CWU Music to host two events later this month

The Central Washington University Department of Music will host two signature concerts later this month in the McIntyre Music Building.

First up is the CWU Symphonic Band and Concert Band on Thursday, November 20, at 7 p.m. in the Hertz Concert Hall. Admission is free and members of the CWU and Ellensburg communities are invited to attend.

The CWU Concert Band, under the direction of CWU Band Lecturer Kyle Edwards, will open the evening with a program that bridges traditional and contemporary wind band repertoire, including works by John Philip Sousa, Nicole Piunno, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Brian Balmages, and David Biedenbender.

The second half of the program will feature the CWU Symphonic Band, conducted by Director of Bands Dr. T. André Feagin. Their performance includes works by Dana Wilson, Frank Erickson, Paul Creston, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, concluding with Alfred Reed’s masterwork Praise Jerusalem!

The second major event coming soon to the Ellensburg campus is the CWU Wind Ensemble’s fall concert, scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday, November 23.

Under the direction of Dr. Feagin, the Wind Ensemble will present a vibrant program featuring works by John Philip Sousa, Yasuhide Ito, Michael Gandolfi, and Norman Dello Joio. A highlight of the concert will be a special collaboration with members of CWU’s distinguished brass faculty in a performance of Rayburn Wright’s Shaker Suite. Featured artists include:

• John Harbaugh, trumpet
• Dr. Keith Karns, trumpet
• Dr. Jeff Snedeker, horn
• Dr. John Neurohr, trombone
• Dr. David McClemore, tuba

This collaboration showcases the exceptional talent and artistry within the CWU Department of Music. The program will also feature graduate student conductor Eric Mills leading a performance of Tower Music by Alan Hovhaness.

The Central Washington University Wind Ensemble is the university’s flagship wind band and has built a four-decade legacy of performance excellence. The ensemble has been featured at state, regional, national, and international conferences. Recent accolades include:

• 2022 CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference (USA)
• 2024 World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) International Conference in Gwangju, South Korea
• 2026 CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference (invited)

Comprised of elite brass, percussion, string, and woodwind musicians from the CWU Department of Music, the Wind Ensemble is dedicated to artistic excellence, community building, and transformative collaboration. The group’s performances are known for their musical depth, polish, and intentionality.

If you would like to learn more about either the November 20 or November 23 events at the McIntyre Music Building, email Dr. Feagin at TAndre.Feagin@cwu.edu or call 509-963-1916.