YOUNGSTOWN — The Liberty High School concert band took the stage Thursday evening at Stambaugh Auditorium for a free performance alongside The Ohio State University Symphonic Band as part of the college’s OPUS 88 program.
OPUS 88, which began three years ago, brings the university’s symphonic band to all 88 counties in Ohio. As of October, the program had reached 44 of them.
The OSU Symphonic Band performed four selections at Thursday’s concert and the Liberty students joined them on stage for two additional pieces.
Pieces played by OSU musicians included:
• “Urban Light,” which was conducted by OSU conductor Scott Jones.
• “Three Latin Dances,” which was conducted by OSU conductor Shawn Davern.
• “Adoration” by Florence Price.
• “The Adventures of Jesse Owens,” which consists of three movements: “Cotton,” “Berlin” and “Gold.”
The Liberty band joined OSU musicians for “Scarborough Fair,” which is the final movement of the larger “Three Folk Song Settings for Band.” The second combination performance was “Sounds from the Oval,” which was commissioned in 2018 by the musicians of the Ohio State Symphonic Band and made possible through funding from a Student Organizations Programming Grant. The medley includes four Ohio State campus songs: “Across the Field,” “I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State,” the university’s alma mater, “Carmen Ohio” and “Buckeye Battle Cry.”
OSU musicians also came to Liberty High School Friday morning for a practice session.
“We are thrilled to welcome The Ohio State University Symphonic Band to Liberty,” said Liberty Band Director Michael Summers. “This is an incredible opportunity for our students to perform alongside these musicians and experience the artistry and excellence of one of the nation’s premier collegiate ensembles. It’s going to be an unforgettable night of music for our community.”
Also Thursday, Ohio State Symphonic Band member and Liberty graduate Zach Grant took the stage with his brother, Liberty senior Devon Grant, who was recently accepted into the prestigious Ohio State Trumpet Studio, where he will major in music education.
Credit: Tribune Chronicle