Wisconsin Symphonic Winds will present a program entitled “Let's Dance”—music inspired by dance from around the world—on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Hall of the Arts and Communications Center at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. The group will be conducted by their Artistic Director Dr. Rob McWilliams and the guest soloist for this performance will be the outstanding Australian clarinetist, Diana Tolmie.
The Wisconsin Symphonic Winds is made up of more than fifty musicians and is in its eighth season, performing a handful of concerts each summer. Formed in 2004 on an initiative of Rand Skelton, Appleton based musician and contractor, the WSW has played twice at the prestigious Green Lake Festival as well as at the State Music Educator’s conference in Madison. The group's conductor, Dr. Rob McWilliams, says he feels privileged to work with some of the best wind and percussion players from the Fox Valley and wider region. “WSW gives these fine musicians an opportunity to play wind band literature at the highest level. It’s all volunteer and the vast majority of the musicians come back to play every summer.”
The forthcoming program entitled "Let's Dance" features music inspired by dance from various parts of the globe. Included will be a wind band setting of Malcolm Arnold's "Four Scottish Dances," Alfred Reed's "Armenian Dances" (Part One), Ralph Hultgren's "Bushdance" based on Australian folk tunes, and UK composer Kenneth Hesketh's colorful "Danceries" using some beautifully arranged seventeenth century dance tunes intertwined with original themes. Kit Turnbull's wonderfully evocative "African Dances" for clarinet and wind ensemble will feature special guest soloist from Australia—Diana Tolmie.
Diana Tolmie has performed for the past 20 years professionally in a variety of styles on clarinets, saxophones and flutes. Diana is a graduate and post-graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium, Australia. She has led a varied musical career instigated by a Churchill Fellowship; Queen Elizabeth Trust Scholarship; and the Dulcie Robertson prize for highest woodwind results at the Conservatorium. She has been a member of many ensembles and undergone many tours and solo appearances. She has been finalist in the International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition held in Paris 1996 and the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference Competition in 1997. Sessional work includes 20 years of performing with The Queensland Symphony, Philharmonic and Pops Orchestras, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Opera Queensland; and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, plus a string of professionally produced musicals for the last 15 years in Australia and Asia - the most recent being "Wicked."
Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Music Hall, Arts & Communications Building, UWO (cnr of Vine and Elmwood Streets, Oshkosh).
Tickets: $8 full. $5 students and children. Free for students with UWO ID
