Free Wind and Jazz Concert at PSC Dec. 1

Pensacola State College’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble present a free concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Ashmore Auditorium, Building 8, on the Pensacola campus.

The Wind Ensemble performs music written exclusively by Brian Balmages, an award-winning composer, conductor, producer and performer. In 2012, he received the prestigious Albert Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association. He also won the 2010 Harvey G. Phillips Award for Compositional Excellence, presented by the International Tuba-Euphonium Association.

Balmages’ compositions have been performed worldwide and his active schedule of commissions and premieres includes the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, University of Miami Wind Ensemble, Boston Brass, and the Dominion Brass Ensemble.

Conducted by Performing Arts Department Head Don Snowden, the program begins with “Flight,” an exciting minimalistic fanfare that commemorates the private manned spacecraft SpaceShipOne. Next is “Grace,” a stunning and emotional work, which toward the end lets the melody of “Amazing Grace” emerge subtly. Other selections include “Groove Music,” and “Silence Overwhelmed.” The last selection is “Joy of Life” commissioned by the Lafayette (Louisiana) Concert Band and centers on the musical culture of Cajun Country.

Roger Villines leads the acclaimed PSC Jazz Ensemble in performing works by Sammy Nestico, Bobby Timmons, Alan Baylock and Pete McGuiness. The concert concludes with Charles Mingus’ “Moanin.”

For more information, call Don Snowden, PSC Performing Arts Department Head, at 850-484-1800 or dsnowden@pensacolastate.edu.