20th (Platinum) Anniversary - 2008
20th Anniversary Gala Concert
Walton Arts Center
May 3rd, 2008
The Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band, with conductor Michael Ferguson and announcer Sonny Hildebrand, celebrated a 20th Anniversary Gala Concert at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Benjamin Pierce, University of Arkansas music professor, was featured as an euphonium soloist. Former Winds conductors Jerry Bozeman, Chalon Ragsdale and Arkansas Winds founder, Eldon Janzen once again joined the Winds as guest conductors.
The featured soloist for this concert will be Dr. Benjamin Pierce, Tuba and Euphonium artist and member of the music faculty at the University of Arkansas. Additional information for Dr. Pierce can be found at www.benpierce.com. Pierce has won first prize in many international tuba and euphonium competitions. His two recent solo recordings, Wheels of Life and Cheers, are available on the Ribbet label.
“Wilson Park” was commissioned by the Arkansas Winds for the 10th anniversary concert from David Gorham, an original Arkansas Winds member, who has published over 60 works for concert band, all published by Wingert-Jones Music Co. and Southern Music Co.
This will be the premiere performance of of the arrangement “I Wander Deep in Thought” by Chalon Ragsdale. Mr. Ragsdale has received world wide recognition as a Percy Grainger enthusiast and arranger who is published by the Southern Music company of San Antonio, Texas. He is currently the Percussion instructor at the University of Arkansas and has conducted many ensembles at the University of Arkansas.
The Band was originally founded in 1988 by Professor Eldon Janzen, Professor Emeritus at the University of Arkansas. Mr. Janzen has had a long and distinguished career in music. His professional affiliations include American Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Lions International. Mr. Janzen has served as President of Texas Bandmasters Association, President of Southwest Division of CBDNA, President of Arkansas Bandmasters Association and President of Phi Beta Mu International.