UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State School of Music and College of Arts and Architecture invite audiences to the Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s final performance of the semester at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Recital Hall. Conducted by Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, with graduate assistant conductor Mary Capilitan-Pulanco, the program offers a compelling exploration of music shaped by and responding to oppressive governmental regimes, balanced with moments of satire, reflection, and innovation.
The concert opens with Symphony No. 3 “Slavyanskaya” by Boris Kozhevnikov, immersing listeners in the bold, richly textured style emblematic of mid-20th-century Russian state influence. This sense of grandeur and nationalism sets the stage for a program that examines how music can both reflect and critique political systems.
Continuing this theme, "MARCH!" by Jennifer Jolley draws inspiration from the stylized musical language of North Korea. While it begins with a similarly rigid and ceremonial character, the work gradually reveals itself as a satire, ultimately arriving at a more introspective and questioning conclusion that challenges the very structures it evokes.
In contrast, the ensemble will present the world premiere of a new concerto by saxophone professor David Stambler. "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble," performed by the composer as soloist, features three distinct movements that showcase a wide range of styles while highlighting the expressive and virtuosic capabilities of the saxophone.
The program concludes with "Dance of the Jesters (Dance of the Buffoons)" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, returning to Russian musical roots with a lively and colorful work inspired by folk traditions.