Wind Orchestra Presents 'Dances and Diversions'

 Dr. Hunt, conductor 

Each year, the Ohio Northern University Wind Orchestra performs a concert at the end of the fall quarter. This year is no different, and on November 6, the group will be presenting Dances and Diversions.  Dr. Hunt, the director of the Wind Orchestra, says that for the fall concert, he prefers to perform some standard pieces, such as the four-movement piece “Scottish Dances.”

The group will also be performing a piece call “Yiddish Dances,” which is a program highlight. Principal flute and attendance secretary Rian Sperry states that “there’s a wide variety [of music] and…. it’ll be fun for the listeners.” Dr. Hunt agrees, “People are playing ‘Yiddish Dances’ really well. It’s going to be a really great performance.”

The 2010-11 Wind Orchestra is a very special group; according to Sperry, everyone is “a little bit closer this year than last year,” as well as being “potentially the best group [Dr. Hunt has] ever had.” Much of the talented group is comprised of younger students, which speaks to the great potential of the orchestra. Principal clarinetist, music librarian, and assistant conductor Lindsey Walch affirms this, saying, “I think it’s a really strong group. I think it’s the strongest we’ve ever had.”

Walch will also be taking over the baton as guest conductor for the piece “American Barndance.” It is a tradition at Ohio Northern to let one senior music education major conduct a piece at each concert. It gives them  “a more real world experience rather than just conducting class,” Walch added.

The concert will take place November 6, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at www.freedcenter.com or by calling the Freed Center box office at 419-772-1900. Ohio Northern University students, faculty, and staff members can purchase tickets through their Luminis account.

Article by Valerie Yoder, First-year clarinet performance major