Wind Symphony

THE SOUND OF FREEDOM

Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 7:30pm
Grand Concert Hall

Dr. Stephen Kerr, Director

We will be presenting our Spring Concert entitled ‘The Sound Of Freedom’ on our campus in the Grand Concert Hall of the School of Music.  This concert features pieces surrounding the theme of honoring our national military heroes, as well as some Old Testament heroes, too!

The Star Spangled Banner – arr. O’Loughlin
Dawn Refrains at Arlington – James Hirt
The Weight of Glory (World Premier) – Andrew Lawson
Heroes, Lost and Fallen – David Gillingham
Love and Light – Brian Balmages
That Others May Live – Sgt. Jeremy Martin
In The Spring, At the Time When Kings Go Off to War – David Holsinger
The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa

Spring Tour: Florida!

March 12-20, 2021

We will be traveling on our annual Spring Tour March 12-20, 2021!  Please click here for detailed information about this year’s performance schedule in the Southern United States.

The American Prize – Semi-Finalist (2020)

I am happy to announce that the Liberty University Wind Symphony is a Semi-Finalist in The American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance – College/University Division for 2019-2020!  I have submitted recent recordings of the LU Wind Symphony, and our performances have earned us the distinction of Semi-Finalist.  I am unsure of when Finalists and winners will be announced.  Nonetheless, I believe this is already quite the honor! – Dr. Stephen Kerr

https://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2020/01/semi-finalists-bands-wind-ensembles.html

The Semi-Finalist List:

NEC Symphonic Winds
William Drury
Boston   MA

Texas A&M Kingsville Wind Symphony
Scott Jones
Kingsville  TX

Liberty University Wind Symphony
Dr. Stephen Kerr
Lynchburg  VA

UNLV Wind Orchestra
Thomas G. Leslie
Las Vegas  NV

William & Mary Wind Ensemble
Richard Marcus
Williamsburg VA

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Wind Orchestra
Devin Otto
Oshkosh  WI

University of Delaware Wind Ensemble
Lauren Reynolds
Newark   DE

The Liberty University Wind Symphony, Liberty’s premier wind band, is a select instrumental ensemble comprised entirely of musically advanced residential students. Repertoire includes original and transcribed exceptional wind symphony works from all eras, including exploration of new sounds and rhythms by contemporary composers.  Directed by Dr. Stephen Kerr, this fabulous ensemble has enjoyed critical acclaim from audiences, composers, and peer review.  Each year, the Wind Symphony records an album, performs at least 8 times on campus, and travels on an extensive spring tour, where they perform multiple concerts at a variety of prestigious venues, including multiple performances at the CBDNA Southern Division Conferences.  The Wind Symphony is proud to perform advanced works from the finest composers writing for wind bands, including John Mackey, Steven Bryant, Philip Sparke, David Maslanka, Mason Bates, and many others.  In addition, the Wind Symphony regularly participates in commissions of new works for wind band.

Dr. Stephen Kerr, Director

Dr. Stephen P. Kerr, former principal trumpet player at Liberty University, has been a band director for 38 years and is in his 30th year at Liberty University. He received his B.S. degree in music education from Liberty University in 1982, and holds an M.E. degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. Kerr holds the PhD in Music Education with a minor in research from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He serves as Chair of the Department of University Bands, supervising all band ensembles, Director of the “Spirit of the Mountain” Marching Band, Director of the Wind Symphony, and teaches Instrumental Conducting, and Marching Band Techniques.

This Year’s Tour: Florida

March 12-20, 2021

We will be traveling to Florida on our annual Spring Tour March 14-22, 2020!  Please click here for detailed information about this year’s performance schedule in the Southern United States.

If you are hosting the Liberty University Wind Symphony, here are a few resources available to you for advertising.

• Tour Host Information and Guide
• Public Service Announcement (Press Release) 2021 Churches
• Public Service Announcement (Press Release) 2021 Schools
• Fillable Poster (24 x 36)
• Fillable Poster (11 x 17)
• Wind Symphony Photo