Tuesday night was anything but a simple, quiet night in the Setnor School of Music as smooth, passionate classical music filled the building, played by the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble.

Dressed formally in black and white, musicians sat on the stage surrounded by Baroque-style, dark yellow wooden stands at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening was the ensemble’s second and last concert of the semester. The conductor drew in the audience with his baton as elegant, lively and spirited sounds flew from the ends of saxophones, euphoniums, tubas, horns and string bass.

The concert lasted almost an hour and a half and was a musical feast for the audience’s ears.

The ensemble performed six pieces from a variety of European and American composers, and was conducted by Bradley Ethington and Justin Mertz, as well as graduate conducting associates Samantha Baldwin and John Hylkema.

As SU’s premier concert band, the ensemble covers a range of performances, from large symphonic work to small chamber work. This year, combined with the Liverpool High School Symphonic Band, there are nearly 50 members in the band. They practice three days a week for three hours each day.

Ethington, professor of music and director of bands at SU, has conducted and worked at SU for 18 years. He said he expected the best performance from the musicians because everyone in the band is highly motivated.

“They are marvelous players and wonderful young musicians. It’s always a pleasure to rehearse them and perform with them,” said Ethington. “It’s been a good year for us.”

Ethington said that the success of the performance is partially because everyone in the band has a passion for music.

Ethington himself has been playing trumpet for 14 years.

“I couldn’t stay away from it (music). It’s something that drew me from the first time I played an instrument,” Ethington said. “I’ve been in love with it ever since.”

Anthony Veiga, a sophomore music education major, is a euphonium player in the band and has been playing in the SU Wind Ensemble since the fall semester of last year.

Like other members of the ensemble, he began playing the euphonium in sixth grade.

“We’ve all been playing since we were pretty young and we are all pretty talented,” Veiga said.

The night’s audience consisted of music lovers from the area, including some alumni of the SU Wind Ensemble. Steve Salem, a former member, came to the event with his girlfriend.

Salem graduated from SU in 2010 with a degree in music education, and is currently teaching music at Liverpool High School.

He said playing in the band was a wonderful experience and helped him to grow as a musician to get to where he is now.

“It’s a very enjoyable concert. Great composers and great music,” Salem said.

Xavier Fuson, a junior psychology, political science and philosophy major, attended the concert as a music lover, but also to support his friends in the band.

Fuson said music inspires him. He said events like this are why he goes to concerts as much as possible.

Said Fuson: “[It’s] an overwhelming, indescribable feeling of lifting my spirit up and inspiring me in the ways that I can’t even describe.”

Published on April 3, 2013 at 1:35 am

Contact Ruth: jli64@syr.edu