For immediate release Contact: Roxanne Seidel September 22, 2015 612/867-4306

“A Musical Tribute Honoring Bill Webb” will feature the Edina High School and the Symphonic Winds on Saturday, 10/3 at EHS

Edina, Minnesota...Edina High School Band Director Emeritus William A. Webb will be honored by his peers, current and former band members and fellow adult musicians at a Saturday, October 3rd 3:00 pm concert at Edina High School. Performing ensembles include the Edina High School Concert Band and the Minnesota Symphonic Winds. Bill Webb serves as the Associate Conductor of the latter ensemble, an Edina-based adult community band now in its 37th year. The celebratory concert, which will feature musical tributes, remembrances and special guests, is free and open to the public. Edina High School is located at 6754 Valley View Road in Edina. Under the direction of Conductor Paul Kile, the Edina Concert Band will open the show with a musical montage of past Pops Concert shows presented under Webb’s direction during his 1986 to 2010 tenure as Director of Bands at EHS. The band follows with The Victors March (arranger Balent), as well as Tribute, by Travis Cross. Cross, an Edina band alumnus and now Director of Bands at UCLA, will be directing his own composition. Paul Kile will conduct the band in Timothy Mahr’s fanfare entitled Bright Side, written for Bill especially for this occasion. Finally, the Edina Concert Band will perform Bugler’s Holiday (Anderson), conducted by Bill Webb and featuring his former teachers, students, Edina boosters, and colleagues as guest trumpeters. Serving in his role as Minnesota Symphonic Winds Associate Conductor, Bill Webb will conduct the ensemble in two sentimental selections. Minnesota composer Daniel Kallman’s Children’s Guide to the Concert Band was commissioned in 1997 by the ensemble in honor of Minnesota Symphonic Winds’ 20th Anniversary year. It also celebrated MSW’s founding director, Maestro Miles Johnson, with whom Webb worked closely for many years. Johnson served as one of Bill Webb’s mentors, naming him as Associate Director of MSW in the ensemble’s early years. Bill Webb will also be the moving Out of the Darkness Into The Light, composed by Phillip Sparke. Dr. Timothy Mahr takes the podium to lead the Minnesota Symphonic Winds in the premiere performance of young MN composer Carl Holmquist’s Emeritus. MSW has held a strong connection with Holmquist in the past, premiering a number of his compositions to kudos from enthusiasts and reviewers alike. The new piece was commissioned by the Edina Simon family, in appreciation to its talented band directors for their many years of service to the Edina High School music community. Mahr will also conduct up-and-coming young composer Jonathan J. Bartz’s TALL TALES (Pecos Bill). Both ensembles will then come together for a festive finale performance of On the Mall, a traditional selection performed annually at every final Edina Concert Band concert. Conducting will be special guest Ed Melichar, Bill Webb’s esteemed predecessor at EHS. For more information regarding this special event, or future Minnesota Symphonic Winds performances, visit www.mswinds.com, or call 952/294-9810. Also find Minnesota Symphonic Winds on Facebook. Future Edina High School Concert Band performances can be found on the Edina High School website, or by calling Director Paul Kile at 952/848-3080. # # #