By Emily Rose, Contributing Writer
Susquehanna University’s Symphonic Band made a triumphant return to the stage at their fall concert. The four-song showcase took place in Stretansky Hall on the evening of Oct. 9. Conducted by Eric L. Hinton, the band is made up of 47 members.
The room exploded with sound with the first piece titled “Rocket”. The piece was written by Steve Rouse in 2008. Rouse’s goal for the piece was to mimic the sounds of a rocket by passing volume between sections of the band. The band sounded terrific, and the crowd agreed with applause at the conclusion.
There were a few moments of quiet and tuning from principal oboe player Michelle Pretsch ‘25 before Hinton returned to the stage to conduct the next piece. Written by Gary Powell Nash, “A Fraternal Prelude” was written in 1997, his piece was inspired by the hymn for Morgan State University’s chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi Eta Gamma.
“My first band concert at SU was such an amazing experience, and it makes me excited to continue making such great music with all my friends,” Pretsch said when asked for a comment.
The next piece was special, as this performance was its world premiere. “Homecoming” was written in 2020 by Keiron Anderson, and was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The goal for this piece was to foster a feeling of gratitude for musicians and audience members alike and welcome them back to the world of music performance.
Hinton then took the time to do something similar to Anderson and thank the audience for spending their time with the band. He congratulated the band on their return to the stage after a long year without live music and presented the final song of the night.
“Gustav Holst’s First Suite in Eb” was the final piece of the night. The three-part song was written for a military band in 1909 and according to Hinton is a staple component of the symphonic band’s portfolio. Each part flowed seamlessly into the next, and the ring of the last notes mixed with applause as the band stood for their final bow.
Overall, the concert was a positive experience and made for a pleasant evening. The symphonic band has many more events lined up for the rest of this semester, so there’s a chance for any member of the SU community to see the talent the band has to offer.
