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Wind Ensemble

featuring H.S. Honor Band

What: UWL Wind Ensemble and Honor Band Performance
When: December 6 at 4 p.m.
Where: Bluffs Ballroom, UWL Student Union
Admission: Free and open to the public. 

The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Music Department proudly announces the upcoming joint performance of the UWL Wind Ensemble and the UWL High School Honor Band in a vibrant concert titled “Petals and Pavanes.” The event will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Bluffs Ballroom of the UWL Student Union. Admission is free and open to the public.

Led by Dr. Martin I. Gaines, this annual collaboration brings together outstanding high school musicians from across the region with UWL’s premier wind ensemble, offering a dynamic afternoon of artistic exchange, mentorship, and exceptional music-making.

The concert opens with a sequence of works performed by the UWL Wind Ensemble, beginning with the bright, uplifting Bock Fanfares (2013) by Jess Langston Turner. The ensemble then performs A Longford Legend (1999) by Robert Sheldon, a three-movement setting inspired by Irish folk melodies, followed by Boreal Pines (2021) by Cait Nishimura—a serene and atmospheric piece reflecting the quiet drama of northern forests.

Also featured is Teeth of the Mechanism (2025) by acclaimed composer John Mackey, a thrilling and energetic new work that captures mechanical tension, motion, and release.

Following the Wind Ensemble set, the UWL High School Honor Band takes the stage, showcasing the talent and dedication of visiting student musicians. Their program will be announced during the performance.

After a brief intermission, the UWL Wind Ensemble returns with Dancefares (2016) by Jess Langston Turner, setting the stage for one of the cornerstones of the wind repertoire: Percy Grainger’s Lincolnshire Posy (1937). This six-movement masterwork—Dublin Bay, Horkstow Grange, Rufford Park Poachers, The Brisk Young Sailor, Lord Melbourne, and The Lost Lady Found—stands as a hallmark of expressive color, rhythmic vitality, and folk-inspired character.

The Wind Ensemble will also present Arietta for Wind Ensemble (2024) by Yasuhide Ito, a lyrical and introspective recent work, and Deciduous (2023) by Viet Cuong, which explores transformation and renewal through vibrant textures and evolving musical contours.

A special moment of the concert will be the 100th Anniversary Performance of John Philip Sousa’s The National Game (1925)—a spirited march celebrating America’s favorite pastime.

The program concludes with Carnival de São Paulo (2003) by James Barnes, an energetic and celebratory piece performed by the combined forces of the UWL Wind Ensemble and the UWL High School Honor Band, bringing the evening to a festive close. This performance is free and open to the public. For more information, visit uwlax.edu/vpa.

Related campus initiatives

Student success Transformational education

When

Past occurrences (1)

  • 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Where

The Bluffs Ballroom Student Union

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Student Union

If you go

  • Free, no registration needed

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact David Bashaw at 608.785.8409 or dbashaw@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

Additional parking info
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