The Houghton Symphonic Winds is a sixty-member wind ensemble which seeks to expose its students and its audiences to the highest quality music written for wind and percussion instruments. Comprised of approximately 60% music majors and 40 % non-majors, this outstanding ensemble performs four on-campus concerts per year in addition to regular run-out performances throughout Western and Central New York and Northern Pennsylvania. The ensemble also tours regularly throughout the East and Midwest.

In 2002, the Symphonic Winds initiated an ambitious composer commissioning program which is resulting in annual premiere performances of new works for wind band by significant American composers. To date, composers involved in this impressive project have included Stephen Shewan, Mark Hijleh, Russell Peterson, Joshua Mills, and Lowell Liebermann.

The Symphonic Winds are also involved in an ongoing recording project with their next full length CD due to be issued in 2007.

Nationally renowned guest conductors and performing artists are featured annually with the ensemble. In recent years, these have included composer/conductors Lowell Liebermann, Stephen Shewan, Gregory Rudgers and Mark Hijleh, as well as performing artists Nina Assimakopoulos (flutist), Marc Wooldridge (marimba), Paul DeBoer (trumpet), Shirley Close (soprano), and Harry Watters, trombonist with the U.S. Army Brass Quintet. In addition, Alfred Fabrizio will be featured as guest conductor on the fall concert as the Symphonic Winds perform the world premiere of his “Were You There.” The winter and spring concerts will include premieres of “Espana” by Robert Potterton, “A Higher Ground Fanfare” by Carl Irwin, and guest alto saxophone soloist, Chisato Eda.

Houghton College Symphonic Winds Commissioning Project

In 2002, the Houghton College Symphonic Winds inaugurated an ambitious ongoing composer commissioning program. The goal of the project is to commission and premiere one new work for wind ensemble/wind band each year. This impressive project has resulted in the following new works:

2003 - Suite for Marice by Stephen Shewan
(published by Jubal Press)

2004 - A Quickening Ray by Mark Hijleh
(based upon the Charles Wesley hymn “And Can It Be”)

2005 - The Life of King David: Concerto for Marimba and Concert Band by Russell Peterson (premiere performance featured guest marimba soloist, Marc Wooldridge)

2006 - Variations on a Theme of Schubert, Op. 92 by Lowell Liebermann
(published by Theodore Presser)

2007- Pax Vobis by Joshua Mills (Winner of the Houghton College Symphonic Winds Composition Contest)

CMENC Student Chapter 150

The Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College boasts one of the most active chapters of Collegiate Music Educators National Conference (CMENC) of any higher education institution in the country. The purpose of CMENC is to afford students an opportunity for professional orientation, development and involvement while still in school, and to enable students to gain an understanding of:

• the philosophy and function of the music education profession;
• the professional interests of members involved in the local, state, division, and national levels;
• the music industry’s role in support of music education;
• the knowledge and practices of the professional music educator as facilitated through chapter activity.

Annual activities at Houghton sponsored and organized by CMENC include:

• “Welcome” Party for all new and returning music education students held the first weekend of the fall semester;
• establishment of a mentoring program to assist first year students;
• special seminar sessions with guest speakers on timely topics;
• establishment of a private lesson program in local schools taught by our student membership;
• road trips to concerts and performances in Buffalo and Rochester;
• design and sale of Greatbatch School of Music T-shirts and sweatshirts;
• special campus-wide events including the annual CMENC Recital and Christmas in the Atrium;
• annual attendance at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester;
• weekly Bible studies; and
• Game Nights for the membership.

Membership is open to all undergraduate and graduate music education members and includes subscription to three professional music education magazines.

For additional information, contact CMENC faculty advisor, Gary Stith.

Sym Winds News

Houghton to Host MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES WEEKEND

The Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College will be hosting our annual Music Opportunities Weekend on November 2-3, 2007 . Prospective students will be afforded the opportunity to enjoy the experience of being a music major at the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College by attending music classes, open rehearsals and prospective student information forums, meeting other music majors, eating meals in our beautiful Campus Center, attending a student Chapel service, and staying overnight in a college dormitory with another music major.

In addition, wind and percussion students will be invited to rehearse with the Houghton College Symphonic Winds under the baton of Professor Gary Stith during their Friday afternoon rehearsal, and then join the ensemble that evening on one piece during their Fall Concert program to be held on the stage of our recently remodeled Wesley Chapel. This will be a very unique opportunity students will cherish for many years to come!

To register, contact Mrs. Connie VanSlyke in the music department office during regular business hours at (585) 567-9400.

SYMPHONIC WINDS To Share Concert Program with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall

On Saturday, November 10, the Houghton College Symphonic Winds will share a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo. “Houghton Community Night” will begin at 7:15 PM with the Symphonic Winds portion of the program in the Mary Seaton Room. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra program will follow at 8:00 PM across the lobby in the main concert hall and will feature the recently finished version of the Schubert “Unfinished” Symphony. Discounted tickets will be made available to those from the Houghton community for the entire evening concert. For more details, call the Symphonic Winds office at (585) 567-9411.