Friday, September 11, 2015
MSU Fieldhouse
7:30pm
No Admission

Spirit of the West

 

Details

The Montana State University band program will present a free concert in the MSU field house on Friday, September 11th at 7:30 pm. The evening will feature performances by the  MSU Wind Symphony, the one o'clock jazz band, and the Spirit of the West Marching Band. Dedicated to the American Spirit, the music has been selected to entertain audiences of all ages, and will include several special compositions in tribute to American freedom. Additional highlights include jazz saxophone artist Ryan Montana as well as the entire 190-piece MSU Marching Band. 

Come celebrate over 100 years of bands at Montana State in tribute of the American Spirit by attending this free concert. 

About the Performance

We are presenting this concert in tribute to all of the unsung heroes who have contributed to make our nation a place where people can gather and share in activity as wonderful and magical as music. Without the sacrifice of Americans throughout our history, we wouldn't have the environment of freedom and scholarship that we enjoy at Montana State University and allows us to have things like...a marching band. It is this environment of safety and inclusiveness that have allowed us to thrive, and now we want to showcase the amazing work of our students who dedicate their time and energy toward creating music.

Program

MSU Wind Symphony
The Star-Spangled Banner
Esprit de Corps
Variations on America
The One o'clock Jazz Band
What a Wonderful World
Other selections TBA
The "Spirit of the West Marching Band"
How the West Was Won (for the Sprit of the West Marching Band)
"A Day in the Life of a Dragon" (featuring music from Game of Thrones, How to Train Your Dragon, and Dragonforce)
Spice Rack (MSU Drumline)
Stand Up and Cheer: The MSU Fight Song

Interesting Facts

  • The ensembles performing represent over 40 majors from all over campus
  • The Spirit of the West is the largest in MSU history at over 185 members
  • Every member of the marching band puts in nearly 250 per season and receives a $1000 scholarship for participating 
  • Variations on America was written when the composer was only 15 years old.
  • The drumline cadence is composed entirely by Stephen Versaevel, our percussion instructor
  • The leader of the jazz band is Ryan Matzinger who, going by Ryan Montana, is a Grammy Award-winning artist.
  • Our music arranger, Dr. Jay Smith, is currently director of the Yellowstone Theological Institute in Bozeman.
  • The marching band is housed in the School of Music under the umbrella of the College of Arts and Architecture, and is not funded by the Department of Athletics.
  • The price of a new sousaphone is $5000, the price of a new uniform is $500. Most of our student provide their own instruments (but not uniforms)

Directors

Keith Kothman, Director of the MSU School of Music
Stephen Versaevel, Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Director of the SotW
Ryan Matzinger, Director of the One o'clock Jazz Band

Nathan Stark, Director of Bands