Four Rising Stars to be featured in SEK Symphony concert

Four accomplished student musicians who won the Concerto Aria Competition will be featured in this year's "Rising Stars" concert by the Southeast Kansas Symphony at Pittsburg State University on Sunday, March 24.

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. in the Linda & Lee Scott Performance Hall at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, 1711 S. Homer. It will be conducted by Assistant Professor Ramiro Miranda and graduate student Tom Smith.

Joel Garber, clarinet, is a Music Education and Clarinet Performance major from Grove, Oklahoma. He earned a placement in the OkMEA All-State Wind Symphony and has been the principal clarinetist of the SEK Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster for the PSU Wind Ensemble. He has performed with the Four States Symphonic Winds, Pinnacle Winds, and Crimson Winds woodwind quintet. He has taught private lessons and been a woodwind technician for area public schools.

Ryan Ford, trumpet, is a Music Education and Trumpet/Piano major from Rogers, Arkansas, who started out as a Biochemistry major before following his passion; he now performs with many university ensembles. He is part of the PSU Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and the SEK Symphony.

"Music makes me happy and gives me a feeling that nothing else ever will," he said.

Maria Snider, mezzo-soprano, is a Vocal Performance major who has performed roles in operas and musicals across the region including Baba from Menotti's The Medium, the Principessa in Suor Angelica, and she recently appeared as Mrs. Potts in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, she now resides in Miami, Oklahoma, with her husband and 5 children.

Jewel Lunday is a flute player from Pittsburg who is majoring in Business Management with a minor in Music and is active in several university ensembles, including Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and the symphony.

"I enjoy performing in these ensembles and have always wanted to compete in this competition, so I am very excited to be joining this year," she said.

The concert will include songs by composers Piazzolla, Copland, Danzi, Rossini, and Haydn, as well as a song composed by alumnus and faculty member Brock Willard-Cheeseman.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale now for $12 for the public and $8 for senior citizens. The concert is free to youth under age 18 and to anyone with a Pitt State ID.

They may be purchased in advance at the PSU Ticket Office, 107 Weede Gymnasium, online at pittstate.edu/tickets, or by calling 620-235-4796. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the door starting one hour before each concert.

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