NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State University Wind Symphony will open its 2026–27 concert season with a concert titled “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue” on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public. A livestream will be available at nsula.edu/livestream.
The program explores the familiar four-part phrase through four works representing different eras, influences and musical traditions.
“The theme seemed to naturally emerge from the music we selected,” said Anthony Pursell, NSU Director of Bands. “We have a work dating to 1913, a world premiere by one of our own students, a work that borrows from other musical traditions and a piece that celebrates the blues.”
The concert opens with Michael Markowski’s “JoyRide,” conducted by Associate Director of Bands Andrew Blair. Written while Markowski was a high school student, the work incorporates Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and elements inspired by John Adams’ “Short Ride in a Fast Machine.” Markowski will headline NSU’s Invitational Band Festival in April 2027.
Pursell will conduct Florent Schmitt’s “Dionysiaques,” one of the landmark works of the early wind-band repertoire. Composed in 1913, the work helped demonstrate the potential of the wind band as a serious artistic medium, combining sophisticated harmony, complex rhythms, striking instrumental colors and dramatic contrasts. It is lauded by many in the profession to be one of the most challenging works for winds and percussion.
The program continues with Jack End’s “Blues for a Killed Kat,” a work that provides a distinctly different musical character and features soloists from throughout the ensemble. End was a prominent jazz educator and composer associated with the Eastman School of Music.
The concert concludes with the world premiere of “Symphony No. 1, Invictus” by Turner Sugg, a senior NSU music education student from Henderson, Texas. The work is inspired by William Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus” and explores themes of resilience, adversity and personal growth.
“Turner has written music that is thoughtful, meaningful, engaging, and exciting to perform,” said Pursell. “We are particularly proud to present the first performance of this work and to celebrate his accomplishments as he completes his degree at Northwestern State.”
Sugg describes the work as a reflection on the role of change in personal growth. “Symphony for Band,” as suggested by its subtitle, is based on the poem ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley.
“This poem has long been one of my favorite pieces of literature, and speaks to the importance of resilience, especially in the face of adversity,” said Sugg. “As someone who has not always been the most comfortable with change, undertaking this passion project and creating something so personal around this message has taught me to look at change in a new light. Change shouldn’t always be seen as something bad, but as a force that can bring forth the beauty in life.”
The performance of “Symphony No. 1, Invictus” will mark the work’s first public performance and will be professionally recorded later this year.
For more information about the Northwestern State University Band Program, visit https://www.nsula.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/school-of-creative-and-performing-arts/spirit-of-northwestern/.