Platte County R-3 Symphonic Band to present final concertThe Platte County R-3 85-member Symphonic Band will present their annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 9 in the Wilson Center for the Performing Arts. The concert will feature a wide variety of musical literature from traditional band works to an impressionistic composition depicting a gentle rain shower to highlights from Hollywood blockbusters.
The concert will also feature guest conductor Wendell Doyle, former director of the Platte County band program. Doyle will conduct the Fall River Overture, which he conducted at State Musical festival with the band in 1982. After receiving a I rating on their performance, Doyle used this same composition to open the band’s 1983 concert for the Missouri Music Educator’s Association convention.
“I am very glad to have Mr. Doyle back on the podium” stated band director Jay Jones. “Every band director owes a lot to the directors who came before him and every band’s traditions are the results of their past accomplishments. I’m glad Mr. Doyle agreed to come back and join us. It’s our way of showing that as we continue to create our own traditions, we are still very respectful of our past.”
Wendell Doyle retired as director of band at Platte County ten years ago this spring. Also featured at the concert will be the Western Winds from Missouri Western State College.
“This ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Hinton, has seen remarkable growth in recent years and represents a new standard of excellence for the Missouri Western music program,” added Jones. “This concert will make our second this semester with a college band, not many bands can make such a statement.”
The Platte County band presented a joint concert in March with the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony.
The Missouri Western performance will feature percussion specialist Kevin Bobo on marimba, as well as several classics of the band literature. The concert is free.