Valley Winds Presents “Flight”

The Valley Winds concert band will perform a free joint concert with the Hopkins Westwinds at 4 p.m. on February 16 at the Eastview High School Performing Arts Center.

The Valley Winds, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, will present a program based on the theme Flight. According to conductor and artistic director Tedd Gullickson, music that describes the history of flight will be presented along with selections that were commissioned by the United States Air Force.

The Winds will perform To Walk With Wings by Julie Girioux, March of the Belgian Parachutists by Pierre Lemmans and Soaring with John Williams arranged by Robert Smith. They will close with a special performance of the major work To Tame the Perilous Skies. Composer David Holsinger dedicates the piece “to the spirit of the modern military aviator, taming perilous skies that all might live free of tyranny and oppression.”

Flight, by Brian Balmages, will be guest conducted by the Winds tuba section leader, Ben Carter, who directs bands at Eden Prairie High School. Flute soloist Noah Stamboulieh will be featured on Baroque and Blue by Claude Bolling. Member Ann Mikiska states, “As a flute player in Valley Winds, I am most excited to listen to fellow flute player, Noah Stamboulich. I just know his technique and musicality will leave the audience in awe.”

The 70-piece Valley Winds are enjoying a busy second season with upcoming concerts in Glencoe, St. Paul’s Landmark Center and Moorhead. Bassist Mike Maiers says, “I enjoy the challenge and variety of the music we play. As a relative newcomer to Valley Winds, I have met many wonderful people who share a passion for excellence and supporting one another.”

The Hopkins Westwinds Concert Band will open the concert with a variety of Patriotic Selections including America, the Beautiful, The Stars and Stripes Forever and Variations on America. Selections from Wicked will also be performed. Founded in 1983, the group has over 75 members. Westwinds is led by Mike Anderson, conductor, and Emma Hedberg, associate conductor.