Mississippi Wind Symphony Celebrates America

Craig Young

The sounds of wonderful American music will help showcase the nation’s Independence Day festivities.

Featuring the works of legendary composers like John Williams and John Philip Sousa, the Mississippi Wind Symphony will perform in concert July 3. Music lovers are invited to the free show titled “Celebrating America.”

The program at the St. Joseph Catholic School Auditorium in Madison begins at 7:30 p.m. that Tuesday evening.

A native New Yorker, Williams has scored more than 100 films including “Jaws,” eight “Star Wars,” and the first three Harry Potter movies.

Born in 1854 in Washington, D.C., Sousa is credited with bringing the United States Marine Band to a scale of excellence never seen before. In 1889, Sousa wrote the “Washington Post” march. In 1891, he led the U.S. Marine Band on tour, a tradition that continues today. Sousa served 12 years as leader of the Marine Band under five Presidents.

Mississippi College Director of Bands Craig Young serves as the founder and conductor of the Mississippi Wind Symphony.

Open to the public, the July 3 concert will feature renowned guest conductor David Gregory. He serves as musical director for the Georgia Wind Symphony. Gregory is a past president of the National Band Association.

Maestros Gregory and Young will lead the Mississippi Wind Symphony in several patriotic pieces, including David Gillingham’s “Heroes, Lost and Fallen” as well as Chris Pilsner’s “Dum Spiro Spero.” Other selections were composed by Norman Dello Joio and Jack Stamp.

The concert will mark the final program of the Mississippi Wind Symphony’s 18^th season.

 “Don’t miss this unbelievable opportunity to hear this amazing music,” says Young, a Mississippi College music professor. His group on June 5 performs the music of internationally celebrated composer Leonard Bernstein at the St. Joseph Catholic School Auditorium. The free concert in Madison begins at 7:30 p.m.