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SYMPHONIC CONCERT BAND
Mark Dorr, director

Founded in August of 1998 by its director Mark Dorr, the Grinnell College Symphonic Concert Band has quickly grown to over 60 highly talented and enthusiastic members. There are typically two to five performances annually, featuring the Symphonic Band in full length concerts as well as at special events on campus. During the course of each semester the band program regularly sponsors guest artists and conductors to work with the ensemble on special performance topics. Highlights in 1999 included performances during Grinnell College Commencement Weekend and the Mid-America Composers Festival, working with Indiana State University composer Daniel McCarthy on his recently completed band work Grand Ledges: Vistas in Michigan, and performing with guest artists Elaine Wong (clarinet) and Bob Long (alto saxophone). Entire sections of the band have also regularly been featured in concert either as soloists or during showcase ensemble tunes, including the clarinet, brass, and percussion sections in April of 1999 and the flute section in December 1999.

Membership in the ensemble is open to intermediate to advanced level Grinnell College instrumental students as well as other qualified musicians drawn from the greater Grinnell area. In order to determine chair placement, all musicians attend a group meeting and participate in an informal private audition during the first week of classes.

Musical selections performed by the Symphonic Band are quite eclectic, consisting of major works from the wind and percussion band repertoire as well as audience and band member favorites. Representative compositions performed recently include "March" from Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith; Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland; Courtly Airs and Dances by Ron Nelson; First Suite in F by Thom Ritter George; Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed; "Danza Finale" from Estancia by Alberto Ginastera; Barnum and Bailey's Favorite by Karl L. King; Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa; Big Band Signatures arranged by John Higgins; Symphony No. 1: In Memoriam Dresden - 1945 by Daniel Bukvich; and Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Aldridge Grainger.