NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State University Wind Symphony will hold its first concert of the 2025-2026 academic year on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. A livestream is available at www.nsu.la/CAPA-LIVE.
The concert will explore the development of the concert band with literature from its infancy to the modern day.
“Paul Hindemith’s monumental work from 1951, ‘Symphony in B-flat’, is one of the cornerstones of our literature and it is rarely performed because of its difficulty and intellectual demand on the performers,” said Anthony Pursell, director of Bands and the conductor of the Wind Symphony. “Hindemith’s ability to use traditional music form is certainly appreciated as his composition technique requires so much thinking and negotiating between the members of the ensemble. In today’s climate, one would have likely labeled Hindemith as having attention deficit, however, the skill he demonstrates in his compositional technique is purely genius.”
Other works on the concert show a progression to the modern day with the inclusion of the newly appointed Assistant Director of Bands Dr. Andrew Blair and his composition, “Novum.”
According to Blair, “’Novum’ exists largely because of the incredible musical spirit of Philip Smith,” said Blair. “Beyond being one of the world’s most celebrated and recorded trumpeters, holding a principal chair in the New York Philharmonic from 1979-2014, Mr. Smith is an internationally renowned trumpet teacher, as well as soloist and conductor in the brass band world. From the early days of my graduate work at the University of Georgia, I made it a point to play for and learn from Phil Smith in his brass band.”
After playing in the band for a few years, in the early months of 2020, Blair said Smith asked him to write an exciting showpiece for his group.
“Around this time, there was also a lot of newness in my personal world,” said Blair. “As the COVID-19 pandemic thrust all of us into uncharted territory, my wife and I welcomed our son Ben into the world. Novum, or ‘the new thing’ in Latin, is an homage to my experiences and education in Phil Smith’s band, as well as the excitement and love that new things can bring into our lives. The music itself is a character sketch of Mr. Smith, as it’s relentless, lyrical and technical, with a healthy dash of attitude. The piece is cast in a modern sonata form featuring an introduction, exposition, contrasting middle, and truncated recapitulation. A moto perpetuo based on the initial motive is woven through the piece, a musical homage to Mr. Smith’s quick, non-stop pace.”
Joining the concert is legendary conductor and music educator, Dr. Paula Crider, professor emerita of The University of Texas, an internationally recognized conductor, lecturer, clinician and adjudicator. She has enjoyed engagements in 49 states, and 14 foreign countries. Prior to her appointment at the University of Texas, Crider taught in the public schools at all levels and holds the unique distinction of having been the first female in the state of Texas to serve as director of bands at a Class 5-A high school. Under her direction, the Crockett High School Bands enjoyed both state and national recognition for musical excellence on the concert stage, and were twice named Texas 5A State Marching Champions. The Crockett High School Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Order of Merit and was named to the Sudler Roll of Honor of Historic Bands in 1992.
A tenured full professor at The University of Texas, Crider served on the Graduate Conducting Faculty, conducted the Symphony Band, and was director of the acclaimed University of Texas Longhorn Band. During her 17-year tenure, she was twice awarded the “Eyes of Texas” award for distinguished teaching. She continues to serve as visiting guest professor and conductor at universities throughout the country. In addition to degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi, and The University of Texas, she was awarded the Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa from the Vandercook College of Music.
“We are blessed to have Dr. Crider work with our students in the Wind Symphony and our music education students. She has a wealth of knowledge and is a very inspiring figure in our profession,” said Pursell.
Other works on the concert include Alfred Reed’s, “Alleluia! Laudamus Te,” Robert Spittal’s “Pacem, A Hymn for Peace” and Scott McAllister’s first movement, “More Cowbell” from his hilarious suite, “Popcopy” (named after the David Chappelle satire on bad customer service in the copy store industry from Comedy Central.)
Concertgoers are asked to consider a donation to the band program’s efforts in raising funds for the Spirit of Northwestern’s 2027 performance in Dublin, Ireland (which many of the members of the Wind Symphony also perform). For more information, please visit: https://northwesternstatealumni.com/band-ireland-trip/