The Elmhurst College Wind Ensemble, conducted by Director of Bands James Hile, will present A Celebration of Leonard Bernstein on Saturday, May 5.
Featuring some of the most popular music by the composer, conductor, educator and humanitarian, this special concert is part of Leonard Bernstein at 100, a worldwide celebration of what would have been Bernstein’s 100th birthday.
Music to be performed will include “A Musical Toast,” “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story; “Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town; the overture and a medley from “Candide”; “Turkey Trot” from Divertimento; and the lively “Slava!” Gayle Bisesi, a faculty member in the Elmhurst College music department, will be the featured vocal soloist in “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story and “A Little Bit of Love” from Wonderful Town.
Playing Bernstein requires every bit of musicality we’ve got, and the challenge of playing his music is more fulfilling than just about anything else
Michael Griffin '20 on performing Leonard Bernstein's music
A Celebration of Leonard Bernstein begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel. David DeVasto, professor of music theory and composition at Elmhurst College, will present a pre-concert lecture beginning at 7:15 p.m. in the Chapel. Admission is free.