This week, Methodist University students will be joining some of Fayetteville’s most talented musicians for an out-of-this-world performance.
This week, Methodist University students will be joining some of Fayetteville’s most talented musicians for an out-of-this-world performance.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and MU Concert Band will be teaming up for their first of five concerts in the 2023-24 season. The event is set for 7:30 p.m. at the University’s Huff Concert Hall in the Reeves Fine Arts Complex and is free to the public.
The upcoming hour-long concert, “Orbiting Spheres,” will showcase music all about space and flight – all performed by local musicians and current MU students who have worked together on rehearsals since August.
“The concerts are frequently described as one of the hidden treasures in Fayetteville,” said Dr. Daniel McCloud, MU’s associate professor of Music. “The program will feature selections from Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets,’ which is a monumentally famous work. Another featured work on the program is ’12 Seconds to the Moon,’ which is meant to celebrate the history of aviation from the first 12-second flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright in Kitty Hawk to landing on the moon. There’s more, but I don’t want to give it all away!”
One of the student musicians, freshman Tucker Samuelian, is set to play the cello during Tuesday night’s performance – a time he is greatly looking forward to.
“As a student, the opportunity to play in the MU Concert Band alongside the Fayetteville Symphonic Band is an enriching experience that will help me grow as a musician,” said Samuelian, a Political Science and Business Administration major. “It provides me an opportunity to continue playing my instrument in a group setting with other passionate band members. Under the excellent instruction of Dr. McCloud, people from all walks of life are able to come together and perform.”
The Fayetteville Symphonic Band and MU Concert Band already have more concerts lined up for the remaining year:
- Nov. 28, 2023: Holiday Concert (7:30 p.m. at Huff Concert Hall)
- Feb. 27, 2024: Year of the Dragon (7:30 p.m. at Huff Concert Hall)
- April 16, 2024: Bandancing! (7:30 p.m. at Huff Concert Hall)
- July 4, 2024: July 4th (TBD at Festival Park)
Visit our website to learn more about Methodist University’s Fine and Performing Arts Division.