DSC Symphony Band to Make 2009-10 Debut with Concert Oct. 1

 The Dixie State College Symphony Band will makes its 2009-10 season debut with its annual Fall Concert on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m., in the Dolores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on the DSC campus.

The 78-piece symphony band, under the direction of Gary Caldwell, will perform five stirring compositions, beginning the John Zdechlik spirited and festive piece entitled “Celebrations,” followed by the Clifton Williams’ “Symphonic Dance #3 – Fiesta,” which is described as an invigorating and intense piece of music with numerous mood and style changes. The band will also perform Bach’s “Fantasia in G,” which was originally written for the organ. The Bach piece, arranged for band by Richard Franko Goldman, with its contrapuntal style, lends itself beautifully to the modern concert band.

In addition, the symphony band will perform Paul Hindemith’s “March from Symphonic Metamorphosis,” arranged by Keith Wilson, and “Splashes of Gold,” composed by James L. Hosay, will serve as the concert’s grand finale.

Entering his 31st year as Director of Bands at Dixie State, Caldwell has seen many changes occur to the music program at DSC, most notably the addition of a four-year music degree, which formally began classwork this semester. The addition of the four-year degree helped lead to a increase of performers in the symphony band this year.

“This year’s band has 78 players in it, compared to 64 players last year,” Caldwell said. “Even though we are performing earlier in the year than usual, the band is prepared and refined and ready to perform.”

The DSC Symphony Band will perform twice this semester, including the ensemble’s annual Christmas concert Dec. 1. The Symphony Band will also perform a pair of concerts during the spring semester on Feb. 23, and April 20.

All remaining concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Eccles Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. General admission tickets for each concert will be available at the door for $5 for adults and $1 for DSC students and faculty and staff with current ID.

For the second-straight season, Dixie State is offering a DSC Fine Arts Season Pass (excluding dance), giving patrons access to all DSC theatre productions, along with all instrumental and vocal concerts, for the 2009-10 season. The DSC Fine Arts Season Pass is available for $99 per patron, an $85 savings over the regular box office single-event ticket price. In addition, a season Music-Only pass may be purchased for $85, a savings of $65 over the regular box office single-event ticket price.

For tickets and further information, please call 435-652-7800 or visit the central campus ticket office at the DSC Avenna Center. Patrons may also purchase tickets prior to each evening’s performance at the Eccles Fine Arts Center Box Office or online at “tickets.dixie.edu.”