Purdue Bands to perform
free concert in Elliott Hall
By Jeremy Rea
Staff Writer
For the first time, as a part of Grand Prix weekend,
Purdue Bands will present the Purdue Bands Showcase Saturday and Sunday
in Elliott Hall of Music. The event is designed as a group concert featuring
performances by six bands.
Featured at the event are the Varsity, Collegiate
and University concert bands, which will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The second half of the concert will take place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday,
with the Purdue Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Alumni Band performing.
The concert is an opportunity for the public to
hear the bands play, and performers say it is a wonderful chance for
them to show the community their talents.
"It's really cool that we finally get to play on
stage in Elliott because we never get to play there," said Erin Linnihan,
a senior in the School of Liberal Arts and trumpet player for the Collegiate
Band.
This also marks the final chance for seniors such
as Linnihan to perform as Purdue students. "It's going to be sad, but
it's nice to pull it all to a close. It's been a great experience,"
she said.
Although the concert marks the end of careers at
Purdue for some, it is a return of sorts for others.
Jon Anderson graduated from Purdue in 1970 with
a degree in psychology and now lives in Wilmette, Ill., but every other
year he's also a trombone player for the Alumni Band. This is the first
year the band will perform as part of a concert with the collegiate
bands in Elliott Hall of Music.
Anderson isn't concerned about any competition
that may be generated between the collegiate players and their older
counterparts.
"It's kind of like the difference in young and
old tennis players — we make up in experience what we have lost
in speed, " Anderson joked, adding "I play regularly, as do many other
alumni, so we keep our skills up." Anderson is one of 50 alumni expected
to perform this weekend.
Composer James Swearingen will also be present.
Swearingen has penned many pieces of music for college and high school
bands. He will be guest conducting several of his works at both Saturday
and Sunday shows.
Swearingen is the first in what planners hope will
be a tradition of inviting guest composers to subsequent showcases.
"It's something we intend to repeat," said Kathy
Matter, public relations director for Purdue Bands.
Purdue Bands Showcase takes place 8 p.m. Saturday
and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Elliott Hall of Music. Both concerts are
free.
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