New Mexico State University (NMSU) has announced that its wind symphony has been granted the opportunity to perform at the College Band Directors National Association Southwestern regional conference. In preparation for this prestigious event, the wind symphony will present its selected music through two concert performances at the Atkinson Recital Hall on campus.
The NMSU wind symphony is scheduled for two public performances: the first one will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, during the Southwest Honor Band festival, and the second one will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26. Both events are free of charge and open to all attendees. The wind symphony will represent NMSU at the association's conference in Kansas City from Feb. 28 to March 2, where colleges from various states will also participate. Selected every two years via peer review, the wind symphony consists of 45 to 50 members including both music majors and non-majors, according to a press release by NMSU.
"The Wind Symphony here at NMSU is the top instrumental ensemble in the music department," said Michael Mapp, director of bands at NMSU and conductor of the wind symphony as per a press release by NMSU. "Students are selected through an audition process, and we post excerpts on our music department website that students prepare. We generally hold auditions the first two days before classes start, both in the fall and spring semester."
According to information available on NMSU's Bands webpage, the university's wind symphony is distinguished as its premier wind ensemble comprising top wind and percussion performers who are selected through auditions. Known for its excellence, it has showcased its talent at prestigious venues nationwide such as New Mexico Music Educators Conference, Southwest Division of College Band Directors National Association, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco and the Kennedy Center. Under Mapp's direction, the ensemble is committed to fostering musical development.