The University Wind Ensemble from Concordia concludes its tour of Nebraska and Iowa on Monday. The ensemble's final performance will be a school assembly at Christ Lutheran High School in Davenport, Iowa.
“On tours, we have the opportunity to further perfect the music as we perform it numerous times,” said Dr. William Kuhn, associate professor of music at Concordia and director of the ensemble. “We also view our tours as a ministry where we can witness about Christ through our music and our actions to everyone we meet.”
Highlights of this year’s program included an original piece composed specifically for this tour by Rev. Tim Ruegg, a Seward resident and one-time trombonist and arranger for the United States Air Force Band at Offutt Air Base. Ruegg has written and arranged music for internationally known stars such as John Denver and Mannheim Steamroller. Another selection in the program, “Dies Natalis,” was written by Nebraska-born composer Howard Hanson, former director of the Eastman School of Music.
Recent Concordia alumna Stephanie Rohrig Effken rejoined the ensemble to perform a flute classic, the Chaminade ‘Concertino for Flute.’ “As a student on our previous tours she has greatly impressed the audiences with this piece,” said Kuhn.
2008 Wind Ensemble tour itinerary
Thursday, April 10
Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church
15005 Q Street
Omaha, Neb.
7:30 p.m. (concert)
Friday, April 11
Valley Lutheran High School
4520 Rownd Street
Cedar Falls, Iowa
2 p.m. (assembly)
Coe College Sinclair Auditorium
1220 First Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
8 p.m. (concert in conjunction with the Coe Jazz Band)
Saturday, April 12
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
2145 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque, Iowa
7 p.m. (concert)
Sunday, April 13
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
2145 John F. Kennedy Road
Dubuque, Iowa
8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (worship)
Worship St. Paul Lutheran Church
2025 Jackson Street
Dubuque, Iowa
9 a.m. (worship)
Trinity Lutheran Church
1122 W. Central Park Avenue
Davenport, Iowa
7 p.m. (concert)
Monday, April 14
Christ Lutheran High School
1020 W. Central Park Avenue
Davenport, Iowa
9:15 a.m. (assembly)