The Wind Symphony, Brigham Young University's premier concert band ensemble will perform Wednesday (March 26) at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.
Guest conductor Janis Purins and flute soloist Margaret Bennett will join conductor David Blackinton and the 48-member Wind Symphony.
Tickets at $9 for the general public or $3 off with a BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or www.byu.edu/hfac.
While touring Finland, Russia and the Baltic States, including Latvia in 1999, Blackinton and the BYU Wind Symphony were introduced to Purins, the conductor of the Wind Orchestra Riga in Latvia.
After cultivating a friendship through their love of music and the opportunity Blackinton took to be a guest conductor of the Wind Orchestra Riga Purins has been invited to conduct the BYU Wind Symphony.
The Wind Symphony will present three compositions by Latvian composers including a march, a Latvian folk song and a contemporary piece, "Traffic Circle."
Born and raised in Latvia, Purins studied trumpet performance at the Latvia Music Academy with Professor Vasily Sinaisky. He is currently the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Wind Orchestra Riga and has toured throughout Europe.
The remainder of the concert will feature pieces that the Wind Symphony will perform this spring in Hong Kong, China and Mongolia, including "Concertino" by Cecile Chaminade featuring flute soloist Margaret Bennett.
Bennett, a sophomore majoring in flute performance, has soloed with the Utah Symphony in their annual Salute to Youth concert, was a winner of the National Flute Association Materclass Competition in 2001, placed 2nd in the Music Teacher's National Association High School Woodwind competition and has won the Utah Flute Association Concerto Competition. She won the BYU Concerto Competition last year as a freshman and currently studies with BYU faculty member April Clayton.
Writer: Elizabeth B. Jensen
