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West Point Chamber Band to Play Singletary
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2012) − The University of Kentucky Bands will host the West Point Chamber Band as they make a stop in Kentucky on their spring 2012 tour. The concert, conducted by UK Director of Bands John Cody Birdwell, Sergeant 1st Class Christopher Rettie and Captain Dae Kim, will take the stage 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at the Singletary Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public.
As part of their UK visit, the West Point Chamber Band will present a concert program comprised of three separate works, Serenade in E-flat, Op. 7 by Richard Strauss, conducted by Birdwell; "Sept Petite Pieces" by Francis Chagrin, conducted by Kim; and Sonatina No. 1 in F "From an Invalid’s Workshop" by Strauss, conducted by Rettie.
The West Point Chamber Band has performed in a variety of venues, from athletic events and military ceremonies, to Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. The concert band boasts world-class musicians including graduates from the top music programs in the United States.
Captain Dae Kim is currently serving as deputy commander/associate conductor of the West Point Band. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., he holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music from Temple University. Kim has performed under many noted conductors including Christoph Eschenbach, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Leonard Slatkin. He has also made solo and festival appearances at the Academy of Music, Aspen Music Festival and the National Orchestral Institute. Kim's most recent assignment was as executive officer of the Army Ground Forces Band in Fort McPherson, Ga., where he also served as director of the wind orchestra at Georgia State University.
Sergeant 1st Class Christopher Rettie is a native of Hopkinsville, Ky. He is an alumnus of Murray State University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in saxophone performance, and Louisiana State University, where he earned a master's degree in saxophone performance and a doctoral degree in saxophone performance with a minor in wind conducting. Rettie is currently the instructor of the saxophone, clarinet and woodwind ensemble at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. His recordings can be heard on the West Point, Louisiana State University, New Tertian and Caliente labels.
Serving as a guest conductor for the West Point Chamber Band concert will be UK's own John Cody Birdwell. Birdwell is an alumnus of West Texas State University where he obtained degrees in music education and conducting. He also holds a doctoral degree in instrumental conducting from the University of North Texas. Prior to joining the UK School of Music in 2004, he served as director of bands and associate professor of music at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Birdwell is currently the conductor of the UK Wind Ensemble. Birdwell's ensembles have previously performed throughout the United States, Great Britain and China. He is an active guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.
The West Point Chamber Band concert at UK will mark the end of the band's tour, which included performances at the University of Cincinnati, Indiana University and the University of Louisville.
UK Bands is part of the UK School of Music and the UK College of Fine Arts and a vital part of the Winds, Percussion and Jazz Division. UK Bands also includes three concert bands, the Wildcat Marching Band and Pep Band, and several jazz and percussion ensembles. Qualified students are invited to participate in any of the bands, regardless of academic discipline area.
For more information about the West Point Band, visit their website at www.westpointband.com. For more information about UK Bands, visit their website at www.ukbands.org or call (859) 257-2263.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu
