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The music of Leonard Bernstein will fill the Dvorak Concert Hall when Eastern Illinois University’s Wind Symphony presents a Bernstein Bash on Saturday, April 22. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. musical extravaganza are available at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office. Proceeds from the event support the Earl Boyd Friends of the Band Scholarship Campaign.

Leonard Bernstein is one of the most successful and beloved musicians in American History. EIU’s Bernstein Bash will feature a wide range of his works including selections from his operetta Candide, the deeply soulful Mass, and his playful overture Slava. And it certainly wouldn’t be a Bernstein Bash without music from the composer’s epic musical, West Side Story.

“Every member of the Wind Symphony is excited about presenting this concert,” said Alicia Neal, the Wind Symphony’s conductor. “The students have been working extremely hard in rehearsing the music that so many people are familiar with and love.” The Eastern Wind Symphony is made up of 45 student musicians. In addition to the Wind Symphony, a student Musical Theater/Opera small ensemble and a student Jazz Combo will also be performing.

Neal said that while concert is the Wind Symphony’s final concert of the semester, the event also has another purpose. “Everything we are doing for this concert is to raise scholarship money for EIU music students.” “Every dime from the ticket sales goes directly to student scholarships” she added.

In addition to the Bernstein Bash concert, the EIU Bands will be hosting a silent auction in the Doudna’s concourse from 6 to 7:20pm and for 20 minutes following the concert. Several community businesses along with music students themselves have donated goods and services in an effort to raise money for the scholarship. Some of the special services the students have offered include a brass quintet available for a holiday party or wedding, piano tuning services, baby-sitting and dog-walking services, art pieces, and one of the most unique offerings is the opportunity to sit in the midst of the Wind Symphony itself at a future concert and feel what it’s like to be a member of a performing music ensemble during a concert.

“This concert is particularly special to me because it’s the last Wind Symphony concert for several members of the very first class of students I recruited to attend EIU,” said Neal. “Maja Dinger, Christopher Fryer and Dan Brickner, among several other graduating students, are amazing, young professional musicians. I met Maja, Chris, and Dan when they were still in high school. I see this concert as a celebration of what these students, along with the entire Wind Symphony, really, has become, and what we’ve accomplished together over the last four years.”

Neal went on to say that along with their private teachers, she recruited each one of these students to come to EIU. These students have all been in the EIU Wind Symphony since the first semester of their freshman year, so essentially, Dr. Neal, along with these three students have spent four days each week over the last four years making music together in rehearsals. “I greatly admire and appreciate their dedication to their love of music and their commitment to the Department of Music at EIU,” said Neal

Tickets for the Bernstein Bash are $13 for general audience members, $11 for seniors (62+) and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased online at www.eiu.edu/doudna or at the Doudna Fine Arts Center Box Office.  Box Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and one hour prior to the scheduled performance.

The Doudna Fine Arts Center is located at 1860 South 7th Street in Charleston on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. Convenient free parking is located near the fine arts center. To arrange accommodations for those needing special assistance, contact Doudna Fine Arts Patron Services at 217-581-3110 or doudnatix@eiu.edu.