Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is designed for the advanced player of woodwind, brass, and percussion. Liberty University Wind Symphony is a highly acclaimed, advanced instrumental ensemble for all students in any major. This fabulous ensemble performs the leading repertoire for wind band, and tours in the Spring.
Under the direction of Dr. Stephen Kerr – Director of Bands, the Liberty University Wind Symphony, acclaimed for its broad repertoire and excellence, performs historical and contemporary music by important composers such as Holst, Persichetti, Mackey, Whitacre and many others. The ensemble is comprised of the finest wind studies majors in the School of Music, and has performed throughout the eastern half of the United States. The Wind Symphony has also performed numerous times for the College Band Directors National Association’s (CBDNA) Regional Conference, namely in 2008, 2012, and 2016, and the 2021 Virginia Music Educators Association Conference.
News / Upcoming Concerts
TRAVELER
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Grand Concert Hall
Dr. Stephen Kerr, Director
Come and enjoy this marvelous group at Dr. Kerr’s final concert before retirement! Many of the pieces relate to him as he ‘travels’ through life, and some are just plain excellent and fun! This amazing group of instrumentalists will present a spectacular performance with many musical fireworks throughout the concert!
Ride – Samuel Hazo
Sheltering Sky – John Mackey
Zirk for Horn and Band – Scott Boerma
Pipe Dreams – Allan Gilliland
Gone – Scott McAllister
Traveler – David Maslanka
Celebrations – John Zdechlik
FIRE & ICE
Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Grand Concert Hall
Dr. Stephen Kerr, Director
Truly, you will witness some monumental musical presentations at this concert! Our Spring Concert I will consist of some of the outstanding and imaginative compositions for Wind Symphony composed over the past few years by incredible composers and performed by our outstanding Liberty University Wind Symphony. Come and experience the ashes of the Phoenix, the recreation of a crystalline subzero atmosphere of Alaskan mountains, and many musical fireworks throughout the concert!
Night on Fire – John Mackey
Lux Aurumque – Eric Whitacre
The Divine Comedy – Robert W. Smith
Song of the Phoenix – Kevin Wilt
Verte Otra Vez – arr. Andres Novarro
The Frozen Cathedral – John Mackey
GHOST TRAIN
Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 7:30pm
Grand Concert Hall
Dr. Stephen Kerr, Director
We will be presenting our Spring Concert II entitled ‘Ghost Train’ on our campus in the Grand Concert Hall of the School of Music. This concert features pieces that feature one of our student composers, and one of our outstanding instrumentalists, as well as musical presentations by all the fabulous members of the Wind Symphony. So, come and ride with us, as we explore the Ghost Train coming to life in canyons of the old Southwest!
Noisy Wheels of Joy – Eric Whitacre
The Nostalgic Traveler (World Premier) Daniel Cooke
Elements – Brian Balmages
Hidden Currents (Marissa Lucadano, oboe soloist) – Katherine Bergman
Ghost Train – Triptych – Eric Whitacre
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, 2022
We will be traveling on our annual Spring Tour March 12-20, 2022! Please click here for detailed information about this year’s performance schedule in the Southern United States.
Dr. Stephen Kerr, DirectorWind Symphony Tour 2022
American Prize
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
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