Neighborhood Concert Series: Wind Ensemble

Entitled “The Gods Must Be Crazy!”, this concert features a variety of works inspired by mythology and religion. The highlight of the program is the local premiere of a new concerto for alto saxophone by American composer Stacy Garrop. The composer found inspiration for this work in the mythology of the Roman God Mercury, whose capricious nature and legendary speed are beautifully imagined in the music she wrote not only for the solo saxophone, but for the entire ensemble as well. We are thrilled to feature as soloist for this premiere Professor Heidi Radtke, who joined the faculty of Butler University in 2014. The gods are also invoked throughout the rest of the program in works by composers as varied as Richard Wagner, Jacques Offenbach, Paul Dukas, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Ticheli, and even John Philip Sousa!