November concerts showcase LCCC’s music department

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – A pair of concerts that will entertain and inspire audiences are coming to Laramie County Community College in November. 

Honoring Our Veterans, a concert featuring the Cheyenne Brass Band and LCCC Wind Ensemble, is set for 3 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium. 

The concert will feature everything from light-hearted patriotic marches, the drama of battle in musical storytelling to the familiar American anthems fitting to the holiday. Frank Cook, LCCC music instructor, said it’s a delightful concert to put together each year because of the meaning it carries for the community. 

“We know how important the United States military is to this community,” Cook said. “We have a lot of active servicemembers and veterans and we want to make sure that we are recognizing all of the work that they do to maintain the freedoms in this country.” 

The brass band’s performance will feature the National Anthem, William Pardus’s up-tempo “Fanfare for Patriots,” Philip Spark’s “Scaramouche” featuring retired U.S. Air Force Band euphonium player Will Jones, Stephen Bulla’s dramatic tone poem “Images for Brass,” and the “Armed Forces Medley.” 

The Wind Ensemble will open with the march from the Steven Spielberg war comedy classic “1941” by John Williams before playing the beloved tune “America” from “West Side Story.” In addition to a few other patriotic numbers, the ensemble’s performance of the concert march “On the Mall”— celebrating its 100th anniversary — will call on the audience to participate by singing along. Will Jones will again take the stage to perform Eduarod Boccalari’s operatic “Fantasia di Concerto: Sounds from the Riviera.” 

A Vocal Showcase, a concert featuring the talents of the Cantorei Choir, the Collegiate Choir and soloists, is set for 3 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Surbrugg/Prentice Auditorium. In addition to vocalists from LCCC, the Central High School Choir, under the direction of David Hurst, will be joining the performance. The high school’s art department is also a part of the concert, as students are painting renditions of two songs that will be displayed in the auditorium lobby. 

The first half of the vocal concert will feature contemporary selections, with members of the Cantorei performing memorable solos, said Beth Smith-Jacobs, LCCC choir instructor. A more traditional second half filled with French and liturgical Latin music will be sure to delight audiences. 

“It’s exciting that we can present every aspect of our vocal department,” Smith-Jacobs said.

As an added bonus, any students from Laramie County School districts 1 and 2 and LCCC who attend the vocal concert will be entered into chances to win prizes from local businesses. Tickets for arts events, food, coffee and more are up for grabs.  

Both the Honoring Our Veterans and A Vocal Showcase concerts are free and open to the public. 

For more information on the events and LCCC’s music programs, contact Dr. Frank Cook at fcook@lccc.wy.edu  or 307.778.1306 or visit lccc.wy.edu.