Conductor Thomas Verrier’s concept for “A ‘Home-Made’ Concert” takes inspiration from his experiences growing up in East Lyme, Connecticut, where he played in a youth orchestra with Gary Kuo, who has gone on to acclaim as an Emmy Award-winning composer and violinist. Kuo’s composition, “Wingspan,” is the cornerstone of the September 19 program and will feature a guest performance by esteemed horn player and Blair professor Leslie Norton.

“Gary and I graduated from the same high school and played in a youth orchestra together,” said Verrier. “But what’s better than that is that Leslie Norton is from the same area and played in that same youth orchestra, at a different time. This program theme is all about my hometown connection and I selected other works based on that idea.”

The program, entitled “A ‘Home-Made’ Concert,” features:

“Shortcut Home” – Dana Wilson
“Letter From Home” – Aaron Copland / arr. Belski
“Wingspan” – Gary Kuo, featuring soloist Leslie Norton, horn
“Old Home” – Charles Ives
“The Journey Home” – Andrew Boysen
“American Salute” – Morton Gould

The Vanderbilt Wind Symphony comprises woodwind, brass, percussion, harp, piano, and double-bass students. Its repertoire consists of canonical works and new compositions, including settings in a diversity of styles and genres. The Wind Symphony participates in commercial recordings, performs at conferences and on tour, interacts with living composers, works with guest artists, and collaborates with Blair faculty performers and composers.