Symphonic Winds in concert April 7

Furman University Symphonic Winds will present a concert Friday, April 7 at 8 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium on the Furman campus.

The concert, “Lift Off,” is open to the public and is presented by the Sound Quality Concert Series. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students.

Director of Athletic Bands Jay Bocook joins Hicken in conducting “Lift Off.”

The performance is conducted by director of bands Leslie W. Hicken and director of athletic bands Jay Bocook, and features marimba soloist and Furman music professor Omar Carmenates.

Laced with outer space, life, and military themes, the concert includes work by contemporary composers Peter Graham, Adam Silverman, Michael Gaydeski, Roger Zare, and Mason Bates. On marimba, Carmenates performs a movement of Silverman’s Carbon Paper and Nitrogen Ink.

Music professor Omar Carmenates

A versatile performer with a strong interest in contemporary solo and chamber music, Carmenates is Associate Professor of Percussion at Furman where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world percussion studies.

Carmenates’ debut solo CD, The Gaia Theory, presents premiere recordings of works by Scott Lindroth, John Psathas, Christopher Adler, David Skidmore, Christopher Deane, and Brian Nozny. Carmenates can also be heard on the Cantaloupe Records release of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit for 9-99 percussionists, a work that he both co-commissioned and directed in its United States premiere.

Other projects include The John Psathas Percussion Project, featuring percussion arrangements of works by New Zealand’s most renowned composer, John Psathas, and a collaboration with Furman University’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability and the Furman Percussion Ensemble, which resulted in a recording of Matthew Burtner’s Six Ecoacoustic Quintets.

Carmenates holds a doctorate in music from Florida State University, a master’s in percussion performance from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Central Florida.

For more information, contact the Furman Band Office at 864-294-3069, or the Furman Music Office at 864-294-2086. Tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite (a small processing fee applies). Tickets may also be purchased at the door or through the Furman Music Office with no additional fees.