Baylor Wind Ensemble's Midwest Tour Concert

Baylor University's Wind Ensemble has been invited to perform at the 76^th Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL, at 11:15 a.m., December 22.

The Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. J. Eric Wilson, director of bands and professor of ensembles and conducting, will perform in the Skyline Ballroom, room 375AB at McCormick Place West as the only invited university ensemble. Their performance will conclude the four-day conference.

"It's not only an honor to be invited to such an internationally-renowned conference, but to be the last ensemble to perform is an intentional and strategic choice by the organizers. They want to make the last concert represent the highest quality the convention has to offer, and frankly, see it as an incentive for attendees to stay to the end of the conference," said Wilson.

Prior to The Midwest Clinic Concert, the Wind Ensemble will perform three concerts in different states starting in Broken Arrow, OK, at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. The Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center is the cornerstone of the arts district in downtown Broken Arrow and hosts Broken Arrow Public Schools' fine arts programs and performances, as well as award-winning Broadway shows and concerts.

"It's a first-class facility and beautiful venue," said Wilson. "We will have an opportunity to perform for area schools which represent some of the great band programs in the country. So, there's a recruiting component to this appearance, as well."

The second tour stop will be in St. Louis, MO, at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, with the tour wrapping up in Aurora, IL, with a performance at West Aurora High School.

In addition to a recruitment purpose and opportunities to perform challenging music at a very high level, Wilson says the tour provides a communal and relational aspect for the students.

"These students will spend up to six hours on a bus each day where they can focus on cultivating friendships and performing concerts without worrying about finals and other stresses," said Wilson. "They play so incredibly well, and yes, we get to carry the Baylor name and the excellence the School of Music offers. We also benefit by fine tuning our music so by the time we play in Chicago, we will perform at our very best."

This tour will include another special element for the students--joining them will be one of the world's finest clarinetists, Julian Bliss, who will be featured during each concert.

"Being able to travel with a world class musician like Julian is simply incredible," said Wilson. "He not only will perform with the students on stage but he'll interact with them throughout the tour. He'll also have opportunities to share personal stories about his experiences as a world-traveled artist who's been in the business for over 20 years."

The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference offers guests interested in music education an array of clinics and exhibits, as well as access to music and teaching icons. The conference will also focus on industry trends and future topics in business and music education. With more than 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 40 countries, The Midwest Clinic offers music educators and musicians alike an unmatched networking opportunity.

"This is a highly-visible national and international event that represents a high level of prestige. The fact that we perform along the way helps unify the ensemble as our relationships deepen throughout the tour," Wilson said. "When you have the chance to play your performance more than once, you hear the music start locking in at an elite level. By the time we get to Chicago it will be an extraordinary performance that we hope people, including us, will remember for the rest of their lives."

You're Invited!

Before they embark on their tour to The Midwest Clinic, the Wind Ensemble will perform the entire program for the first time tonight, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Concert Hall. This concert is free and open to the public.

FLUTE/PICCOLO
Audrey Cascarelli, Music Education, Tomball, TX
Mary Chamoun, Performance, Fergus Falls, MN
Abigail Garner, Performance, Cedar Park, TX
*Benjamin Gerrard, Conducting, Orlando, FL
Alison Holden, Music Education, Gatesville, TX
*Amy Mora, Performance, Allen, TX
Sebastian Penso, Performance, Richmond, TX
*Berta Teodora, Performance, Clarksville, TN

OBOE
Faustina Beltran, Performance, Leander, TX
Myles Meader, Performance, Longview, TX
*Nicolas Nemitz Moura, Performance, Santo Andre, Brazil
Tori Stone, Music Education, Mont Belvieu, TX

BASSOON
Jacob Buentello, Finance, Sugar Land, TX
*Tristen Collinsworth, Performance, Tracy, CA
Anders Johnson, Music Education, Loveland, CO
*Derek Marcum, Performance, Houston, TX

CLARINET
*Mina Ahn, Performance, Gunpo, South Korea
*Laura Angelone, Performance, Oyster Bay, NY
Mauricio Castillo, Performance, Austin, TX
Marco Cornel, Music Education, Austin, TX
Nathan Denman, Music Education, Dallas, TX
Sarah Fairman, Performance, Brenham, TX
Dawson Huynh, Biochemistry, Performance, Keller, TX
Nicole Smurawa, Biomedical Engineering, Performance, McKinney, TX
Ethan Staples, Music Education, Carrollton, TX
Daysha Watts, Statistical Science, Performance, Pearland, TX
Tierson Williams, Neuroscience, Performance, Brenham, TX

SAXOPHONE
*Cole Allex, Performance, Harlingen, TX
Jacob Cunningham, Biology, Performance, Bridge City, TX
Chris Ghaffar, Performance, Plano, TX
*Mitch Gilly, Composition, Leander, TX
Manfredo Guerra, Performance, Roma, TX
*Zachary Lancaster, Music Education, Abilene, TX
Paige Nielsen, Music Education, Fulshear, TX
Jackson Sandre, Music Education, Round Rock, TX

TRUMPET
Jacob Lira, Music Education, Flower Mound, TX
Alison Marseglia, Performance, Pawcatuck, CT
Mario Mojica, Performance, Rockwall, TX
Johniel Najera, Music Education, Flower Mound, TX
Ryan Neff, Music Education, Katy, TX
Joel Reaves, Music Education, McKinney, TX
Camden Smith, Music Education, Lubbock, TX
Mason Stokes, Performance, Wylie, TX
Eloy Trevino, Music Education, Carrollton, TX
Alan Wemhoff, Performance, Frisco, TX

FRENCH HORN
*Craig Adams, Conducting, San Antonio, TX
McKenna Babcock, Music Education, Lubbock, TX
Alli Bellows, Music Education, Austin, TX
Everett Early, Education, Allen, TX
*Lucas Hamilton, Performance, Frisco, TX
Javier Hernandez, Music Education, Laredo, TX
Matthew Johnson, Finance, Biochemistry, Mansfield, TX
Addison Jones, Performance, Colorado Springs, CO
Blake Moreland, Performance, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Josiah Stucki, Music Education, Columbus, OH

TROMBONE
Gannon Allen, Performance, League City, TX
Mark Bennett, Performance, Leander, TX
Max Davis, Music Education, Highland Village, TX
Grant Hayes, Music Education, Sachse, TX
Joshua Ho, Performance, Sugar Land, TX
*Jacob Roland, Performance, Tupelo, MS
Demetri Tyra, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Tomball, TX
Conor Wilson, Performance, El Paso, TX

EUPHONIUM
Preston Arnold, Music Education, Bridge City, TX
Hunter Bellows, Music Education, Austin, TX
Matthew Davis, Music Education, McKinney, TX
Clayton Mills, Music Education, Midlothian, TX

TUBA
*Isaiah Buzdygon, Performance, Quakertown, PA
Zack Grahn, Music Education, Houston, TX

PERCUSSION
Connor Ainsworth, Performance, Lufkin, TX
Lisandro Atencio, Performance, Mansfield, TX
Collin Caldwell, Music Education, Melissa, TX
Koby Chiou, Music Education, Houston, TX
*Quincy Doenges, Performance, Holland, MI
Jack Griset, Music Education, Melissa, TX
*Edric Salazar, Performance, San Benito, TX
Will Sewell, Music Education, Fulshear, TX;

STRING BASS
Kody Cardamone, Performance, Blanco, TX
*Jonathan Keith, Church Music, Houston, TX

PIANO
Maggie Stith, Staff Pianist, Colorado Springs, CO

HARP
*Krista Hagglund, Performance, Gulf Breeze, FL
Claire Learned, Performance, Germantown, TN

BAND AREA GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
*Craig Adams, Conducting, San Antonio, TX
*Benjamin Gerrard, Conducting, Orlando, FL