Mat-Su Concert Band to perform ‘Band Classics’ at Glenn Massay

PALMER — The Mat-Su Concert Band will perform its annual winter concert Saturday at the Glenn Massay Theater. This year’s theme is called “Band Classics” and will highlight notable pieces played by concert bands.

“We’re playing the best music ever written,” Drewcilla Holifield, principle clarinetist and MSCB board member said.

Pieces to performed include music from “West Side Story,” “First Suite in E-flat for Military Band,” “Manhattan for Trumpet” by Philip Sparke, and “Finale to Symphony No. 3, Organ.”

Holifield said that there will be special guest musician performing Saturday night. Will Rabun is set to play a song commissioned by the US Army Band called Manhattan.

“It’s really special to have someone from our local Army Band to be able to perform this piece. It is not easy at all. It’s very difficult and he performs it so flawlessly,” “Holifield said.

Manhattan was first performed at the Carnegie Hall Nov. 2003, according to Holifield. She said that it was written for Woodrow English, whom she said is considered “one of the best trumpet players in the United States.”

Holifield said the draw of this particular song is that it demonstrates both the lyrical and the technical abilities of the trumpet player. She said that it it’s a two movement piece.

“So that one piece just sounds nice and flowy and the other piece you’re like, ‘wow, that’s an amazing trumpet player.’”

Manhattan’s theme centers on the bustling city of New York City. Holifield described it as a “whirlwind trip to New York summed up through music.”

“I just really enjoy that piece,” Holifield said.

Holifield noted that another song to look forward to is the Finale to Symphony No 3 for organs. She said that the piano will be set up on the organ setting and there will be speakers across the back of the stage as well as “piping it out” to the audience.

“It’s going to be very loud and very dramatic,” Holifield said.

In honor of American composer Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday, the MSCB will perform music from the classic musical West Side Story, according to Holifield.

“He was one of the best composer/conductors on Broadway for a long time,” Holifield said.

Holifield said that this show is designed to “educate the public” on concert band music. She said that band music hasn’t become popular until the last 50 to 70 years because everything was written for orchestras. She said that as a concert band, they use only wind instruments with no string instruments.

“So to perform music that was written just for bands isn’t very common,” Holifield said.

She said that the MSCB started rehearsing in early January. She said this is one of the four concerts they do per year.

“This is a very technical concert,” Holifield said.

Conducted by Gleo Huyck, the Band Classic concert begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Glenn Massay Theater. General admission is $15 and it’s $7 for students. For tickets and more information, see glennmassaytheater.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com