Symphonic Band to perform April 29

Northwestern College’s Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. Tim McGarvey, will present its last concert of the year on Friday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. The public is invited to attend.

The spring concert is entitled “A Long Time Ago … Far, Far Away.” Each piece on the program is representative of something far, far away or from long ago, including Suite From The Star Wars Epic by John Williams. This piece has all six episodes of Star Wars represented.

The band will present six works in total, including Gandalf (The Wizard) from The Lord of the Rings Symphony, a Johan de Meij composition written years before J. R. R. Tolkein’s books were adapted for film.

Finally, the concert will feature Xerses by John Mackey. “It’s an exciting, heavy and sinister piece written by a young composer about the ruthless King Xerses of Persia,” says McGarvey.

The 53-member Symphonic Band has performed across the U.S. and in Central and South America. During this year’s spring break, the ensemble toured in the Pacific Northwest.

Director McGarvey, professor of music, joined the faculty in 1989 and received the Northwestern Teaching Excellence Award in 1994. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. McGarvey also earned a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting at Western Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in music education at Taylor University in Indiana.