Concert to feature spectacular works of John Philip Sousa

By Alec Jennings
University News Service
April 9, 2010

The Texas State University-San Marcos Wind Ensemble, along with internationally recognized conductor Keith Brion, will present A Sousa Spectacular, May 1 at 8 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

Brion will conduct the band in a historically accurate representation of a Sousa-style concert which will feature soloists, classics and marches. Faculty soloists will include Keith Winking, cornet, and Brigitte Bellini, soprano.

Brion, music director of his own New Sousa Band, has appeared as a frequent guest conductor with many of America's major symphony orchestras and professional bands. He has been a frequent guest conductor of professional bands including the Stockholm Symphonic Wind Orchestra, New York City's Goldman Band, the California Wind Orchestra, and the Allentown Band. He has also appeared with the U.S. Marine Corps Band, the Army Field Band, the Army Band, the Coast Guard Band and the U.S. Army Band of Europe in Heidelberg, Germany as well as guest appearances with numerous university and school bands across the country.

Brion has presented Sousa revival concerts with symphony orchestras throughout the country including the Boston Pops, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the St. Louis, Dallas and Milwaukee symphonies. His overseas orchestral engagements have included the London Concert Orchestra and the Gothenburg Symphony. As former director of bands at Yale University, Brion led the Yale Band in concerts at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and in an all-Ives program at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. Prior to his coming to Yale, he was the founder and music director of the North Jersey Wind Symphony and a long-time band educator and music supervisor in New Jersey public schools.

He has furthermore published many editions for band and is currently recording the complete wind music of John Philip Sousa for Naxos records with London's Royal Artillery Band.

Tickets are currently available through the School of Music office and online at www.txstate.edu/bands/news/sousa-spectacular-.html. Ticket prices are $20 for the general public, $15 for Texas State students, faculty and staff and $10 for groups of 10 or more. For more information, please visit the school of music Website, or call (512) 245-3399.