Two Student Musicians to Perform at Carnegie Hall on May 30th

May 20, 2010

May 20, 2010, Greencastle, Ind. — Two percussion majors in the DePauw University School of Music will be in New York City next week, having been selected to participate in the National Collegiate Wind Ensemble.  With 76 members, the Ensemble features many of the top collegiate music majors from across the United States.

Junior Bridget Parker (pictured top left) and freshman Patrick Speranza will rehearse and perform as members of the wind group starting on May 27, culminating in a concert performance at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, May 30. The ensemble will be under the direction of esteemed conductor H. Robert Reynolds, principal conductor of the wind ensemble at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and former director of bands at the University of Michigan. 

Parker and Speranza, who both hail from Munster, Indiana, are students of Amy Lynn Barber, professor of music at DePauw, and are current members of the DePauw University Band under the direction of Craig Paré.

"I am proud of both of these fine percussionists." says Dr. Paré, who nominated the two student musicians for the Collegiate Wind Ensemble last fall. "Bridget and Patrick deserve the opportunity to work with such a renowned and world-class conductor as H. Robert Reynolds, as well as make music alongside colleagues from other distinguished schools of music and conservatories. I am certain that this musical experience will be one of the highlights of their careers."

The repertoire to be studied and performed will include:

• Leonard Bernstein - Overture to Candide
• Morten Lauridsen - "O Magnum Mysterium"
• Paul Hindemith - "Symphony in B-flat"
• Donald Grantham - "J'ai ete au Bal"

Speranza notes, "This ensemble consists of college students selected from across the country to come to New York and perform a concert at Carnegie Hall. I am incredibly excited to play with such an outstanding musical ensemble in one of America's most prestigious performance halls."

Adds Parker, who will be returning for a second time as a percussionist with the ensemble,  "Playing at Carnegie Hall is a dream most musicians have. I sought out the right program, and now I get to fulfill my dream twice. If you want it that much, you will find a way to get it."

Visit the DePauw University School of Music online.

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