Augustana's Symphonic Band, directed by Dr James Lambrecht
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (March 5, 2024) — Fifty Augustana College students will perform in the Augustana Symphonic Band's Midwest tour.
This year's tour features five performances in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas from March 22 to April 6. Conducted by Dr James Lambrecht, the wind ensemble will share music in churches, performing arts centers and high schools across the Midwest.
The tour kicks off at Galesburg High School, Galesburg, Illinois, with performances following at Blue Valley Southwest High School, Overland Park, Kansas; Washington High School in Washington, Iowa; and a final performance at Messiah Lutheran Church, Wauconda, Illinois. All concerts begin at 7PM and are free and open to the public.
Participating students include:
Aiden Zoller a Biology major of East Moline (61244) playing Flute
Emma Biskie a Physics, Mathematics major of Rock Island (61201) playing Oboe
Maggie Berger a Geography, Environmental Studies major of Davenport (52803) playing Clarinet
Rylee Weinzierl an Augie Ages major of Geneseo (61254) playing Bass Clarinet
Quinne Weinzierl a Music Education major of Geneseo (61254) playing French Horn
Ian Empen an Environmental Studies, Geography major of Rock Island (61201) playing Trumpet
Jonathan Knuth a Kinesiology, Biology major of Rock Island (61201) playing Trumpet
John Zaimes a Biology major of Davenport (52803) playing Trumpet
Abby McKay a Pre-Medicine, Public Health major of Bettendorf (52722) playing Percussion
Zander Ulam a Music Education major of Geneseo (61254) playing Percussion
Lauren Ladson an Augie Ages major of Davenport (52803) playing Clarinet
This marks the Augustana Symphonic Band's first domestic tour since the 2020 pandemic. The band typically alternates between regional and national tours. Most recently, the band toured Japan in spring 2023.
"The Augustana Symphonic Band looks forward to reestablishing the historic tradition of the yearly spring band tour," Dr Lambrecht said. "The opportunity to share this wonderful music with various audiences throughout the greater Midwest will foster a connection with those outside of Augustana and create lifelong memories for the band members."
This year's tour will feature the following works: "Burning the Wicker Man" by Julie Giroux; "Be Thou My Vision" by David Gillingham; "Acadiana (Settings of Cajun, Creole and Zydeco Music)" by Frank Ticheli; "Three Dance Episodes from On the Town" by Leonard Bernstein; "On a Hymnsong" of Philip Bliss by David Holsinger; "The White Rose March" by John Philip Sousa; and "Dancing Fire" by Kevin Day.
The Augustana Symphonic Band, which performs music of the highest artistic quality written for the wind band, was established in 1874. In addition to touring nationally and the Japan tour, the band has performed in the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.
Augustana College is a vibrant, welcoming liberal arts college located on a 115-acre campus in the Quad Cities (pop 400,000) along the Mississippi River. Augustana, a residential campus, has 100 majors and programs, 160 student organizations, and 28 varsity athletic teams.
The college enrolls 2,500 students in a metro area that provides access to many career-paths and hands-on learning opportunities, including internships, jobs, student teaching, and research sites.
