Oboist Andrea Banke and trombonist Russ Widener will appear as soloists with the 成人头条 Summer Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in Miller Concert Hall.
The program, led by Mark Laycock, will feature music by Gershwin, Sibelius, Goossens and Peaslee.
Andrea Banke
Banke, WSU assistant professor of oboe, will perform Concerto in One Movement for Oboe and Orchestra by Eugene Goossens.
A composer and conductor of British descent, Goossens served as music director of two prominent U.S. orchestras: Rochester and Cincinnati. He composed his oboe concerto in 1927 as a showpiece for his brother Leon.
Widener, WSU professor of trombone, will play the central slow movement of Richard Peaslee鈥檚 鈥淎rrows of Time.鈥� One of the most popular contemporary trombone concertos, the work was composed in 1995 for New York Philharmonic Orchestra principal trombonist Joseph Alessi.
Russell Widener
The tranquil movement, said Laycock, is heavily influenced by jazz and features soaring melodies set against rich, consonant harmonies.
The orchestra will also perform Jean Sibelius鈥� Second Symphony. A deeply spiritual, emotive work, the symphony was one of the Finnish composer鈥檚 first international successes.
With its long struggle from darkness to triumph, Laycock said, musicologists have long suspected political overtones in the symphony, mirroring Finland鈥檚 fight for political independence at the turn of the 20th century.
George Gershwin鈥檚 Cuban Overture will open the program. While the composer鈥檚 melodic genius is evident throughout, the piece is particularly enlivened by dance rhythms and a strongly percussive spirit (it was originally titled 鈥淩umba鈥�).
Dating from 1932, the overture follows several of Gershwin鈥檚 important concert works, including Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto in F and 鈥淎n American in Paris.鈥�
Mark Laycock
鈥淥ur summer concert is a unique undertaking,鈥� Laycock said. 鈥淭he WSU students are combined with musicians from throughout the community: active professionals, exceptional high school students and seasoned amateurs seeking a challenge. It is truly an intergenerational collaboration, and there is mutual benefit between young and old.鈥�
This year, WSU students鈥� summer experience follows their exciting trip to Spain, where they performed by invitation during the 2008 International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Zaragoza.
Besides being faculty for WSU, Banke is principal oboe of the 成人头条 Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet. Before moving to Kansas, she was principal oboe of the Rochester (NY) Philharmonic Orchestra.
An active chamber musician, she frequently performs as guest principal oboe of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Banke has appeared with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the Heidelberg Opera Festival in Germany, and she has been a recitalist with members of the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra.
From 1997-2001, she performed more than 500 woodwind quintet recitals, educational concerts and outreach classes as oboist of the Dakota Wind Quintet, appearing in diverse venues ranging from a Sioux Indian powwow to a high-security prison in Nebraska.
A member of the WSU faculty since 1981, Widener is principal trombonist of the 成人头条 Symphony Orchestra, trombonist of the 成人头条 Brass Quintet and bass trombonist with Music Theatre of 成人头条.
He previously worked as a freelance musician in Los Angeles and held teaching positions at the University of California at Santa Barbara and the California State University at Fullerton. He was bass trombonist for the Santa Barbara Symphony and principal trombonist with the Ventura Symphony.
Widener also has performed with various chamber groups in the area and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Before moving to Los Angeles, Widener had taught at the University of Georgia and performed on trombone and euphonium as a member of the First Army Band.
Laycock is an associate professor of music at 成人头条 State, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship. In 2007, he was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award by the College of Fine Arts.
He recently led the WSU Symphony on its 10-day concert tour to Spain and will return to Europe in July as principal conductor for the Irvine (Calif.) Classical Players鈥� concert tour to France.
Tickets, at $6, $5 and $2, are available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (316) 978-3233. The concert will also be simulcast on WSU Internet Radio at .