SIUC Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will share the Shryock Auditorium stage for their annual combined concert Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Director of Bands Mike Hanes said that when many people think of the word band, they think of marches.

We will not be playing a typical march that you would expect a band to play, he said.

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Hanes, who conducts the Wind Ensemble, said each piece on the concert was carefully chosen to create contrast within the program.

There is a different reason for every selection we will be performing. We chose no two pieces that are the same. Each has a different and diverse style.

Although the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will split the program, space and logistics would prevent the two groups playing as a single group.

It is a dream that eventually both bands would be able to perform on stage together, Hanes said. However, at the present time there is simply not enough room on stage for both bands to perform and scheduling rehearsal time for the bands together is nearly impossible.

The bands rehearse between three hours and six hours a week. Hanes said the students partake in private sessions to help them prepare the complex works in such a short amount of time.

It is always more of a challenge to get something prepared early and in a minimal amount of time, he said. You have to expect that people will work outside of the classroom.

The Symphonic Band will be under the direction of Dan Phillips, who will conduct the works of such composers as Vivaldi, John Barnes Chance, and John Philip Sousa.

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Authorship of the Vivaldi concerto grosso on the program has been the subject of some controversey. The piece originally was thought to have been penned by the son of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. However, the young Bach would have been six when it was written. It was later learned the elder Bach stole and rearranged Vivaldi’s work.

Graduate student Chris Day will guest conduct John Gibson’s Resting in the Peace of His Hands. Day also will conduct Stephen Melillo’s Giving with the Wind Ensemble.

This year the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble consist only of SIUC students, versus in the past when some John A. Logan Communtiy College students participated.

Hanes said many members are majoring in something other than music. They participate to fulfill a continued interest in music.

An average of between 50 to 70 percent of our Symphonic Band members are not music majors, but this is not unusual, Hanes said. Many of our members participate in the program because they were involved in music and their high schools bands.

They simply found it to be something they enjoy.

Hanes said he hopes the audience will find an appreciation for it as well.

You always hope that the band improves after every concert. More importantly, we hope the audience goes out with a sense of being entertained.

Factoid:General admission for the performance is $3 and $2 for students.