Weather holds up concert
By Nyshicka Jordan
Staff Reporter

While they planned to play their instruments Monday, the only playing TCU Wind Symphony members got to do this week was possibly outside in the snow.

The Wind Symphony was gearing up for a concert planned for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 but Conductor Bobby R. Francis said the decision to cancel the concert was made when the university closed all evening events after 4 p.m. due to bad weather.

However, this Monday the Wind Symphony will be added to a previously planned concert of the University Concert Band and Symphonic Band, Francis said.

Flute player Elizabeth Young said it was a disappointment when Wind Symphony’s concert was canceled due to the weather. However, performers will get their chance to play once again Monday and Young, a junior international finance major, said it will be a nice reunion because many performers in the concert bands also play in the Marching Band during the fall. She said although she is glad to see the different bands together again.

“It’s nice to see everybody and to appreciate what everyone else has been doing,” Young said.

Originally, the Concert and Symphonic bands were to begin their concert at 7:30 p.m., but since Wind Symphony has been added the program, it will be moved up to 7 p.m. and will be in Ed Landreth Hall Auditorium, Francis said. He said the Wind Symphony will perform their original schedule, including “Fantasy Variations,” an 18-minute composition written by Curt Wilson, director of jazz studies.

Wilson said bringing the bands together was the only thing that could be done and that it will just make for a little longer concert. He said he is still excited about the performance of the piece, which will be its world premiere.

The piece was commissioned by Sam and Velma Bogart in memory of Velma’s father Russell L. Wiley, who was director of bands at the University of Kansas from 1934 to 1968.

Velma Bogart said she had family from Seattle, Washington, D.C. and San Diego in town last weekend to attend the concert. She said she and her family are unhappy about not getting to see the concert, but the family was able to hear “Fantasy Variations” in rehearsal Sunday and that they enjoyed it and the family time together.

“We haven’t been together in a while, and we weren’t disappointed in our visit at all,” Bogart said.

Area family and friends will attend Monday, Bogart said. And she said she will perform in the Alumni Band at the concert.

“All the bands together will be a bonus for the audience,” she said. “It’s a wonderful community of performers.”

n.d.jordan@tcu.edu