The Heisey Wind Ensemble is proud to begin its 19th concert season at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 19) at Denison's Swasey Chapel, The concert theme, "Sorcerers, Wizards, and Ghosts," will help listeners get in the mood for the Halloween season.

Under the direction of Russel Mikkelson, the band will perform spine-tingling works including three movements from Johan de Meij's Symphony No. 1, "The Lord of the Rings" ("Gandalf," "Hobbits," and "Lothlorien"); "Harry Potter Symphonic Suite," a Robert W. Smith arrangment of John Williams' movie score; and Eric Whitacre's evocative "Ghost Train."

In addition, the Ensemble will feature clarinet soloist and Denison University music department faculty member Nicolas del Grazia, who will perform Carl Maria von Weber's "Concertino."

Tickets are available at the door: cost is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and students under 12 are free. Denison University faculty, staff and students are admitted free with their Denison University ID. Area band directors have free student passes available for their students.

The 2003-2004 Heisey Wind Ensemble Concert Season includes the following scheduled performances: "The Spirit of the Season" at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003; "American Landscapes" at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004; and "Four Stars!-- Music of the Stage and Screen" at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2004.

The Heisey Wind Ensemble was formed in February of 1985 by J M Day and Don Workman to provide an outlet for skilled musicians interested in playing traditional concert band literature. The group is sponsored in part by the Denison University Music Department. The Heisey Wind Ensemble and Denison have been working together since September 1986 to provide Denison students with a quality concert band to perform with and to provide the Central Ohio area with a concert band to enjoy.

Russel Mikkelson is director of university bands and associate professor of conducting at Ohio State University. He conducts the OSU Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, oversees the graduate wind conducting program, and guides all aspects of Ohio State's band program. He has received praise from composers John Corigliano, David Maslanka, Leslie Bassett and Krzyzstof Penderecki for his interpretation of their works. Prior to his appointment at Ohio State, Mikkelson was director of bands and assistant professor of music at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Mikkelson served for six years as director of bands at Stevens Point (Wis.) Area Senior High where his groups performed regularly at state, regional, and national conventions. Mikkelson serves as president of the Big Ten Band Directors Association and is active nationally and internationally as a guest conductor and clinician.

For more information about the Heisey Wind Ensemble, please contact Bill Thacker at (614) 834-1245 or wbt@ds.net .

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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