Arts & Culture

Feel 'The Force' at UK Wind Symphony concert Oct. 16

photo of UK Wind Symphony "Star Wars" concert web baner
UK Wind Symphony takes a galactic turn on stage with a concert featuring music from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" beginning 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at Singletary Center.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Bands will present the UK Wind Symphony in an intergalactically anticipated concert, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” beginning 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The concert will feature John Williams’ Oscar-nominated score of the 2015 film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” along with works by Leonard Bernstein, Percy Grainger, Scott Boerma and guest composer Jenni Brandon.

John Cody Birdwell, D.M.A, conducts the UK Wind Symphony with graduate conductor, Ashley Shoupe. Featured soloists will be School of Music faculty ToniMarie Marchioni, D.M.A., on oboe, and Allison Nicotera, D.M.A, on bassoon. Program to include “Profanation” by Leonard Bernstein, “Zoom” by Scott Boerma, “Double Concerto for Oboe, Bassoon, and Wind Ensemble” by Jenni Brandon and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” by John Williams

The UK Wind Symphony consists of the finest wind and percussion graduate and undergraduate students in the nationally recognized UK School of Music conducted by Birdwell, director of UK Bands. As the centerpiece of a band program that has served the Commonwealth of Kentucky for over 100 years, the Wind Symphony continues a rich tradition of performing the finest traditional and contemporary compositions in the concert band/chamber winds repertoire.    

Tickets for UK Wind Symphony concerts are $10 for general admission, $4 for students and free for UK students with a valid ID before the day of the performance (at the Singletary Center ticket office). Tickets are available through the Singletary Center ticket office online at www.scfatickets.com, by phone at 859-257-4929 or in person at the venue.  

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.