SVSU Concert Band to perform; Bridgeport native among the musicians

2017 Apr 11

The Saginaw Valley State University Concert Band will perform in concert Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. This event is free and open to the public.

The SVSU Concert Band is an ensemble consisting of 44 students under the direction of Norman Wika, SVSU assistant professor of music. Featured instruments include the clarinet, trumpet, euphonium and trombone, among others.

Student Shane Billingsley, who is a major in the Music Education program, is among the student musicians. Billingsley is a native of Bridgeport.

The band will perform various musical pieces including "Symphony no. 1, Lord of the Rings - Hobbits" by composer Johan De Meij, "Halo Theme" by Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, and "English Folk Song Suite" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Wika directs the Cardinal Marching Band and conducts the Wind Ensemble and Concert Bands along with teaching courses within the music department. Wika is also an active trombone player, giving recitals and appearing with ensembles such as the Tulsa Symphony and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra.

For more information on this concert or the many other events hosted by SVSU's music department, visit svsu.edu/music.