An evening of Russian music will be on tap when the Lander University Wind Ensemble takes the stage on Tuesday, Dec. 2, for its final performance of the year.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. in the Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium. Admission is free.
Associate Professor of Music Dr. Reed Gallo, who directs the ensemble, uses words like "passionate" and "romantic" to describe the music that audience members will hear.
The Russian theme will be immediately apparent in the opener, "The Czar's March," by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, one of four Rimsky-Korsakov compositions included in the program. Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dance of the Tumblers" and "Concerto for Trombone" are also in the mix.
"Concerto for Trombone" will feature trombonist Donald Mack, adjunct instructor of low brass at Lander, described by Gallo as "very talented, a very gifted performer. He's always spot-on in every idiom that we work in."
Gallo, a trumpet player, and the other members of Lander's Faculty Brass Quintet - Mack, trumpet player John Cooper, French horn player Sonja Crenshaw and tuba player Byron Hilley-will perform Rimsky-Korsakov's "Procession of the Nobles."
Other selections include "Variations on a Folk Song," by Dimitri Kabalevsky, and "Finale, from Symphony No. 5," by Dimitri Shostakovich, the latter featuring principal trumpet player Cody Beard, of Ninety Six.
A Gallo favorite, Jerry Bock's "Fiddler on the Roof," is also in the program, as is the Pyotr Tchaikovsky masterpiece, "Suite from the Nutcracker."
Gallo said he is "very happy" with his musicians this year. He invited music fans to join him for an entertaining show.
"It's going to be fun," he said.