Music filled the Center for the Arts as the UW-Plateville Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed in the Brodbeck Concert Hall. The band played several pieces, such as “Radiant Joy” and “The Virginians.” This was the first concert performed as part of the UW-P Tri-State Honors Band Festival.

The main conductor for the evening was UW-P Director of Bands Barry Ellis.

“This is the fifth year we’ve done this,” Ellis said. “We have had great musicians and great conductors. They have worked very hard and have made incredible progress.”

James F. Keene temporarily stepped in as a guest conductor for the powerful piece “Vesuvius.” Keene has had an extensive music career, having toured internationally and performed on five continents and even worked as a mentor of sorts to Ellis. Although Keene retired from the University of Illinois School of Music two years ago, he still performs widely throughout the United States.

“‘Vesuvius’ was a very interesting piece to play,” said Martin Hubmann, oboe and English horn player. “It was able to tell a story with music. And when we were playing with Keene, we were able to see where Ellis picked up some of his conducting style from.”

One of the highlights of the performance was Syncreatic Dance, an original piece composed by UW-P director of percussion and jazz studies, Joseph Caploe.

“I originally wrote this for percussion, but converted it for wind ensemble,” Caploe said. “I had some help with, as my grandfather would put it, ‘ironing out the bugs.’”

When talking about his inspiration for the piece, Caploe said, “It’s based on Indian music. Not American Indian, but eastern. They start and stop playing, but they believe the music is always happening.”

The performance ended with “The Washington Post,” one of the most famous marches of legendary American composer John Philip Sousa.

“As a concert band, we must a play march,” Ellis said. “It is our music.”