Mat-Su Concert Band presents: "Symphonic Collage"

PALMER - This Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the Mat-Su Concert Band (MSCB) will perform their mid-winter concert titled, “Symphonic Collage” at the Glenn Massay Theater.

In hopes to entertain and raise the spirits of the audience, MSCB’s conductor, Gleo Huyck selected pieces to “melt away your winter blues.”

“We hope all of our music is uplifting of course,” Huyck says.

Huyck handpicked an arrangement of timeless melodies from the past and plenty of modern masterpieces. The sources range from a classic Russian march, “Old Comrades March” to contemporary sounds from the film, “Mary Poppins” and – modern composer, Julie Giroux’s “Wiften Wed” symphony. Other pieces from widely recognized composers such as Gustav Holst, Malcolm Arnold, Alfred Reed and John Philip Sousa also fill the “Symphonic Collage.” That’s to name a few. The performance has plenty of compositions from plenty of popular composers.

Hyuck always considers 3 angles for every concert’s theme: the audience, the band and himself. He said that he tries to select music that appeals everyone involved in the musical journey.

“Because all of us have to work on it, of course, and the audience has to listen to it, soI try to pick some music that the audience and the band is familiar with.But I also try to throw in some newer compositions to help educate all of us.”

With 70 band members and a professional, illustrious venue to play at in the Massay, Huyck is elated to give the audience an enriching experience at the Glenn Massay Theater; a considerable upgrade from their previous years performing at Teeland Middle School’s cafeteria.

“Oh, it’s a beautiful theatre," he said. "We’re just really ecstatic that we have a place like that to perform.”

This is Huyck’s ninth year conducting for MSCB. He seems to keep a warm relationship with his band.

“I love conducting this band," he said. "I love the people in it. We have some really fine musicians from the Valley and a few that come out from Anchorage that play with us. They’re just great people to work with.”

The Mat-Su Concert Band will perform 8 pieces, spanning 62 minutes, with no intermission. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for students and children under 5 are free.