Encore Wind Ensemble Presents: Emotional Impressions

Join the Encore Wind Ensemble for an unforgettable evening of music that captures the full spectrum of human emotion—from the buoyancy of blind optimism to the depths of grief and reflection.

The program opens with Leonard Bernstein’s effervescent Overture to Candide, a spirited and witty piece bursting with youthful energy.

In sharp contrast, Justin Gruber’s Beneath the Crypt, is a deeply personal and poignant response to the 2018 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the composer was a student.

The rich tradition of Arkansas folk music is explored through James Stephenson’s Lonesome Valley Folk Suite. This six-movement work not only honors traditional melodies but also captures the emotion, tone and vocal inflection of the original folk singers.

The concert continues with Eric Whitacre’s beloved October, an impressionistic reflection on the season’s changing colors and emotions.

The concert closes with Bamboo Shoots and City Streets by Benjamin Barker, a vibrant fusion of musical worlds. Pentatonic melodies and taiko-inspired rhythms meet the driving beats of hip-hop, jazz and rock in this energetic finale.