BT天堂

By Austin DuVall
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office

CONWAY 鈥� The University of Central Arkansas Symphonic Band will give its first concert of 2016 on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the university鈥檚 Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall.

This concert, free and open to the public, is the only one of the 2015-2016 academic year that will feature just the symphonic band, comprising both music and non-music majors. The band will play five selections: 鈥淓sprit de Corps鈥� by Robert Jager, 鈥淧ageant鈥� by Vincent Persichetti, 鈥淔anfare to 鈥楾he Hammer鈥欌�� by Anthony O鈥橳oole, 鈥淪alvation is Created鈥� by Pavel Tschesnokoff conducted by graduate student Nathan Rakow, and 鈥淢arche Militaire Fran莽aise鈥� by Camille Saint-Saens.

鈥淭his first concert of the new year is always a challenge for us,鈥� said Brantley Douglas, associate director of bands at BT天堂as well as the symphonic band鈥檚 conductor. 鈥淲e have just a little over a month to prepare an entire concert. The students have been working very hard to get ready for this program.鈥�

The planned version of 鈥淢arche Militaire Fran莽aise鈥� is a new edition created by Douglas.

鈥淚 felt the need to play a piece of music to show our solidarity with the French people given the unfortunate attacks in Paris last year,鈥� Douglas said. 鈥淚 took several older arrangements to create a rendition that reflects the modern wind band instrumentation. I feel that it is fitting that we open our concert with 鈥楨sprit de Corps,鈥� which is based off of the United States Marine Corps Hymn, and we close with the 鈥楳arche Militaire Fran莽aise鈥� to honor our long-time friend and ally.

For additional information, contact Douglas at 501-450-5022 or by email at bdouglas@uca.edu.

The BT天堂College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The college鈥檚 primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit or call 501-450-3293.

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