Concert Band performance to feature multiple centuries Oct. 13

The Concert Band at Northwest is open to all students and community members who play brass instruments, woodwinds, percussion and string bass. (Photo by Chloe Timmons/Northwest Missouri State University)

Northwest Missouri State University's Concert Band presents its first concert of the 2026-27 academic year on Oct. 13, featuring musical works spanning multiple centuries and a new conductor leading the ensemble.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. It is free and open to the public.

The Concert Band is under the direction of Dr. Erin Duke, who joined Northwest this fall as an assistant professor of music and associate director of bands. In addition to previous experience as a band director in Southern California, she is a composer, arranger, conductor and percussionist.

The concert program features four pieces - one from each of the last four centuries.

The Concert Band will perform a transcription by Ronald Moehlmann of J.S. Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 553." Duke noted it is presumed to have been written around 1777 as one of eight works Bach and his students wrote for the organ or other keyboard instruments.

From the 19th Century, the Concert Band will perform a John Philip Sousa march, "The Picador," that he wrote in 1889 after witnessing a bullfight in Mexico.

"While it still has the classic American march style, overall the sonority is much darker and more aggressive," Duke said.

The Concert Band also will perform "Suite Divertimento," composed in 1997 by Dr. Jay Gilbert, the director of bands at Doane College in Nebraska, based on a four-note motive.

The latest work on the concert program, "Halcyon Hearts," was composed in 2021 by band composer Katahj Copley about a moment of peace when one finds their love or passion.

"Copley's music has taken the band medium by storm because he writes music that musicians want to play, and his harmonies are extremely pleasing to listen to," Duke said.

About the Concert Band

Founded in 2021, the Concert Band features brass instruments, woodwinds, percussion and string bass. It performs music from a variety of time periods and styles, from historically significant works to new band compositions and premieres.

The ensembles is open to all Northwest students, employees and community members. There are no auditions to join either ensemble.

This fall's ensemble, Duke noted, primarily consists of students who are not music majors and music majors who are practicing a secondary instrument. The Concert Band meets to rehearse one night each week.

"They've truly learned so very much in the seven weeks we've had together," Duke said.

To learn more about Northwest musical ensembles and upcoming performances, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/music/.