Nicole Jones

Kick back, relax and let the music entertain you. It’s time for Northern Kentucky University’s Concert Band along with the Symphonic Winds to show you what they have achieved.

The April 21 performance is the last concert for the series of five concerts held this academic year.

This concert will honor the 320th birth year of Bach, Director of NKU Bands, Brant Karrick, said. Musical pieces such as Taccata Fugue in D minor will be performed.

James Recktenwald, a trumpet soloist and member of the Louisville Orchestra, will join the two bands, comprised of approximately 75 NKU students.

Recktenwald will play one musical piece with each band. According to Karrick, the fact that he is playing with them is quite an honor for the members.

This concert is expected to have an attendance of approximately 250, and though spectators might find the bands to be very talented and well trained, Karrick said that this concert is not their greatest accomplishment.

“The Kentucky Music Educators Association State In-Service Conference is really the big story,” Karrick said.

The bands were selected to play at the annual conference based on previous concert performances. “We were the only university band selected to play at the conference,” Karrick said. “It was truly an honor and a testament to our efforts.”

In the future, Karrick said that he plans to continue exposing the bands to higher levels of performance and to continue trying to achieve higher excellence.

“We are continuously improving and making progress,” Karrick said. “The Kentucky Music Association State In-service conference is proof to that.”

Karrick expressed his pride for the members of both bands and explained that the Symphonic Winds is comprised mostly of music majors. The Concert Band’s members are mostly non-music majors who just love to play music.

“I don’t think that a lot of students realize that they can be a part of the bands if they’re not music majors, but they are more than welcome to join us,” Karrick said. “Some students can even get scholarships for their experience.”

The concert is $5 for general admission and $3 for faculty, student and staff admission. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in Greaves Hall.

No reservations are required.