The Department of Music invites you to join them for two upcoming concerts to close out the school year.

On Saturday, May 31 at 5 p.m., the department will present their spring Wind Symphony Concert, featuring an ensemble of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. One of the featured pieces is a three-movement work titled “Trilogy,” written by Dan Shultz, former Department of Music chair and professor.

On Monday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Walla Walla University symphony orchestra is treating audiences to their final concert of the school year. A significant piece in this program will be “Vltava” written in 1874 by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana.

Inspired by the Vltava River and his surrounding landscapes, “Vltava,” was composed as one of six movements of Smetana's symphonic poem titled “Ma vlast,” or “My fatherland.” Created after Smetana had lost all sense of hearing, the piece inspired such strong cultural pride and resistance in the Czech people that it was banned by the Nazi Party during their occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Both performances will be directed by Brandon Beck, professor of music, and held in the University Church, located at 212 SW Fourth St., College Place. Admission is free and open to the public. To keep up with the Department of Music, go to wallawalla.edu/music, and to see recordings of previous concerts, please visit the department's YouTube channel.

Posted May 23, 2025.