Texas A&M Wind Symphony
| Texas A&M Wind Symphony | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | TAMU Wind Symphony |
| Origin | Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Wind Symphony |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Associated acts | Dr. Timothy Rhea |
| Website | |
| Members |
Principal Conductor Dr. Timothy Rhea Principal Guest Conductor Travis Almany Conductor Laureate Bill Dean |
The Texas A&M Wind Symphony is a 63-member ensemble, representing "the finest wind and percussion players on the TAMU campus."[1] The conductor of the Wind Symphony is Dr. Timothy Rhea and his assistant is Lt. Travis Almany. The band rehearses in the E.V. Adams Band Hall.
Timothy Rhea's tenure
Timothy Rhea was named conductor of the Texas A&M Wind Symphony in 1995 and Director of Bands of Texas A&M University June 1, 2002.[2] Rhea has conducted the Wind Symphony at the Texas Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the American Bandmasters Association conventions. Upon several occasions, he has toured with the band throughout the state of Texas, including performances at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Wortham Center in Houston, as well as San Antonio and Austin.[1] Timothy Rhea began conducting the Wind Symphony in Europe in 1999. Under his direction, the Wind Symphony has released a six volume march series, entitled “Legacy of the March”; a four volume band music album, “Wind Band Masterworks”; and, occasionally, live concert recordings.[2][3]
European tours
Since 1999, European tours of the band have resulted in concert appearances in Germany, Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and England.[4] In their most recent tour, in May 2007, The Texas A&M Wind Symphony performed in Prague, Czech Republic; Salzburg, Austria; and Munich, Germany. The Wind Symphony performed in Carnegie Hall in February, 2008.[5][6]
Domestic tours
The Wind Symphony regularly tours throughout the state of Texas during the spring semester. Since 2005, the Wind Symphony has carried out private and public performances in nearly every major city in the State of Texas. Destinations have included Katy, TX, Lake Jackson, TX, Pasadena, TX, Houston, TX, The Woodlands, TX, Richardson, TX, Austin, TX, and San Antonio, TX (2007 TMEA Convention).
Recordings
The band records regularly each academic year and its series of compact discs recordings are with Mark Custom Recording of New York City.[1] Due to the popularity of the band's ability to perform marches, for every compact disc consisting of traditional and modern music, another is dedicated solely to marches. As of February 2008, the Texas A&M Wind Symphony has released four volumes of their Wind Band Masterworks collection and six volumes of their Legacy of the March series. Additionally, upon occasion, the band releases recordings of live performances, depending on the venue.
Carnegie Hall debut performance
The Wind Symphony performed in Carnegie Hall February 22, 2008. They performed Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide, Gustav Holst's First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Dr. Katheryn Woodard, Donald Grantham's Southern Harmony, Percy Grainger's Children's March 'Over The Hills And Far Away', Frank Ticheli's Blue Shades, William Himes' version of Amazing Grace, Dr. David F. Wilborn's newly commissioned Concertante Caprice and John P. Sousa's The Freelance March. For their encore, the band performed Stars and Stripes Forever.[5][6][7][8]
Membership
In the 2008-2009 season, instrumentation of the band consists of:
- 1 Piccolo
- 4 flutes
- 2 oboes
- 1 English horn
- 1 E♭ Clarinets
- 11 B♭ Clarinets
- 1 Bass Clarinet
- 1 Contra-alto Clarinet
- 1 bassoon
- 1 Contrabassoon
- 2 Alto Saxophones
- 1 Tenor Saxophone
- 1 Baritone Saxophone
- 6 Horns in F
- 7 trumpets
- 4 trombones
- 2 Bass Trombones
- 3 euphoniums
- 3 tubas
- 2 String Basses
- 1 Piano
- 6 Percussionists