Combining the talents of local musicians and a select group of stars from tomorrow, Radford University announced the First Annual Tri-State Chamber Winds Weekend. Under the direction of Dr. R. Wayne Gallops (Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at RU), the weekend will provide a musical experience for young, aspiring musicians wrapped in a series of concerts and events for all.

The Chamber Winds Weekend will host 30 top-caliber high school musicians from Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The pre-selected students will perform with musicians “slightly older than them” (at the collegiate level), as well as professionals, providing mentorship and performance opportunity. Additionally, instruction from guest artists and Radford faculty will lead to fun, and résumé-building, throughout the weekend.

Gallops, a graduate of the University of South Florida (Ph.D.), will lead many of the ensembles through the weekend. Christopher White and the RU Jazz Ensembles join Gallops, as well as many other faculty from RU. In addition to local talent, members of the Fort Lee Chamber Ensemble (United States Army Band) will perform and work with the students.

Aside from a plethora of concerts, several masterclasses (essentially a “private” music lesson where an audience is permitted) and coachings (groups formed of the aforementioned) will take place. Watch young musicians increase their abilities right on the spot. As this looks like the first of many similar events, local high school musicians and their families may wish to attend the events this year to see what could be in store for next year. The events happen on Nov. 8-10 at Radford University. More information is available at http://music.asp.radford.edu/festivals/tri_state/tristate.htm. All events are free and open to the public. See the schedule for details.

C.R. Kasprzyk is a classically trained composer and saxophonist and currently serves on the faculty at Bluefield College.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

RU JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Thursday, Nov. 8 – 8 p.m.
Preston-Bondurant Hall
Radford University

RADFORD UNIVERSITY CHAMBER WINDS
Fort Lee Brass Quintet
(U.S. Army Band)
Friday, Nov. 9 – 8 p.m.
Bondurant Center-Norwood Rm
Main Street, Radford, Va.

FORT LEE WOODWIND QUINTET (U.S. Army Band)
Tri-State Honors Chamber Winds
Saturday, Nov. 10 – 11 a.m.
Bondurant Center-Norwood Rm
Main Street, Radford, Va.

TRI-STATE CHAMBER WINDS WEEKEND MASTERCLASSES

MASTERCLASS I
Friday, Nov. 9 – 9 a.m.
Powell Hall - Radford University
Detailed instruction conducted by the applied faculty of Radford University

MASTERCLASS II
Friday, Nov. 9 – 4 p.m.
Powell Hall - Radford University
Conducted by members of the Fort Lee Chamber Ensembles