Released March 16, 2005

Hattiesburg- The nationally recognized Wind Ensemble, the top concert band at The University of Southern Mississippi, will present its concerto concert at 7:30 p.m. March 22 in Bennett Auditorium.

Under the direction of Dr. Thomas Fraschillo, director of bands at Southern Miss, the ensemble is widely known in music circles for its exceptionally gifted student performers and for its diverse and challenging repertoire. The annual concerto concert is an opportunity to showcase outstanding graduate student conductors, who are all studying with Fraschillo, as well as student performers.

"We are extremely proud of the continued accomplishments of this band," Fraschillo said. "The students continue to be a source of pride for us in the School of Music, for their dedication to the music and for striving to perform at their best."

Doctoral conducting assistant Carson Vermillion of Lenoir, N.C., will open the concert, conducting Aaron Copland's "An Outdoor Overture." Vermillion came to Southern Miss, having had a successful public school teaching career, to study conducting with Fraschillo.

"We are fortunate at Southern Miss to attract quality students like Carson Vermillion," Fraschillo said. "We are committed to these students' future, as they place a great trust in the hands of the faculty and university system as a whole. We don't take this commitment lightly. We know the sacrifices made by these students and their families in returning to school."

The next work on the program will feature tuba soloist Thomas Peacock, a senior music performance major of Athens, Ga. He has studied primarily with Jesse Walker and Southern Miss faculty member Richard Perry.

The tubist will perform Elizabeth Raum's "Concerto Del Garda," conducted by Jamie Strickland of Marietta, Fla., a doctoral candidate in conducting.

Vermillion will return to the podium to conduct Warren Benson's "Concertino for Eb Alto Saxophone," featuring Christopher Condon, a senior performance major from Moreland, Ga. Condon studies with professor of music Dr. Lawrence Gwozdz.

The last of the student soloists will be Wes Parker, a doctoral candidate in trombone and former student of Kevin Chiarizzio and Marta Hofacre. Under the baton of doctoral conductor Jody Besse of Lafayette, La., Parker will perform Richard Peaslee's "Arrows of Time."

"These are the very best students in the School of Music at Southern Miss," Fraschillo praised. "They auditioned and competed with 36 other outstanding soloists. Few schools of our nature can boast of this kind of talent."

Tickets for the concert are $6 for general admission and $3 for Southern Miss faculty, staff and students, senior citizens and children under 12. Call the Southern Miss ticket office at (601) 266-5418 or 800-844-8425 for tickets or order online at www.usm.edu/tickets. For more information on Southern Miss bands, call (601) 266-4990.

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