Northwestern College’s Symphonic Band will soon embark on its concert tour and mission trip to Italy March 1 to 11. The tour will include performances in Salerno, Rome, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Prato and Padova. The 48-member ensemble will also have opportunity to visit sites of historical, spiritual and cultural significance, such as the Pompeii ruins, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Accademia Gallery in Florence, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
“We are honored to share music throughout the beautiful country of Italy, and we feel privileged to experience and take part in Italian culture and traditions,” says Dr. Angela Carlson, conductor of the Symphonic Band. “Our prayer is that the good news of Jesus Christ would be made known and that we all would be enriched by our performances offered for the glory of God.”
Following the tour, the Symphonic Band will perform a home concert in Christ Chapel on Friday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The concert will feature highlights from the band’s tour repertoire, including traditional hymns and works by celebrated American composers, such as an excerpt from Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, “Candide,” and Frank Ticheli’s “Vesuvius,” a dance representing the final days of Pompeii. Other selections include an arrangement of Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” and repertoire from Russian, Mexican and English classical composers.
