The University Symphony Orchestra played their first concert of the 2016-17 school year Oct. 16 at Festival Concert Hall.
The orchestra is made up of a mix of Minnesota State University-Moorhead students, North Dakota State University students and various community members.
The group varies in age and experience, some members having played for over 20 years while some have played for less than 10.
First chair violin Carissa Eikom has played her instrument for 15 years, and has been a member of the University Orchestra for four. Eikom is a student at NDSU and is working toward a degree in music education.
Community member and NDSU alumni Jonathan Braski has played violin for 20 years and has been with the NDSU orchestra for 11 years. When asked about his hopes for this concert, he was quoted as hoping to “start off with a bang.”
The opening number was a composition by Gioachino Rossini, called “Overture to Italians in Algeria.”
After the conclusion of this piece, conductor Dr. Warren Olfert spoke a few words introducing the next pieces as well as welcoming the audience.
The second song was “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen” by Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian composer and pianist. The song was originally a piano work that was adapted for an orchestra.
As this song came to an end, the wind players were dismissed and the string instruments remained on stage to end the concert with movements I, IV and V from “Serenada” by Antonin Dvořák.
After the Symphony Orchestra concert ended, there was a brief intermission and the Wind Symphony took the stage in the unofficial beginning to their national tour.
Their opening number was “Masque” by Kenneth Hesketh, a British composer.
The next piece was written as a tribute to Anne Steiner, who passed away suddenly in 1996. Timothy Mahr composed “Sol Solator” meaning “the sun, the comforter.”
“Concerto for Trombone” by Launy Drøndahl (arr. Poul Ivan MØller, I.) Moderato Assai, Ma Molto, Maestro came next with a solo by Benjamin Court on the trombone.
Next was “Folk Songs for Band,” including Suite Number 3 entailing I, Droylsden Wakes, II, Lord Bateman, III and Three Ships and Lisbon, by David Stanhope followed by “Bennet’s Triumphal” by M.H. Ribble.
To round out the afternoon, the Wind Symphony played “Bohemian Revelry I. Polka, II. Furiant, III. Sousedská, and IV. Skočná” by Adam Gorb.
The Wind Symphony’s annual tour officially starts Oct. 27.