The UCLA Wind Ensemble presents its first concert of the academic year, and it’s an anniversary party! We celebrate the sesquicentenary of the towering 20th century composer, former UCLA faculty member, and namesake of our music building, Arnold Schoenberg, with a performance of his only original work for concert band, the Theme and Variations, Op. 43a. The program opens by honoring two other composers born in 1874, Norwegians Johannes Hanssen and Egil Hovland, with Hanssen’s delightful Valdresmarsj and Hovland’s dramatic Fanfare og Koral. The concert also includes Australian composer Holly Harrison’s Splinter and works by American composers George Walker (Lyric for Band), Viet Cuong (Deciduous), and John Mackey (Aurora Awakes, marking its 15th anniversary).
This event is made possible by the David and Irmgard Dobrow Fund. Classical music was a passion of the Dobrows, who established a generous endowment at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to make programs like this possible. We are proud to celebrate this program as part of the 2024 - 25 Dobrow Series.