Introduction

“Winds Go Pops” Concert March 2nd, 2017

“Winds Go Pops” Concert March 2nd, 2017

Winds Go PopsWhat do Star Wars, Spider-Man and Popeye the Sailor have in common? They are all represented on the program when Santa Fe College music students in the 24-piece Wind Ensemble will play selections from movie themes and more in the “Winds Go Pops” concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, in the Building E Auditorium on the west side of the Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville. Admission is free and Musicians United, the student club that organizes the event, will hold a bake sale to raise money for the group’s end-of-year trip.

“We call this concert ‘Winds Go Pops’ in a nod to the Boston Pops Orchestra that is famous for playing light classical and popular music,” explained SF Music Professor and Band Director Dr. Steve Bingham, Ph.D. “This year, we’re featuring themes from recent movies and Broadway shows.”

On the program are:

  • The theme from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” by John Williams
  • “Music for a Darkened Theatre” featuring movie themes by Danny Elfman: “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Tales from the Crypt,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Beetlejuice” and “Spider-Man”
  • Selections from the Broadway play “Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz
  • “Pirates of the Caribbean” themes by Hans Zimmer
  • “Cartoon Express,” a medley of tunes from Warner Brothers cartoons arranged by Les Taylor: “The Pink Panther,” “Merrily We Roll Along” and “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man”
  • John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever”

The students in the ensemble meet twice a week to rehearse with Bingham. “The Wind Ensemble is smaller than a full orchestra,” he explained, “so we have one or two people playing a part instead of the 10 to 12 people in an orchestra. Playing in an ensemble is tougher on the musicians because they can’t hide!”

“Winds Go Pops” is organized by Musicians United and sponsored by SF Student Life. For more information, call Steve Bingham at 352-281-4035.

For more information about the SF Fine Arts programs, call Fine Arts Department Chair Alora Haynes, 352-395-5296.