ASU's wind bands 2019-20 season celebrates community

The ASU School of Music wind bands 2019-20 concert season features band classics, chamber works, new compositions and collaborations that celebrate and cultivate community through music.

“I am excited about our upcoming season that aims to build community through wind band music,” said Jason Caslor, associate professor in the ASU School of Music and director of wind ensembles. “We will offer over 10 concerts throughout the Valley and share the stage with, among other groups, the ASU Gospel Choir, the Tempe Winds and the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band. We will also collaborate with guest artists Joe Burgstaller, J. Smith, Christopher Creviston, Joshua Gardner, James Hudson and more.”

Season highlights include the opening concert on Sept. 19, “Sousapalooza,” inspired by the Golden Age of Bands and the likes of John Philip Sousa, Patrick Gilmore and Edwin Franko Goldman. “It’s Just Band!” on Oct. 10 celebrates all things band with a trailblazing concert that includes all three concert bands and a special appearance by the ASU Sun Devil Marching Band.

“It is really exciting for our program that the Sun Devil Marching Band has been invited back to perform with the ASU concert bands by Dr. Caslor,” said James Hudson, director of ASU’s athletic bands and professor of practice. “We are thrilled to perform highlights from our pregame show as well as our longstanding game day hits.”

Other highlights of the season include David Maslanka’s seminal work “A Child’s Garden of Dreams,” which focuses on how youth interact with the world and how the world impacts them. ASU Gammage comes alive when the ASU Wind Symphony, under the guidance of Elliott Tackitt, share a concert with the Tempe Winds and solo performances from ASU doctoral student Katrina Clements (clarinet) and undergraduate student Nathan Salazar (soprano saxophone), co-winners of the 2019 ASU School of Music Concerto Competition. The season closes on April 15 with “Pop Fiction,” an evening of music inspired by “Seinfeld,” “American Pie” and “Saturday Night Live.”

The ASU School of Music wind band program includes the Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony and the Concert Band.

The ASU wind bands are under new leadership this fall with Caslor at the helm. Tackitt joins the school as instructor of wind band conducting and conducts the ASU Wind Symphony.

Tickets are available through the ASU Gammage box office, with free admission to some concerts as noted. General admission tickets are $12.50 at the box office; additional fees apply for online advance purchase. Free ASU student, Herberger Institute faculty and Arizona band director tickets are available.

ASU Wind Bands 2019-20 Season

“Sousapalooza”
ASU Wind Ensemble and ASU Wind Symphony
Jason Caslor and Elliott Tackitt, conductors
7:30 p.m. Sept. 19, ASU Gammage, Free 

A night of marches and virtuosic solos featuring ASU faculty members Joe Burgstaller, trumpet, J. Smith, percussion, and James Hudson.

“It's Just Band!”
ASU's Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Concert Band and Sun Devil Marching Band
Jason Caslor, Elliott Tackitt, Bruce Mansfield, Dylan Suehiro and James Hudson, conductors
7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, ASU Gammage, Ticketed                

“A Child’s Garden of Dreams”
ASU Wind Ensemble
Jason Caslor, conductor
7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, ASU Gammage, Ticketed                                   

Graduate Conducting Concert
ASU Wind Ensemble
Malcolm Jones and Justin Hubbard, conductors
7:30 p.m. Nov. 25, ASU Gammage, Free

“Community Connections”
ASU Wind Symphony and Tempe Winds
Elliott Tackitt, Malcolm Jones and Michael Willson, conductors
7:30 p.m. Nov. 26, ASU Gammage, Ticketed      

Katrina Clements, winner of the 2019 ASU School of Music Concerto Competition, joins the ASU Wind Symphony to perform Oscar Navarro's "Clarinet Concerto No. 2."

Tuesday Morning Music and Tea Series
ASU Chamber Winds
10:30 a.m. Dec. 3, ASU Kerr Cultural Center
Free admission, reservations

ASU Concert Band and Philharmonia
7:30 p.m. Dec. 5
ASU Gammage, Free

“Lontano”
ASU Wind Ensemble and ASU Wind Symphony
Jason Caslor, Elliott Tackitt and Justin Hubbard, conductors
7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, ASU Gammage, Ticketed

Nathan Salazar, co-winner of the 2019 ASU School of Music Concerto Competition, joins the ASU Wind Ensemble to perform John Mackey’s “Soprano Saxophone Concerto.”

ASU Wind Symphony and ASU Concert Band
Elliott Tackitt, conductor
7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, ASU Gammage, Free

North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial National Conference
Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra
Jason Caslor and Jeffery Meyer, conductors
7:30 p.m. March 6, Mesa Arts Center, Ticketed

The ASU Wind Ensemble welcomes saxophonists from around the world to perform at this prestigious gathering at the Mesa Arts Center.

“Pop Fiction”
ASU Wind Ensemble and ASU Wind Symphony
Jason Caslor and Elliott Tackitt, conductors
7:30 p.m. April 15, ASU Gammage, Ticketed

ASU Concert Band and Philharmonia
7:30 p.m. April 28, ASU Gammage, Free