Chant is derived from a ninth century Greek hymn of rogation. It is a modal movement reminiscent of the early church organum and should be done in a very sensitive manner, with the Jubilo contrasting with its explosive lower brass and percussion. The composer also used this source material in his Hymn for Band, a junior high piece written two years earlier.

- Program Note by composer

The Olympic Games continue to fascinate and inspire each one of us -- with every presentation of the Games, we experience that complete dedication and unshakable will to persevere that typifies the goal of each competitor. The human spirit soars, and we strive for the vest within us.

These are the qualities that we seek to capture, describe and preserve through music, and it has been my great honor to contribute Olympic Fanfare and Theme to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. I dedicate it lovingly to all participating athletes, from whom we derive so much strength and inspiration.

- Program Note by composer