February 15, 2006

Whitworth Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble to Present
Spring Concert Tour, March 18-25

The acclaimed Whitworth Wind Symphony and Whitworth Jazz Ensemble will perform in venues throughout Oregon and Washington March 18-25 during their spring 2006 concert tour. The groups tour the Western United States every other year.

During the 2006 tour, the wind symphony, conducted by director Richard Strauch, will perform selections including a setting for wind band of Bach's organ Fantasia in G major; "Apollo Unleashed," the third movement of Frank Ticheli's Symphony No. 2; Bach's Fugue ala Gigue by Gustav Holst; Blithe Bells by Percy Grainger, and Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) by Ron Nelson.

The19-member jazz ensemble, led by director Dan Keberle, will perform selections including Caravan by Duke Ellington, My Funny Valentine arranged by Steven Tyler, Doc Tone's Short Speech by Kenny Garrett, and Jumpin' at the Woodside by Count Basie.

Information follows for each concert location; for additional information, please call the phone number listed for each venue. The performances are free and open to the public; a free-will offering will be taken at each concert.

Whitworth Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert Tour
March 18-25, 2006

• Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m.
  Lake Grove Presbyterian Church
  4040 Sunset Drive
  Lake Oswego, Ore.
  (503) 636-5656
  
  
• Sunday, March 19, 3 p.m.
  Westminster Presbyterian Church
  1624 N.E. Hancock
  Portland, Ore.
  (503) 287-1289
  
  
• Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m.
  Central Bible Evangelical Free Church
  1414 N. Huson
  Tacoma, Wash.
  (253) 752-5317
  
  
• Wednesday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.
  Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
  7700 Skansie Avenue N.W.
  Gig Harbor, Wash.
  (253) 851-7779
  
  
• Thursday, March 23, 7 p.m.
  North Creek Presbyterian Church
  621 164th St. S.E.
  Bothell, Wash.
  (425) 743-2386
  
  
• Friday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
  Mt. View Presbyterian Church
  5115 100th Street N.E.
  Marysville, Wash.
  (360) 659-7777
  
  
• Saturday, March 25, 7 p.m.
  Port Townsend Presbyterian Church
  1111 Franklin St.
  Port Townsend, Wash.
  (360) 385-2525

The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble has won first place five times since 1996 at the University of Idaho's annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. In recent years the group has performed in concert at Whitworth with guest artists including Bob Mintzer, Joe Lovano, Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Kenny Garrett, Phil Woods and Gene Harris. The ensemble has also performed in international locations, including Brazil, Germany, Italy, Australia and Cuba. The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble has produced six CDs; the most recent is Whitworth Jazz Ensemble 2004.

The Whitworth Wind Symphony, which specializes in the performance of outstanding traditional and contemporary literature for concert band and wind ensemble, is recognized as one of the outstanding college bands in the region. The wind symphony performed in February at the 2006 Washington Music Educators Association Conference, and has appeared in concert at the 1999 and 2001 All-Northwest MENC conventions and at the 2002 College Band Directors National Association Western/ Northwestern Regional Conference.

The Whitworth Wind Symphony tours every other year. Recent tours have taken the ensemble to Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California, and Hawaii. The wind symphony has released three CDs: In the Spring (1998), New Century Dawn (2000), and Ride (2004).

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college enrolls 2,400 students in more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs.

Contacts:

Joan Lack, fine arts tour coordinator, Whitworth College, 509) 777-3280 or jlack@whitworth.edu.

Julie Riddle, public information specialist, Whitworth College, (509) 777-3729 or jriddle@whitworth.edu.