UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Tonya Mitchell-Spradlin, opens the spring semester with a powerful and evocative program titled "Voices in Our Head," featuring an integration of instrumental, sung and spoken voices. The concert will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall at the Penn State School of Music.
Each piece in the program will be introduced by poetry or prose, chosen to either amplify or soothe the voices people hear during times of grief, loss, contentment and unbridled joy. The evening promises a reflective and emotionally rich experience for all attendees.
The program opens with Frank Ticheli’s "Angels in the Architecture," a piece that explores the contrast between light and dark. Ticheli combines three songs of religious origin to signify humanity’s enduring belief that good can triumph over evil.
Following this is Wayne Oquin’s "Song for Silent Voices," a visceral and award-winning composition dedicated to the lives lost in the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The piece honors the school’s band program and serves as a poignant tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.
The concert concludes with James Stephenson’s "Symphony No. 2, Voices," an award-winning work that delves into the multifaceted nature of voices.
"Voices. They come in so many forms. Some high, some low. Extremely loud, or extremely soft. Some are menacing, or angelic," Stephenson wrote about the piece. "A voice is completely unique to each individual, and instantly recognizable to a close friend or relative. As a verb, it is used to express or vocalize an opinion. Used together, voices can express opposition, or unification. It occurred to me that all of these and more can be represented within the scope of a wind ensemble."
Admission is $12.50 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased through the Arts Ticket Center. The box office opens one hour before the concert.
Parking is available at the Nittany Deck at an hourly or event rate.
For those unable to attend in person, the concert will be available via livestream at the Penn State School of Music website.