Ouachita’s Wind Ensemble has been working hard for an upcoming tour and recording next week. The ensemble will tour the Dallas area from Sunday, March 8, through Tuesday, March 10. It will then perform at Ouachita on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. in JPAC.
The on-campus performance will include several pieces such as “A Centennial Fanfare” by John Zdechlik, “Geometric Dances” by Roger Cichy and “Mansions of Glory” by David R. Gillingham.
“Mansions of Glory” was commissioned by alumni of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma of Ouachita in recognition of director Dr. Craig Hamilton for his years of dedication and service to the band.
The weekend following their tour, the band will be recording and album in JPAC. This is their sixth album to record.
“A lot of people don’t even know we do it if they are not in the band world,” Hamilton said.
The five previous discs are titled “Winds of Praise,” “Be Thou My Vision,” “And Can It Be,” “Zion” and “Sactuary.” No title has been chosen for the new disc yet.
The CDs are sold around the world.
“These discs are international,” said Hamilton. “The neat thing about recording is that little bitty Ouachita gets to go all over the world. It’s a pretty cool deal.”
Hamilton also said the sanctuary disc just received a positive review in Band World Magazine — an international publication for band directors.
“I had no idea that our own Ouachita Band has such international signfigance,” said freshman Kendall Calvert.
The Wind Ensemble consists of the best wind and percussion performers at Ouachita.
“The top players are who we put in the wind ensemble,” Hamilton said. “It’s kind of like our ‘A’ team.”
This group goes on tour every year, sometimes overseas.
“We’ve been to Europe twice and Hawaii with this group,” Hamilton said. “In 2007 we went to Spain and Portugal.”
The group also emphasizes mission work to reach out when they go overseas.
“We not only do concerts,” Hamilton said. “Two of the concerts that we did in Spain and Portugal were fundraisers for orphanages and a fire department in one of the communities. We get to see the country, play our music and we also get to do some good while we’re there.”
