The Wind Symphony in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Music, Theatre and Dance department was one of two collegiate bands selected to perform at the 2009 Michigan Music Conference in January. In a pre-tour concert and at the conference, the Wind Symphony performed a program that included Rosa Parks Boulevard by Michael Daugherty, with solo trombone trio Kenneth Kroesche, associate professor of Music, Andrew Eden, senior trombone performance major and Eric Oleksiak, senior bass trombone performance and music education major.
Directed by Gregory Cunningham, associate professor, Music, Theatre and Dance, Rosa Parks Boulevard was selected as part of the university’s African-American Celebration held in January and February. “Professor Cunningham has worked since his arrival in 1997 to achieve a band of this caliber,” Jackie Wiggins, professor and chair, Music, Theatre and Dance said. “In 1997, the band consisted of five or six undergraduates and a handful of community members. Today, the music program supports two full symphonic bands, the Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Band plus a jazz band and the Golden Grizzlies athletic band. This invitation caps off Professor Cunningham’s achievements at Oakland.”