La Sierra Wind Ensemble to present “Dances, Dreams, Destinations”

The Wind Ensemble, conducted by Director of Wind and Percussion Studies Giovanni Santos, will perform a concert titled “Dances, Dreams, and Destinations” on Sat., Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at La Sierra’s Hole Memorial Auditorium. Repertoire will include works by Arturo Marquez, John Mackey, Michael Markowski, Eric Whitacre, Duke Ellington, Percy Grainger, and Santos. The lineup will include the La Sierra University Chamber Singers and percussion ensemble.

The La Sierra University Wind Ensemble is a group of students devoted to the development of musicianship, artistic expression, and cultivating new audiences for this medium. Each member auditioned to take part in the group and represents various majors and programs on the La Sierra campus. The group includes staff and community members.

The Wind Ensemble has been invited to participate in music festivals in the Czech Republic and San Marino during the summer of 2017.

The group has performed for church services, campus events, schools, and civic programs and has been selected for honorary performances at major conferences and festivals including the College Band Directors National Association West/Northwest Division Conference in Reno, Nev., and at the 34th Annual Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland Wind Festival in Fresno.

Santos, a La Sierra University alumnus, also directs the university’s Big Band. He received his masters from the University of Southern California in 2007 where he was also a scholarship trumpet student. As an educator and conductor, Santos travels across the United States yearly as a guest clinician for music festivals, adjudications, and featured performances. He has led successful performance tours around the United States, Italy, and France, with special performances for Fete de la Musique in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres, and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Wind Ensemble tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for seniors ages 55 and over, $5 for students and teachers. Children age 12 and under are free. Season passes for music department events are available for $60 -- $100. All admission proceeds help fund student scholarships and projects such as international music trips and festivals.

For further information call 951-785-2036, email music@lasierra.edu, or visit https://lasierra.edu/music/. La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. A campus map is available at https://lasierra.edu/campus-map/.