BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Department of Music at Bemidji State University presents “A Recital of Many Colors,” including performances by the BSU trombone choir, saxophone quartet and trumpet ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. The recital will be held in the recital hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex on the Bemidji State campus. Admission is free.

Selections for the evening will range from Renaissance and Baroque to the more-modern sounds of George Gershwin and W.C. Handy.

The saxophone quartet is under the direction of Dr. Steven Konecne, who has been at Bemidji State since 1979. Konecne teaches woodwinds and jazz studies courses, and is the former director of BSU’s Jazz I ensemble. He has served as a backup musician for Red Skelton, Bob Hope, Jimmy Dean and the Oak Ridge Boys, and has performed with jazz greats Thad Jones and Gary Burton.

The trombone choir and trumpet ensemble are both under the direction of BSU alumni who are adjunct members of the faculty.

The trombone choir is directed by Les Torgerson, who teaches low brass methods and applied lessons for euphonium, trombone and tuba. The director of the Bemidji High School band in the 1970s, Torgerson also was director of music at Northland Community College in Thief River Falls, Minn. and served on the adjunct faculty at the University of North Dakota. He also taught elementary and high school music in Dillingham, Alaska. He continues to be an active performer in area groups including the Bemidji Big Band and the Northland Community Band.

The trumpet ensemble is being directed by Graham Steeds, in place of Dr. Delon Lyren who is away on sabbatical. Steeds has appeared as a soloist with the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, the BSU wind ensemble, the Glenlawn Collegiate Wind Ensemble and the Winnipeg Sousa Band at the International Peace Gardens. He also has been a featureds soloist at the Banff National Music Festival.

Graham Steed is filling in for Dr. Delron Lyron who is on a Sabbatical assignment this year. Steeds has appeared as soloist on many occasions including the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Sousa Band at the International Peace Gardens, Bemidji State University Wind Ensemble, Glenlawn Collegiate Wind Ensemble, and has been a featured soloist at the Banff National Music Festival. Three of his performances have been nationally broadcast on public radio in the United States and Canada. Steeds was a member of the Symphonia Gulf Coast Orchestra and has performed with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet.

Members of the performing ensembles include students from BSU as well as musicians from surrounding communities who love to perform in an ensemble venue.

For more information, please contact the Department of Music at (218) 755-2915.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Nov. 20 – 7:30 p.m. – “A Recital of Many Colors,” a performance of the Bemidji State University trombone choir, saxophone quartet and trumpet ensemble. Location: recital hall of the Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex, BSU campus: Admission: free.