Wind Symphony and Symphony Band, directed by Kevin Sedatole and John Madden respectively, will each perform a solo concerto written by highly respected composer Frank Ticheli. Faculty artists will join the bands as soloists: Guy Yehuda will perform “Concerto for Clarinet” with Wind Symphony on March 24, and Joseph Lulloff will perform “Concerto for Saxophone” with Symphony Band on March 22. See links below for tickets.

Sedatole, director of bands, approached Guy Yehuda, associate professor of clarinet at MSU, last year about performing Ticheli’s “Concerto for Clarinet” with the Wind Symphony, the College of Music’s top band.

“This concerto is written in tribute to George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein,” explains Sedatole. “Each movement has unique qualities attributed to each composer.” Wind Symphony will also perform Ernst Toch’s “Spiel,” a piece written for military band in 1926; Ingolf Dahl’s “Sinfonietta,” a masterwork in the band repertoire; and Alberto Ginastera’s rousing “Danza Final” will close the concert.

Ticheli’s music spans orchestra, band and chamber music genres from classical to electronic. Several of his works for band are considered standards in the repertoire. He has received widespread recognition for his composing, conducting and overall musical footprint.

His “Concerto for Saxophone” takes on a similar character to that of his “Concerto for Clarinet” — each movement representing a specific member of a group. In the case of the saxophone concerto, the category is birds and the movements are Falcon Fantasy, Silver Swan and Black Raven. MSU Professor of Saxophone Joseph Lulloff will be soloist with the MSU Symphony Band for the performance of “Concerto for Saxophone” under the direction of Madden, associate director of bands. Madden will also conduct the famous “Lincolnshire Posy” by Percy Grainger.

Tickets and Information:

• Tuesday, March 22- MSU Symphony Band at 7:30 p.m. in Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall
• Thursday, March 24- MSU Wind Symphony at 7:30 p.m. in Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall

Admission to both performances is free for students with ID and anyone under the age of 18. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (age 60 and older), and can be purchased online, at the College of Music box office by calling (517) 353-5340, in person (333 W. Circle Drive, East Lansing), or at the door at Wharton Center.