The Johnsonian

Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Arts

Junior music performance major John Welch performed

The Winthrop University Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony will perform on the front lawn of Byrnes Auditorium Sunday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

Performances will include marches, jazz ensembles, folk songs and patriotic music conducted by Lorrie S. Crochet and graduate assistant Jason Holden.

"If the turnout is anything like last year's, it will be a long-lasting tradition," Holden said. "This is a great chance for people who may not be familiar or comfortable with the indoor concert band scene."

This year's Concert on the Lawn performance is the second such event at Winthrop. Its premier was last September in front of Byrnes and was a great success, Ida Newsom, music administrative specialist, said.

"The atmosphere was very casual, with many people bringing picnics to enjoy during the concert," Newsom said. "We certainly would like to see more students attending this year."

Dave Blair, junior music major at Winthrop, participated at last year's event and will be among the large group performing on Sunday. Blair is part of the Winthrop jazz ensemble and a stage assistant in the conservatory of music.

"This year's concert is sure to be wonderful, much like last year's," Blair said. "It will feature sure crowd-pleasers."

Jesse Revenig, senior music major, will also be performing in the ensemble.

"The Annual Concert on the Lawn is a harkening back to the early days of wind bands at around the turn of the century," Revenig said. "It's essentially a concert to please the community."

Faculty members will participate in the performance as well.

Michael Hough, clarinet professor at Winthrop, will be performing a solo of "Concertino" by Carl Maria von Weber. Hough compares Sunday's concert to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's summer Pops in the Park event, a twelve-year tradition.

"It is a very laid back concert where you just pull up a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy some good music in a bit of a different setting than where the group usually performs," Hough said.  "I did not participate last year but I have heard it was a lot of fun."

Professor John Fowler will also be performing a solo. Fowler teaches voice at Winthrop and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera and several other opera houses across the nation. Though he didn't participate at last year's Concert on the Lawn, Fowler said that he is looking forward to this year's event.

The concert is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring towels or lawn chairs to the event.

For more information, call the Department of Music at 803-323-2255.

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