Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - The Northwest College Choir and Wind Band perform in a shared concert Monday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Nelson Performing Arts Auditorium.
Under the direction of Jan Kliewer, the NWC College Choir reprises several pieces it performed at the October Choral Sampler, including “Laudate Dominum” featuring soprano soloist Kasi Hessling of Pavillion. Since the choir has only three concert opportunities to showcase their semester-long repertoire, they continue to polish what they’ve previously performed while adding new and more challenging works. They’ll also serve up a preview of what’s planned for the annual Vespers concert in December.
NWC welcomes Director of Bands Brad Howey who brings a diverse background of vocal and instrumental education and experience to the Music Department. Howey’s objective this year is to touch on college outcomes in a variety of ways, including teaching his students how to analyze the music they’re performing. “This is why we’re so excited to have him on the faculty,” Kliewer said. “He brings new ideas, challenges and ways of looking at things as well as great opportunities to see them.”
Following a brief intermission, the Wind Band and College Choir join voices and instruments for Russian composer Pavel Chesnokov’s “Salvation is Created.” The communion hymn is based on a Kievan synodal chant melody and Psalm 74. Midway through the piece, several band members will perform their personal response to the music through individual and group improvisation.
Next on the program, the band performs “Buffalo Jump Ritual,” a composition by University of Idaho faculty member and composer Dan Bukvich. Interpreting the musical experience from the buffalo’s perspective, NWC graphic arts instructor Morgan Tyree provides an artistic presentation with a backdrop of his photographs and video.
The band closes the concert with a medley of movie themes from “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Star Trek,” “Back to the Future” and “The Rocketeer.”
Admission to the concert is free.