Submitted photo Members of the wind ensemble practicing in the Maytum Rehearsal Hall on campus.

Fredonia Wind Ensemble returns to live performances

Music composed by Leonard Bernstein for “West Side Story” along with “Lincolnshire Posy,” considered the masterwork for wind band by Percy Grainger, will highlight the State University of New York at Fredonia Wind Ensemble’s concert on Saturday at 8 p.m., in King Concert Hall.

It will be the ensemble’s first public concert since March 2, 2019.

The 41-student ensemble, under the baton of Director of Bands Paula Holcomb, will open the 2021-2022 season with Gabrieli’s “Canzon Duodecimi Toni,” arranged by Fredonia student Dalian Bryan, who is pursuing a graduate degree in Music Theory-Composition.

Grainger’s “Shepherd’s Hey” will be conducted by student Yixiong Xia, who is studying conducting at Fredonia after completing his M.M. in Music Education as part of the International Optional Training Program. Mr. Xia, who is from China, studied under Dr. Lee Tian Tee at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music as an undergraduate.

“Lincolnshire Posy,” Grainger’s groundbreaking work in six movements, will follow.

A performance of “Symphonic Dances” from “West Side Story,” a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” arranged by Paul Lavender, will conclude the concert.

Audience participation will be involved in the concert, which is free and open to the public and will be held during Fredonia’s celebration of Homecoming