Wind Symphony to perform free concert Feb. 23

Western Washington University’s Wind Symphony, conducted by Western associate professor of music Christopher Bianco, will perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall on the Western campus. The performance is free and open to the public. The evening program will include Milhaud's “Suite Francais,” Ives' “Variations on America” and Karel Husa's “Smetana Fanfare” in addition to “The Short Symphony” by Montana composer David Maslanka and “Rusty Air in Carolina” by techno artist and composer Mason Bates, both of which will be conducting debuts for Bianco. "I am more excited for this concert than any other performance I have done since taking over the Wind Symphony five years ago,” said Bianco. “The students are working really hard and the repertoire is fantastic. It's the perfect mix of traditional band works and contemporary pieces.” For more information, call Western’s Department of Music at (360) 650-3130 or visit http://www.wwu.edu/music.