Delaware Winds Ensemble to perform in Lewes April 14
Delaware Winds will perform its spring concert program, “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue,” at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 14, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes.
The Cape Wind Ensemble, the select band under the direction of Chris Burkhart, Cape High band director, will perform a prelude concert beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Cape Wind Ensemble performs at clinics and festivals in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as in the Cape Henlopen community.
Delaware Winds is the First State’s only semiprofessional wind ensemble. The group includes band directors, freelance musicians and college music students who reside throughout the state. The mission of Delaware Winds is to perform the finest musical literature available for wind band, and the group is intentional in programing works by underrepresented voices in the wind band medium.
Delaware Winds is led by Michael D. Russo, music director and conductor, who was a music instructor in New Jersey communities for 34 years.
As a performer, Russo has been a member of the trumpet sections of the New Jersey Wind Symphony and Delaware Winds. He is a founding member of the Imperial Brass Quintet, and he has performed throughout the United States as well as in China, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic.
In addition to Russo, Delaware Winds welcomes three guest conductors from within the ensemble: Steven Kieley, bass clarinetist and music director of the Rehoboth Concert Band; Scott Litzenberg, percussionist and retired music educator; and Danielle Jones, trombonist and performing arts educator at Woodbridge High School.
The concert will conclude with its inaugural side-by-side experience featuring selected band students from area high schools in Delaware. The students are director approved and meet the criteria of personal musicianship, high levels of commitment and musical aptitude. The experience is an extraordinary opportunity for young instrumentalists to perform alongside Delaware Winds members. The students will share the stage and develop musical relationships with Delaware Winds members as they rehearse and perform “Baba Yetu” by Christopher Tin, arranged by Matt Conaway, from the video game Civilization IV.
Delaware Winds has embarked on a capital fundraising campaign this year with the goal of reaching $10,000, and every gift helps. To make a tax-deductible donation, go to degives.org/orgs/delaware-winds.
Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens and military, and free for students and children. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, go to facebook.com/delawarewinds. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
For more information, find Delaware Winds on Facebook and Instagram or email delawarewinds@gmail.com.
