The Susquehanna University Wind Ensemble will perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association annual conference – one of the highest honors for a Pennsylvania ensemble.
Under the direction of Eric L. Hinton, director of bands and associate professor of music at Susquehanna, the Susquehanna University Wind Ensemble will perform a program of 20th and 21st century wind music at the PMEA Conference at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Kalahari Resort in Pocono Mountains. This concert also features Susquehanna clarinet instructor Anthony Poehailos.
“This is one of the highest honors an ensemble can achieve, and we look forward to showcasing the talents of our students and the strength of Susquehanna’s music program for this community,” Hinton said.
Each year, dozens of scholastic and community music ensembles audition for a chance to perform at the annual PMEA conference. Considered the premier annual event for professional development and attended by music educators from across Pennsylvania, the conference showcases the work of musicians from Pennsylvania and beyond.
Ensembles invited to perform at the PMEA conference are reviewed by a panel of their colleagues. Successful performing groups are selected based on their musical skill, advancement of their musical genre and a desire to share with conference attendees. Conference attendees can see these performances live to assist in the skill development of their students and also to learn about new repertoire that may be performed by the invited ensembles.
The Susquehanna University Wind Ensemble is the university’s premier concert band. Its mission is to provide instrumentalists with an opportunity for an in-depth study of music through the preparation and performance of wind and percussion literature. This is a unique venture that includes group as well as individual musical learning and sharing and students are given a genuine musical and educational experience. Repertoire for this ensemble reflects a commitment to innovation but acknowledges the value of the rich tradition of the wind band. The Wind Ensemble’s repertoire encompasses a wide variety of styles and demonstrates a concerted effort to explore the works of women and composers from diverse racial and ethnic groups.
