Heisey Wind Ensemble presents “A Hometown Christmas”

The Heisey Wind Ensemble continues their 40^th Anniversary Season with a Christmas concert on Saturday, December 14, 2024 in the Lawrence E. Griffin Performing Arts Center at Newark High School.  The concert begins at 7:30 pm with pre-concert music starting at 6:45 pm by the HWE Trombone players.

Dr. Russel Mikkelson, Music Director and Principal Conductor, has titled the concert “A Hometown Christmas” and will feature traditional Christmas favorites, carols, and new selections HWE has not performed in the past.  The concert will feature Wesley Clark narrating The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book.  The concert will include Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed, Cowboy Christmas by Jeff Simmons, Santa’s Journey by Roy Kaighin and Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.

The HWE, formed in 1985, is recognized as one of Ohio’s finest adult concert bands.  Membership is by audition only and includes outstanding musicians from Licking, Franklin, Fairfield, Guernsey, Delaware, Coshocton, and Muskingum counties.  The band has been selected to perform at conventions of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) and the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA).  The first rehearsal for the HWE was on February 1, 1985, and the first concert was on June 10, 1985.  The group has performed 161 concerts to date.

The remaining concerts in the 2024-2025 40^th Anniversary Season are Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30 pm; and the HWE Big Band on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 7:30 pm.  All concerts, except December, are at the Reese Center on the Newark Campus of OSU and COTC.

Tickets for HWE concerts are available only at the door.  Adults are $15, seniors (60+) are $10 and students are $5.  Additional information can be found at the band’s web site at www.heiseywindensemble.org